The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

has always firmly declined the honor.
He has also been unanimously endorsed
by the people of his county as the next
choice of his party for Governor. If he
should be called to that high office. he
would make an able and popular chief
executive. He has always given of his
time and means literally in the service
of his party, and always believing that
the Anglo-SaXon race should govern the
State. 1t is consequently unnecessary
to mention that the constitutional
amendment will receive his hearty sane
ton and strong support.
In October, 1897, he was elected Pres
ident of the North Carolina Agricultural
Society, and under his management the
largest and best fair ever held in the
State was successfully conducted The
next year he was unanimously reelected
land extended the vote of the Associa
tion.) On that occasion also the fair
was a great financial success. Owing to
increasing demands made upon his time
by his ever growing commercial inter-
ests, Col Cunningham has recently been
unfortunately compelled to resign from
this position where he was carrying on
such useful and important work.
When the last Legislature looked
ABOUT TO SGIpCE DOdTu ludI SnOuli
reorganize and reform the State Boacd
of Agriculture, Col Cunningham was Sc
lected as member Of the Board. Later
when the Board met for organization,
Col. Cunningham was unanimously
chosen chairman. The youngest farmer
upon a board of picked farmers, the
compliment was a particularly high one
and one well deserved. In the contest
u, Nf bo aVtt, (HoI
Cunningham displayed wisdom and
courage of high order. He makes a
model chairman of the Board-the agen-
cy that is charged with advancing the
interests of the farmers of the Com
monwealth.
In addition to his farming interests,
Col Cunningham is an active participa-
tor in many and varied business and in
dustrial enterprises. being engaged in
large mercantile business, and serving
as director in various banks, and cotton
factories and many other industries
throughout the State. He has always
watched closely the various business en-
terprises of his State, and In conse-
quence he predicts for North Carolina
most brilliant future as a commercial
State.
NDl. 1tUilIlllSudlll ldht-S II utep lllGEtH>t
not merely in the advancement Of agri-
culture and the development OF the re-
sources of the State, hut also in all
those questions of an economic nature
tending to the betterment of the condi-
ton of the people. He is born Demo
crat, and believes that men should be
selected to office for fitness. and for
what they can do for the good of the
masses and Of the State.
In June, 1889, he married Miss Otey
NJ Darlington, of Charlotte county, Va,
4 beautiful. accomplished and lovely
lady the daughter of Col. Henry A.
Darlington, veteran Of the Confederate
army The elegant home that Mrs
Cunningham adOrns and prcsides over
is typical of the true Southern refine
nlent and culture, to say nothing Of hos
pitality. The home is at Cunning
ham. on the Atlantic and Danville
Railroad. in Person county, which
iseone Of the most prosperous counties
in the State, the tobacco land being un-
surpassed, and producing the finest vel
low tobacco grown in the world.
Here are located his fourteen thou
sand acres of land under the highest
state Of cultivation, producing mammoth
crops each season, principally of tobac
60 and corn, but also wheat. oats and the
various grasses. Over one hundred
horses and mules are used on this vast
plantation Amid these beautiful sur
roundings Col. Cunningham leads the
quiet life Of a planter and merchant, sur
rounded by hosts of friends and taking
a keen delight in his lovely home life.
His social disposition and tendencies are
seen III the interest he takes in the Ma
sonic fraternity. of which he is a
member. In person, Col. Cunningham
is fine looking man, of commanding
presence, with a broad forehead kindly
features and beaning smile as he
greets a friend. In character he has
been described as Il man Of sterling
honor and integrity, firmness, force, ex-
haustless energy and resources, a man
born to be a leader among his fellows.
If you We're to ask any North Carolina
Democrat who was the most popular
man in the party, you would be very
apt to be told: why, Col. Cunningham,
of course. He has the respect and adj
miration of the members OF his party,
because he is a lovable man, every inch
of him, and because, for many years he
has been doing good to his fellow-men.
and moreover because he is the type of
man who commands the respect and
friendship of other men through the
sheer force of masterfu personality.
Even his political rivals like him, and,
when they are not engaged in politically
fighting him, are felicitating upon the
fact that to be defeated by Col. Cunning
ham is about MS much of a political
honor as to achieve victory over
others.
His executive capacity is large, and
his administration of the affairs of all
the offices he has held has never been
surpassed He possesses the rare ability
of being able to discharge vast amount
of business with little apparent effort.
A dominant note in his character is his
love for his fellowmen. He never closes
his ears to the call of the distressed. and
the cord that connects his heart with his
purse is short and direct
There is no doubt that Col. Cunning
ham is far frcm having attained the
apex of his public life.
There are few men who have done
more for North Carolina than Col Gun
ningham, and as he is still young man
being in fact i'll the prime or life, with
youth enough to still possess the fire of
that period of life, and experience suffi-