The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-24
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
Congressman Southerland's Speech the Even
of Morning Session.

More than an hour before the conven-
tion met the delegates were in the hall
waiting for the proceedings to proceed.
1t was exactly I'LL o'clock when State
Chairman Cyrus Thompson raped for or
der and said:
Gentlemen of the Convention: l name
as temporary secretaries Mr.. j. w. Den
mark and Mr.. r. c.. Rivers, and | pre-
sent to the Convention as its temporary
chairman the Hon. H. F. Seawell, of
Moore county,
No applause greeted this announcement,
hut there was some stamping Of feet as
the Hon. ]. J. Jenkins, of Chatham, and
the Hon. G. H. Johnson. Of Sampson, es-
corted Mr.. Seawell to the rostrum.
MR.. sEAWELL SPEAKS.
Mr.. Seawell found many things to be
proud Of. First and greatest Of these was
that he was called on to preside over a
Populist Convention, and second that
there was no drunkenness in the State
capitol; third, that Marion Buffers record
in the Senate, was not like that of other
men, and fourth, that we had no such
government here as prevailed in Ken
lucky.
About the time the speaker got elo-
quently proud of this DR.. Fox Person,
of Wayne, walked up behind him and
whispered in his ear that Congressman
Switzerland, of Nebraska, was approach
ing, led by the Hon. H.. w. Aver.
Go ahead said DR.. Thompson from
the rear of the stage. Mr.. Seawell con
tinued, being proud of many things, and
the visiting Congressman continued APP
preaching down the aisle unnoticed anC
uncheered.
Finally the speaker announced a self
evident proposition, to wit: That he hat
not had time to prepare a speech; and sc
he quit, calling on the Rev. Baylus Cadt
to lead in prayer.
After this the roll of districts was call
ed for appointment of members of TIL
various districts. These are printed else
where in this paper.
These committees retired at 1880 t
make up their reports.
For a quarter of an hour nothing wa
done. The delegates chatted amonI
themselves and, strange to say, nobod
tried to speak.
Then there were calls for Butler an
Thompson, but neither responded.
ORGANIZATION.
At 11:55 the Rev. Righteous Altogethe
Cobb came in and made the followin
mmendati for the Committee o
Permanent Organization:
Tha the temporary organization i
made permanent.
That the following be named as vic
presidents:
Hon. w. j. Lcary, ST., First district.
Hon. w. P. Exum, Second district.
Hon. John f. Fowler, Third district.
Hon. J. J. Jenkins, Fourth district.
Vr ~ - TN.c4 .x-.1
Hon. E. M. Johnson, Sixth district.
Hon. Geo. E. Hunt, Seventh district.
Hon. H. NJ. Wilborn, Eighth district.
Hon. T.. B. Long, Ninth district.
DR.. Cobb. having delivered his repo,
and had it adopted, retired and the dc
mands for a speech from somebody we,
renewed. Various lights in the order
were called for and finally somebod
yelled Nat Macon"
That man struck oil, for the Hon. NJ
Macon never allows an opportunity t
make a speech escape him. He seize
this and held on to it for six minute
tie yielded the floor declaring that /
was going to make a speech right whe
the campaign comes and there won't /
no fOOlishness in it."
At 1925 Chairman Seawell announce
that "the Hon. Marion Butler will no
introduce the orator of the day-Col
gresham r. D. Switzerland, of Nebrask
The delegates stamped and yelled lii
Apaches as their beloved Senator" ste
ped to the front of the stage.
1t is safe to say that such a speech
Introduction was never before heard he
or elsewhere. The modern Foxy Quill
who was about to make it blushed a b
OratOrical blush and thanked the Co
yentiOn for the honor they were dol