The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-25
CONVENTION IN
SECOND DISTRICT
Four Strong Men Contest
For Nomination.
95 BALLOTS ARE TAKEN
But Woodland, Kitchin, Gillian and
PEBBLES Still Struggle.
DARK HORSES SHOW LITTLE STRENGTH
No Nomination Probable Before Morning
Meanwhile the Determination That The
Whites viii Rule is Shown by the
Immense Convention.
Immense Convention.
Especial to News and Observer)

Especial to News and Observer
Goldsboro. May 25.-3 a. m.)-The
largest and most interesting conven-
ton ever held in the Second Congress
sional District is tonight in session IN
Goldsboro. No one who looks in upon
it can for moment doubt that the
people of this district are tired of
being represented in the National
Legislature by a negro and that they
have sworn to put an end 10 it. The
opera house is crowded to its utmost
capacity. The seats on the floor are
occupied by delegates, while the gal
leries are filled with spectators.
Among these latter there were in
the earlier hours large number of
ladies who showed intense inter
est in the proceedings. Music is FUR
nished for the convention by the
Wilson Cornet Band.
Before the convention contestino
for The nomination are four strong
candidates: Fred a. Woodarl. Of
Wilson. Claude Kitchin Of Halifax.
Donnell Gillian. of Edgeconlbe and
II. j. PEBBLES. of Northampton That
all of them have strong backing and
devoted friends is sio.vn i,> the fact
that at this hour 3 O'Clock M 95
ballots haze been taken and the last
ballot shows little change from the
first one taken shortl, after 3 clock
yesterday afternoon. Three darl
horses were brought in. but the, did
not develop much strength As the
pect of Il nomination before morning
Certainly it will be one of the most
memorable convention contest, in the
political history Of the State.
The convention was called to order in
the opera house at o'clock in the after
noon by w. A. Dunn, of Halifax, Chair
man of the Congressional Executive Com
nnittee.
In calling the convention together, Mr..
Dunn made a short speech in the course
of which he said: Il feel somehow that
the eyes of North Carolina are upon this
convention, and l know that the eyes of
the world are upon North Carolina (Ap-
plause). 1t can not be doubted that some
great deed is to be born in this State in
this closing year of the nineteenth CEN
tury. (Applause). North Carolina has
never before known such a campaign. We
have made the issue: we have chosen our
ground, and in making that issue the
white people Of North Carolina are but
asserting the principle that is born in
them-the principle that says the Anglo
Saxon race must dominate the world.
(Applause)
The Republicans charge that the
amendment is in opposition to the United
States Constitution. But what is the Re-
publican party? 1t is the party that
suspended the writ of habeas corpus and
brought on such condition of affairs that
the Supreme court declared the judiciary
exhausted. This is the party that de-
clared in 1895 that it would reform the
State, and when the reformation was
finished it took revolution to undo the
infamous work. Then it was that the
people of the State swore a mighty oath
that they would no longer allow a negro
or his representatives to rule over them.
The solution to the problem that they offer
you is the amendment
WHO say that it will stand the test of
the courts? The best lawyers in North
Carolina: the best lawyers in the United
States. Who say that it will not /?
Prtchard and Butler. Whom will you be-
lieve? But if we should fail in our pur-
pose we will be none the worse. And
know the white men of North Carolina
we'll enough to know that they will find
some other means to assert and preserve
White Supremacy. | believe our cause
is just and honest. | know it is the only
thing that keeps North Carolina in the
forefront of the commemorative.
Mr. Dunn closed by counselling harmony
and caution and added, This convention
and this district is going to render it for
ever impossible that another negro shall
stand up in the halls of Congress and
SANDER the white women of the State
and by his vote forever dsfranchise thou
sands of the good people of Western
North Carolina (Applause) Then we
are going to elect VIM. j. Bryan as our
President. tCheers and applause) | tell
you what believe when say that we are
going to carry this amendment by
great majority: the people OF Eastern
North Carolina have not degenerated one
whit from the proud standing of their an
ce2tors." (Applause).
Mr. Dunn then named John d. Gold. of
Wilson, as secretary, and introduced to
tho convention as its temporary presiding
officer, Mr.. w. T. Dortch, Of Goldsboro.
On taking the chair Mr.. Dortch made a
splendid short speech in favor of White
Supremacy. saying: Il see before me the
militant Democracy of the Second district.