The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-26
CLAUDE K|TCH|N
FOR CONGRESS
He Was Nominated on the
120th Ballot.
A MEMORABLE CONTEST
Thirteen Hours Of Balloting in the
Convention.
A MEMORABLE CONTEST
END CAME WITH THE DAWN YESTERDAY
Generally Believed That the Convention Has
Made no Mistake. A Convention in Which
Ladies Were Interested Spectators.
Mr.. Wooten Chosen EIector.
Especial TO News and Observer.)

Especial TO News and Observer
Goldsboro. y. c.. May 25.--This
morning at ) o'clock the Second dis
trict convention named AR. Claude
Kitchin. of Halifax. as its next cahdi-
date for Congress in this distric-.
The nomination was made on tie
120th ballot.
The convention met at 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon and, one hours
recess for supper was in continuous
session for thirteen and Il half hours.
1t adjourned at $50 this morning.
After Mr.. Kitchin's nomination. Mr..
+. G. Wooten, of Lenoir county, was
chosen elector and an executive com
mittee, composed of one member from
each county in the district, was Sc
lected
The contest for the nomination was
one Of the longest and most interest
ing that has ever occurred in this
State. Though from start 20 finish
ne fight was q stubborn. determined
one. still The best of feeling prevailed
among the candidates and their
friends. Their rivalry involved only
good will and patriotic aspiration.
There were four leading candidates
in the race: Claude Aitchin OF Hail
fax: Fred a. Woodard, of Wilson;
Robt. b. PEBBLES. of Nor:hamptoG:
and Donnell Gillian. of Edgecomba.
Their names were placed before tn"
convention for nomination Il. / o'clock
Yesterday evening and were balotted
for continuously until 3 o'clock this
morning. when Il few scattering votes
given for Captain Swift Galloway. OF
Greene, and Captain Thomas ".
Mason, of Northampton.
AS neither of these gentlemen de
sired the nomination. they developed
no considerable strength.
At $50 o'clock the name Of Nr.
Jesse w. Granger. of Lanoir. WIS
formally presented TO the convention
and he continued in the race until
near the end when he Withdrew his
name.
The first candidate to withdraw was
Mr.. Woodard This was at 4 o'clock
on announcement of the result Of the
18th ballot, and marked the begun
ming of the end of the conte;- Mr..
WoOdard'S withdrawal was fu lowed
by that of Mr.. Granger. And aftes
the 18th ballot Captain PEBBLES with
drew. AS this left the contest entire
ly between Mr.. Gillian and Mr..
kitchin. the nomination was made on
the next Ghel2oth) ballot On this
ballot Mr.. Gillian received 9S votes
and Mr.. kitchin 1872.
The announcement Of the result of
the final ballot was received with
greatest enthusiasm. 1t came Just as
the gray dawn was creeping in
through the tall windows, dimmine
the electric lights and bringing out
deep lines of weariness and anxiety
on the sea- of tense faces.
The night had been one of work
for the delegates and excitement for
those who were there as onlookers
Every man of them had gone there
determined to win victory Tor his fav-
orite candidate, and if he had failed
IT had Deen no fault of his. Through
the weary hours the balloting had
gone merciless on ike a machine and
there had been no rest. Hardly a
delegate had left the hall. Even the
ladies who had come to look on stay
ed till late hour, as if bound by
some fascination
And we'll they might be. To them
unaccustomed to political gatherings.
il must have been a strange sight
this hall crowded with yelling, en-
thusastic humanity that never show
ed sigh of weariness or failing. Now
and then. to be sure. the convention
would grow quiet and orderly as the
voting proceeded, then all of sud
den. seemingly without provocation.
some enthusiastic delegate would
Jump to his feet and begin yelling
as II bereft of reason. In this per-
formance he would be immediately
loined by his whole delegation. On
The other side. at the same time. the
supporters of rival candidate would
rise EN- masse and set up counter
yell that would have made an Apacbe
ashamed of himself. And as they
yelled the delegates waved their bats.
umbrellas. papers. hantlllerchiefs-
anything that they could lay their
hands on.
] doubt if a finer Congressional con
vention. no matter what test YOU an
ply to it. has ever been held in the
State. 1t WAS composed Of the best
men in this district-th oldest and
one Of the most cultured sections of
North Carolina.
Seldom, ii ever, has there been a