The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15
PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE ExECU-
TIVE COMMITTEE.
ITO OPEN THE CAMPAIGN AT ONCE
State Convention to Meet i'm Raleigh
April IIth-Greensboro Tries to Sc
cure the Convention-The Chairman
Instructed Not to Wait for the Com
vention to Begin Campaign Work.
Selection of Candidate for L. =. sem
ator to be Referred to the People.
Especial to The Messenger.)

state committee met tonight
the largest meetings II has ever held.
Not only was nearly every member
present. but many prominent demo-
met with the committee as ad-
visers.
Greensboro delegates appeared before
the committee and urged the claims OF
that place, stating that it is most ac-
~cessible, and more CENTRALLY located.
will have four hotels and an auditorium
1000 persons, and that there
are many reasons why the convention
next year be held further west
than Raleigh.
The democratic state convention is
called to meet here April 18th. The
as to the place was Raleigh a,
Greensboro Il. several members not
voting. Chairman simmons presided.
He made a lucid and forceful speech,
setting forth the Importance of an
early convention. and the initiation OF
the great campaign to be waged.
Mayor Taylor and Alfred NJ. Scales
presented Greensboro's invitation. Sew
eral members spoke in favor of Green's
Iboro, a number in favor Of Raleigh,
among the latter Spruill, Paul Means
and Beddingield. Raleigh was select
ed on the first ballot.
A resolution introduced by Walter
H. Neal that the convention be held
April 18th was adopted.
Many speeches were made, all earn
lest and indicative of marked harmony.
Frank Spruill says he has been COM
mitteeman for many years, and that it
lis the best and most harmonious meet
ing in all that time.
Following is the text of Meals reso-
luton:
Resolved, That the next democratic
state convention be and the same is
hereby called to meet April 18th, and
that in the meantime our state hair
man is directed to open the campaign
at such time and places and in such
manner as in his good judgment will
best serve the interests of the party
Mr.. d. H. Mclean offered the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted
unanimously by a rising vote:
Resolved, That the thanks of the
committee be extended to the demo-
Gratis of Greensboro and the county of
Guilford for their h~ospitable and patri-
otto invitation to hold our next state
convention in their city"
M. H. Justice offered the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the chairman of this
committee be authorized and request
1 Q6 fn nf nnca f0Ea Cfnnc 70 oman {hn
campaign in the state on such lines as
he deems proper"
The following resolution, offered by
Paul B. Means, was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That the question of the
selection of a candidate for United
States senator be referred to the peo-
pie in the call Of the next state demo-
icratic convention for such action as
that convention may deem best"
There was hearty and complete sup
port of the idea of the selection of the
senator by the people.
The state chairman said that while
the campaign was ordered begun at
once it would be at least four weeks
before effective work could be done.
A resolution offered by John r. Web
ster was adopted by a rising vote, ex-
tending the thanks of the committee
to Chairman Simmons for his match
less work in the last campaign.
Mr.. Simmons expressed his grateful
ness for this expression Of confidence
and appreciation.
During the remainder of the session
John S. Cunningham was in the chair.
Details are received here tonight OF
1.-THE murder of c. w. Ballard by Alber,
brown, both young white men, lear
ISelma. Brown walked into Ballard's
Ibarroom and asked him to pay a bill.
lie repeatedly cursed Ballard. The lat
tier ordered him out and advanced to.
ward him with a bottle. Brown walked
backward, and through h door Of a
partition into a Arb room, and as Bal
Hard passed the door stabbed him tc
the heart, then dropped the knife and
fled. Ballard pulled off his a and
Ishirt, and said Brown had killed him
blood gushed from his wound. and ar
instant later he fell dead. Brown is In
Jail.
Last night S. A. Flynne, a white mar
who was serving an 1S-year sentence
flor numbering his brother in Rocking.
ham county, escaped from Caledonia