The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-24
A MIGHTY SMALL CONVENTION.
And Most of the Delegates Were Distinguished
Pie Eaters.

AtIIlllIlS ILL., tA0HS
old-time enthusiasm that has animated
so many gatherings OF this kind.
More than a fourth OF the counties were
NOT represented. and many of those that
were represented had only one or TWO
delegates present. In fact Wake. Chat-
ham and Franklin had about half the
delegates in the convention.
Half an hour after the convention was
called TO order a count OF noses showed
the following result:
In the gallery there We're 50 negroes
and 8 white men and a boy.
On the floor of the hall there were
800 white people and 2 negroes-Wm.
Rogers of the Revenue Department and
T. II. Wilson, of Harris Store precinct.
Wake county. Only about three-fourths
Of the 300 white people present were
delegates. The other - We're made up
OF Republican wet nurses, visiting Fusion
statesmen and Democratic spectators.
In the hall there were many we'll
known pie-eaterS.
There was the Rev. Decayed Baylus,
the Governors private secretary on the
left of the stage. His tile of 1876 vintage
rested on a table near by-a worthy rival
to that worn by Hoola Boom Campbell
in the Legislature of 1897. AS a compan-
ion piece to DR.. Cade there sat on the
opposite side of the stage Hon. H. f. Sea-
we'll. waiting to be called on TO preside
as temporary chairman. Both Of these
distinguished citizens rested in lonely
state, and each wore a cane in his left
hand.
Hon. Nat Macon occupied the bald head
row and puffed a "two-fer." The Hon.
VIM. Merritt. arrayed in SLOUGH hat and
spectacles sat just behind him.
On the other side sat J. L. Kelly. Ohio
Wilson's brother-in-law. looking pious
as a Sunday pie. But Ohio himself was
absent and this caused a gloom upon the
assembly that refused to be relieved, even
by the smiling physiognomy of Hon. w.
NJ. Arnold, of Wake. The Gideon was
sadly missed.
The Hon. r. P. Rheinhardt, ex-peniten-
tiary supervisor. moved about, saying lit
tie to anyone, but %champing vigorously
on q quid of tobacco.
Near the middle of the hall sat the
Hon. J. NJ. Mewborne, ex-superintendent
Of the penitentiary, with a spring day
expression on his face.
Now the genuine and only original Sill
yer party, composed of the Hon. B. F..
Keith. of Wilmington. mounted the ros-
trum. He made a fine show. arrayed in
glasses, red tie and a prOfusion of curly
hair. He made himself the centre-piece.
but he was not allowed to retain this
honor all alone. In a handful of minutes
the Hon. A. C. Shuford, ex-Congressman,
joined him and several lesser lights drift
ed near to draw inspiration from their
illuminating conversation.
The Hon. H. w. Aver, soon to be ey-
State Auditor, busted himself seating
the delegates, making himself a sort of
chief marshal.
The Hon. w. H. Worth. occupied the
rear of the hall; with his hat on his
head and gladness in his hand he greet
ed every coming delegate.
Other less brilliant settings in the con-
vention were:
Hon. ]. w. Lassiter, Of Wake, who has
sought office these many years and
mourned because he found it not.
Hon. V. j. Macarthur. ex-door-keeper
of the Fusion Senate, who these many
years in Sampson county has been putty,
paste and pulp in Buffers hands.
Hon. Jo-Jo Rogers. ex-register OF deeds
Of chill medicine.
Hon. John Smith, of Wake, eX-manager
OF the penitentiary brick yard.
Hon. lack Garrett. OF Vance. husband
of the postmistress at Henderson.
Hon. c. NJ. Babbitt. of Pamlico. United
States deputy marshall.
Rev. T. W. Babbitt, ex-chaplain of the
penitentiary farms.
Among the many Republicans present
were:
Hon. Ceburn Harris, father of Loge.
who sat in the centre of the stage and
occasionally dispensed a few suggestions
to the chairman and other managers. and
always stood UP and waved his hat when
a strong fit Of applause had seized the
delegates.
Hon. Hiram D. Mason, the king-bee Re
publican of Chatham. who managed the
delegation from that county with the as
slstance of Hon. R. B. Lineberry, ex-su.
perlntendent of public instruction for
Chatham county.
Hon. Pat Stewart. the ex-boss of Rail
elghs negro ward, who sat half way the
nall and thumped his stick vigorously
every time an opportunity for applause
was given.
Hon. j. NJ. Smith, ex-sheriff of Rich
mond county, who. adorned in tie of yermiI-
non hue. occupied a seat by the side of
the Hon. Patrick Stewart and smiled at
his witticisms.
Inc Hon. ]. NJ. Allen. ex-occupant of
me manure pile, and now editor of the
otate Journal, a Republican newspaper
mat favors the Amendment.
The Hon. J. @. Williams. an old messv
pack, who finds pleasure in masquerading
as a. Pop. He's ex-clerk in the register
OF iced office. and made himself mighty
busy among the delegates.
non. Joshua B. Hill. the ONLY Renuh1i-
can present who had no otter business
than that of locking on.
me Hon j. c. Logan Harris, the holder
OF eleven offices under Governor Rms
sen, VINO came in late and was applauded
as he passed down the aisle.
Hon. Carl Duncan. chief of tho roa
legged grasshoppers, sat on the very last
seat IN the hall. He had many bench
men and underlings in that convention
anu ne was keeping his eye on them.
Hon. Dan Young, ex-clerk of Wake
superior court, now a "~revenuer."
non. Ham Jones. ex-sheriff of Wake
county. with an unsettled balance still
due the county.
Out why continue? Did one name all
TIE R6DuhIicanC in fh;o