The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-03

the nomination as secretary OF state.
The resolution was introduced by
Colonel Roger Moore who referred in
high terms to the fidelity of Mr.. Nc
Lean TO the lower Cape Fear section
through a public career of more than
% years and emphasized especial
ly Mr.. McLean's course during the
dark days Of the reconstruction"
Colonel Moore's resolution was second
ed by Mr.. c. W. Worth. who asked
that the convention endorse by the
same ballot Hon. H. A. London for
the nomination as state
This request was acceded TO and the
resolution adopted The resolution re-
garding Mr.. Mclean was as follows:
THE democrats of New Hanover
county, in assembled. rec
ogniZing the eminent and unselfish SER
vices Of the Hon. D.. H. Mclean, Of
Harnett county in every campaign for
nearly a quarter of a century, and ap-
preciating his unusual fitness and ca
pacity for the position, hereby endorse
him, and most heartily commend him
to the democrats of North Carolina
for the nomination for secretary of
state at the approaching state con-
vention, and hereby request the dele
gates from this county to h state
convention to cast the vote of New
county for him for said Of
fee"
OTHER CANDIDATES ENDORSED.
On motion of Aubry Parsley second
ed by B. F. King Franklin McNeill,
Esq, and S. L. Rogers were endorsed
for denomination as members Of the
North Caroline corporation commits
sion.
Professor Washington Catlett also
made a motion that the delegates to
the state convention be instructed to
cast their vote for Colonel inc. S. Cum
ingham as lieutenant governor. LIB.
Sasser seconded the motion. 1t was at
this juncture that Captain 7. D.
Meares addressed the convention urg-
ing that the delegates to the state
convention should not be hampered
by iron clad Instructions. Professor
Catlett sale hat as he understood 1t
all the Instructions which had thus far
been adopted as to how the delegates
to the state and district conventions
should vote were merely to ShOw the
trend of thought in the county and not
as an iron clad code of instructions.
Mr.. R. H. McKoy concurred with
Captain Meares in the position he had
taken n made a motion, which was
adopted, providing that in all resolu-
tons and motions heretofore adopted
by which candidates for state offices
had been endorsed, where the word
instructor was used in regard to the
vote of the New Honover delegation
it be stricken out and requested
substituted.
THE APPOINTMENT OF DELE
GATES.
Inquiry was made by B. F. King as
to the usual custom observed in the
selection of the delegates, and being
told that it was the practice for the
chairman of the convention to be in
Structed to appoint them at his leisure,
he offered a motion that this conven-
ton instruct it's chairman to select the
delegates.
Mr.. George E. Leftwich offered an
amendment that a committee. cor
Sisting Of two from each ward and
n from each county township be ap-
pointed to select the delegates. He
said he did not think it right for SO
important a matter to be left to one
man.
A vote on Mr.. Leftwich's amend
ment resulted in it's rejection, and Mr..
Kings motion was adopted by a vote
of 40 to %.
SENATORIAL CONTEST TAKEN UP
The settlement of the method of Sc
Letting the delegates to the state AND
district conventions concluded the
business before the convention, except
the settlement of the Meares-Morton
state senatorial controversy, which had
UOeH temporarily pOSlpOHeu lTOIH Tie
earlier stages Of the convention bust
ness, and the question of the contest
was brought squarely before the con-
ventiOn by a motion offered by w. B.
Cooper, that Captain Morton, who re-
ceived 80 majority in the recent pri-
mary, be declared the nominee OF the
county for state senator, and that the
delegates to the senatorial convention
be instructed to cast all the As votes Of
the county for him.
Professor Washington Catlett offered
the following substitute for Mr.. Coop
er's motion, to-wit:
Whereas, The democratic executive
committee a reported to this con-
vention that at the recent primary
there were cast for George L. Morton
LOGS votes and for Iredell Meares 1,029
votes, for the democratic nomination
for state senator from this district:
and whereas, his county is entitled to
45 votes in the senatorial convention,
and apo the basis Of the primary vote
George L. Morton is entitled to have
cast for him in that convention % n
6S.97 votes, and Iredell MeareS is en-
titled to have cast for him % and 29.97
votes, according to the party rules. and
as rejecting popular sentiment:
therefore, Resolved hat the chairman
of this convention be authorized to APP
point TO the senatorial convention %
delegates upon the suggestion or Mr..
Morton, and % delegates upon the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Meares, and that the
delegation so appointed be instructed
to cast the vote of this county in the
senatorial convention in the proportion
above stated"
In Offering the substitute, Professor
Catlett said he did not wish to be mis-
understood; that he was showing no
partially in his course, but simply act
ing as is a delegates duty in the in
terest of the people Of the county, re-
CARELESS of who gets the nomination.
He feared a course such as would be
pursued if Mr.. Cooper's motion prevail
ed would open the doors for all kinds OF
political trickery. He did not think
any rule should be observed in set
thing the issue, but that prescribed by
the state executive committee with
which his resolution was in line. He
read extracts from the committee rules
governing primaries, and cited the fact
that similar cases had arisen in sew
eral sections Of the state and in nearly
or quite ali had been settled just as his
resolution proposed to settle this one.
CANDIDATES ADDRESS THE con-
VENTION.