The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-09-13
The Great Congressional Convention

llG UlGdl UUuSltSSlUudl VVlvCutlUu
At Raleigh Last Week And
The Result.
In SESSION THIRTEEN HOURS AND PoU
NOMINATED ON 111TH BALLOT.
Correspondence to The Commonwealth.
Raleigh, N. c., Sept. 1O.-Durlng the
last few days the Democrats Of the
Fourth aud Eighth Congressional Dis
tricts have put up two very "heavy-
weights" as their standard bearers
Hon. Edwin w. Pou, of Johnston, and
Hon. J. G. Buxton, OF Forsyth-gentle-
men who net only are immense in
avoirdupois but intellectually the peers
of any representative North Carolina,
or any State, has sent to the national
legislature in many years. Their
combined weight will exceed 500
pounds, and in stature their height will
reach in the neighborhood of twelve
and a half feet-6ne physical speci-
mems of North Carolina manhood.
But, In taking their measure" regard
should also be had for their unbounded
love of their State and its people, and
the qualifications which they possess In
such eminent degree to serve their
constituency.
It was hard and a long-drawn-out
contest in the convention here last
Thursday-the most stubbornly con-
tested one within the recollection OF
the people of the Raleigh district. But
no mistake was made in selecting the
nominee, for ed" Pou is one of the
very brightest young men in the State
and will by his course and career in
Congress reflect the highest credit upon
the district and the State.
The friends of Congressman Atwater
stuck to him for 10 ballots, Mr.. Pou
being nominated on the 111th ballot al
l o'clock a. M, on the morning Of
Friday, the convention having been in
continuous session with short recess
Tor supper since noon of Thursday.
On the final ballot Mr.. Pou received
1876 votes Mr.. w. G. Hammer, of Ran
dolph, 80; Capt. w. B. Shaw. of Vance
26, and Nh. Atwater 26. Vance would
have changed its vote to Hammer if II
would have nominated him, but Mr.
Pou already having 20 votes more than
enough to nominate him it was not
done. The vote was made unanimous
on motion of Mr.. Hammer, and he and
the other defeated candidates, includ
ing Mr.. Atwater, pledged the nominee
their hearty support,
Mr.. Atwater never received as man;
as 100 votes on any ballot, 165 being
necessary to choice, and more than
two-thirds OF the delegates were deter:
mined to nominate 'sstraight Demo
craft"
The Randolph candidate-who, by
the way, is the editor of the Asheborc
Courier, as we'll as a lawyer OF fine
ability, and chairman of his county
committee-made splendid run, and
made many friends personally among
the delegates from other counties, tc
most of whom he was stranger until
that day. I have heard many compli.
ments paid our brother "knight of the
pencil" and, being a young man, ]
hazard nothing in predicting that de-
served honors will come to him in the
future.
In Hon. J. c. Buxton, of Forsyth
the State will send to Congress On pref
erence to declaimer Spencer Black
burn) one of her truest sons and ables1
men. The writer has known him vel
for many years and I never knew o.
heard aught but good OF him.. 1t /,
encouraging to realize that we are to be
represented at the national capital Mex
year and thereafter by two such splen
did representative men as Pou and
Button.
THE NATIONAL CANVASS.
The Democrats have now nominated
their candidates in every congressiona
district, and they are Small, Claude
Kitchin, Thomas, Pou, w. w. Kltchin
Bellamy, Kluttz, Buxton, Crawford
all but three having already served in
Congress, and fine body of men they
make. Let's elect them all?
Chairman Simmons has been If
Washington, u. c., during the last few
days, in conference with Eationa
Chairman Jones and Congressional
Chairman Richardson. The national
campaign will now, upon his return
start up in earnest; and in about ter
days the regular appointments of {
number of fine canvassera, in addition
to the work OF the electors and COZ
gressional candidates, will he announc.
ed. Mr.. Simmons is very earnest ane