The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-15
SOLID VOTE IN THE SOUTH.
Democrats Will Strive to Win all Close
Distrfcts-First Step TO Control Con-
Congress-.
washington Post.1

Two notable election contests were
left unsettled when the house adjourn
ed last Thursday. and echoes Of them
Will undoubtedly be heard in the efforts
Of the contestees for reelection. One
of the contests affects Representative
Bellamy, OF Wilmington. y. c., and
the other Representative Rhe-, OF
Bristol, Va. No formal action On Judge
Rhea's case was reported TO the house,
but the committee had reported in his
favor. seven to two, n there Is no
doubt whatever that il will be dispos-
ed Of in short order at the next ses-
sion. The decision of the committee
came so late in the session, however,
hat there was not time to prepare
the reports, which must be done before
a final vote can be taken in the house.
The case of Representative Bellamy
is somewhat different in status, as the
committee considered ii at some length
and it was believed that a report IA
vorable to Mr.. Bellamy would be
made. Nc decision was announced be-
fore congress adjourned, and il was
we'll understood that the committee
wished that its decision should be an
.nounced next winter. Mr.. Bellamy is
one of the most accomplished demo-
Gratis from the south and made an ex-
cellant impression by his gentlemanly
and conservative conduct during. the
committee hearing.
SMALL MAJORITY TO OVERCOME.
These contests. and those which were
decided during the last session of con-
gress, are interesting for the relation
they have to the efforts of the demo-
Gratis to capture the fifty-seventh con-
gress. The majority to be overcome is
nineteen or raallv thirraan since
three democrats were unseated and
republicans put in their places. 1t is
apparent as a part OF the democratic
programme to make a strenuous cam
paign for the defeat of nearly all re-
publican candidates for congress in
the south. Unless there is to be a land
slide in favor of democrats next No
vember the key to the control of the
next congress may be with the results
in these few close districts in the
south. The programme accordingly
will be to elect a straight democratic
delegation from Virginia, North Caro-
lima, n Alabama. Representative
Wise is the only republican from Vir-
ginia, and he was seated W the mar
rowest kind of a majority over Mr..
William A. Young. Representative
Pearson and Representative White,
the latter colored, are the only repub-
licans from North Carolina. Mr.. Pear
son lkeWlSe was seated by barely two
votes. Democrats assert that with a
good candidate they can easily carry
the district which White represents,
and they claim that they have such a
candidate in Mr.. Claude Kitchin, re-
Gently nominated. Special attention
will be paid to that district by the
North Carolina democrats in the state
campaign, which is already under
way. Mr.. Pearson cannot get a renom-
ination by the republicans in his dis
trict. n it is generally conceded that
Mr.. Crawford, who was unseated, will
win hands down at the polls this fall.
The democrats are also counting on
electing their candidate from the dis
trfct now represented by Judge Lin
That is not so sure, however, al
though a big fight will be made there.