The Delawarean., 1900-07-25
NO. 652, WATER
Gas LEGION.
Why 1t Wasn't Organized at
Camden Monday Night.
THE RECORD OF TWO BALLOTS.
Everybody Wanted to be It--Mr.
Driver Objects to Mr.. Sterner's
Remarks---Incide of the
Evenings Proceedings.
Camden. Del, July "a, 1900


There was unusual stir in the Cam
den Addicks camp on Monday evening.
DR.. l.. S. Conwell had been in Dover
last week, where he was in attendance
at a meeting of the Union County Com
mittee, and it was plain to be seen tha.
he bore from headquarters orders of
Importance. Word was quietly passed
along the Line that the doctor wished
TO confer with the leaders at the Bay
State Wigwam at s p M. sharp, Mon
day evening, and at chat hour he was
there.
Shortly after, one by one, there drift
cd up to THE portals Hon. Jabez Jenk-
ins, Delaware L. Hollis, Levi G. Ster-
ner, I. Coke Chambers, Remsen Bar
nard and j. V. McCommons, and Just
about the time the last named disap-
peared through the door OF the ante
room, Bill Driver, the colored water
carrier of the legion. made his APP
pearance.
TO the Delawarean scribe seated on
the Wigwam, this meant business,
pure and simple. 1t was his duty 10
ind out What was afoot, or horseback
either for that matter, and in that
mysterious manner known only to the
faithful reporter, he swung himself in
spirit into the interior OF that Wig
VAN aSso.
Back Of the dry goods box on the
platform which served as an altar,
hanked by two coal-oil lamps, he found
DR.. Conwell standing, while ranged
round the room were the others men
lion above. DR.. Conwell was speaking.
Gentlemen" said he; Il have been
in Dover and bear to You General
Orders No. 1,O0O,676, which directs as
follows: That the faithful of District
No. z, contiguous to Camden, shall inn
mediately upon receipt of this, proceed
70 organize Circle No. 652, Water Gas
Legion. After organization the secre-
tary shall notify the G. c. p. (Grand
Chief Puller) at Dover, who will person.
ally visit the circle and give instruc-
tions in the secret work.
Now gentlemen" continued the
doctor, this is the order, and that is |
why have called you together. now
move that we proceed to business and
first ! would suggest that we nominate
a sergeant-at-arms.
JabeZ Jenkins nominated Bill Driver
for this responsible position, and he
was unanimously elected and sworn
In.
The next thing in order is to elect
the chief officer, said the doctor, and
find by my card here that he is
labeled G. Y, NJ Cor Grand Vote Man
ipulator) Now, gentlemen, this po-
sition is a responsible one and the man
who is elected will occupy the position
of leader of this district. Let us
choose candidate by secret ballot"
A ballot was then taken without dis
cussion. Sergeant Driver carried round t
the hat and the ballot resulted
Conwell.. -. Il Barnard. ......1l
Chambers. !, IL McCommons. IL
Sterner.. -. ....1 Hollis. :. ....1
Jenkins.... :. .,..1
When this ballot was counted there
was a ruction. Even Bill Driver
got excited "Gemmen, said he,
"Wot dose dis yer meme? Is dis
wimmin's tea party 'er mems
meetin'."
1T looks to me" remarked the Hon.
Jabez Jenkins, rising, 'as if certain
persons in this room did not fully APP
preciate their position. Now you all
know that l have been in the Legis-
lature, that l was speaker pro TEN on
several occasions, and that l know all
about parliamentary and all other tao
tics We must have a man of this ex-
perience at our head and l voted for
myself because did not know where
else to find him. AS to leadership
well my services in the late lamentable
session certainly entitle me to fill that
post"
Mr.. Jenkins sat down.
DR.. Conwell rose, in fact all the rest
did the same, but DR.. Conwell got the
floor Gentlemen" said he, ''It is
with reluctance I make known to you
the desires of our State Chief at Dover.
Only the other day he said to me,
'Conwell, you are the man to lead.
You are born leader. We need no
Zine ON you when you are at the head
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