The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28

to serve on the board. No, indeed"
said ]. H. Pou; you have only four
teen months" "How's that?" inquired
Ray, who was a suecimen of intense
nervousness. Pou replied Because
you will be impeached and removed
when the Legislature meets next year"
The democrats plainly said that they
did not propose to use violence in TAX
ing possession, though the fusionists
had offered them such indignity. They
also told the fusionists that if they
desired to go into the board room they
could do SO, and that it was not worth
while to talk of physical resistance.
A motion by Coffield was adopted,
appointing a committee to notify the
state treasurer that any payments
which the latter may be required to
make by the fusion board, together
with those of its members whose terms
expired March 9th, will be illegal and
that he is forbidden by the lawful
board to make such payments.
William Bailey offered a resolution,
which was adopted, that a committee
be raised to demand the AGRICULTURAL
department. He said this was COM
prehensive and embraced everything
It was adopted. Grimes, Robert H.
Jones and A. T. McCollum were ap-
pointed the committee to present this
to the fusion board. They returned in
minute, saying: Ramsey says he
legal advice, to turn over anything
At this stage of the proceedings
Chairman Cunningham stepped upon
the stairway and made - a-4A-----.-::2a a6:zRS
speech to the board. His voice rang out
so that the fusionists in their locked
room could hear it. He denounced their
act, saying only the Kirk regime of 1870
eoualed it; that the people then rose
up in legal and orderly way and put
their heel upon those who had tram
pied upon the popular rights. The peo-
pie then acted quietly and cautiously
board had acted today when they went
to this building and demanded possess
sion; that they were true representa-
| tives Of the people and that their pres
ence was due to the overwhelming ma
| jority at the polls last November; that
| while today admission to the building
was refused, yet March 9th Loge Har-
| ris, now present, with this board, had
| welcomed these democrats and that he
| (Cunningham) had been elected chair
| man by reclamation and by a rising
vote. Then the fusionists pleaded with
| the democrats to do nothing rash;
| nothing rash was done. Yet, here today
six members are saying ito fifteen that
they have taken this 20 1ding by phys
ical force. Suppose TIE democrats say
they will enter and cross swords; they
have Anglo-Saxon spirit to do it. This
fusionists who acted iith the demo.
| Gratis in March now act as Kirk anj
his minions acted. No such thing will
| be tolerated. The world must know thai
| these democrats are law abiding, ye
| that here today their rights have beer
| trampled on
Harris and Ray listened intently Il
| this fervent address, and at it's con
clusion Harris made some remarks
saying the good opinions of no man il
to be despised; that as for himself ant
the old board they were acting unde
the constitution and under the opinion
Of able lawyers; that it was embar
RAISING because he had in March actet
with the new board; that it had beer
the purpose of the fusionists to hav
all administration affairs in abeyanc
until the question of title was decided
but that after the Day decision, il
order to bring the matter 20 issue an.
| give it a status in court the cours
taken today was necessary. He declare
! no d1srespect was meant; that ther
was no question to the title o. hi
latter to see whether others were legal
ly elected or not.
z. W. Pou asked Harris whether il
the interest of public service he wa
. willing to waive ten days notice, NEE
tonight and arrange the case befor
the supreme court. Harris said h
would see his board. He said he wante
the supreme court to decide the uues
ton.
What question: asked F. NJ. Sim
mons Harris replied: Whether tn
| legislature had any power to appoin
the directors created by the legislativ
act Simmons asked him: Did 70
not make this point in the Day case
Do you not know that the court passe