The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-20
POPULISM ON THE WANE.
BUTLER SEES THE END OF HIS POWER
CLOSE AT HAND.
The Glories of the Party Passed Away
The Leaders Dispirited Anxious
Now to Eliminate the Negro from
Polftfcs-Success of the Democratic
Tour OF Ratffcatfon-General looms
Jews on state Aid to Higher I'd
ucatfon.


Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh. y. c.. April II.
The populist state convention here
today was no great body. As republic
cans remarked. IL had about a third as
many people as IL should ave had.
Senator Butter was. OF course. much
in evidence, and so were ex-Congress-
men Harry Skinner. Shuford and Fow-
Ter. The populists who hold federal Of
fees as a reward for their u OF
Senator Pritchard and their defiance
of Senator Butler. were all on hand.
Republicans flute. ed about and mani
Tested a lively interest in the conven-
ton. Ii was very clear that the glories
OF the populist party had passed away:
that feeling was in the air. When del
egate Moye toll the caucus last night
that the state could not be carried and
that the democrats could not this year
be beaten in a solitary county east OF
the Wilmington and Weldon railroad.
he struck a sad note and got ~ ap-
plause. The other delegates recognix-
ed the fact that he was telling them
the facts.
5. \. Edmund. one Of the leading
popuiists in the southeastern section.
said the populists were anxious to
eliminate the negro from politics alto
SClUcI, III d. lar lubTc sweeping way
than the constitutional amendment
proposes. Edmund said that there
We're more populists at the conyen-
ton then he expected TO see; and that
he considered the chance better than
in 1894.
Senator Allen, OF Nebraska, was. af-
ter all, unable TO come here, on account
Of sickness. Representative Souther-
land. of that state, came in his place.
Senator Pettigrew anne b. r. Keith.
OF Wilmington. once the head Of The
free silver party" arrived. as did
James b. Lloyd. of Tarboro.
There is great pleasure and satisfac-
ton at the success of the democratic
ratification meetings now in progress
in the Piedmont section. General
Thomas f. Toon, the nominee for SUI
p~erintendent of public instruction. ar
rived here today, having by reason of
pressing business been forced 10 go
home for a day or two. He said Of the
meetings.: The interest is intense.
The people want to hear the great
question of the hour-the amendment
discussed dispassionately. Great crowds
attend the meetings. All OF US speak
I am greatly pleased with the outlook,
n very greatly impressed with the
patience and interest of u auditors.
If / am any judge the people are ready
to settle forever this great question of
the amendment and end a trouble
which has for these many years re-
CURED biennially."
General Tool was asked TO give his
views regarding state aid TO higher
education and said in reply: II am In
W. of it. | V any thing the leg
stature may do in that direction. /
know the position / am to occupy is
no place for a narrow minded man.
nor for one who has prejudice. l thank
God my life has been above the low
plane Of prejudice"
The state democratic committee will
meet here again this month. IL is un-
derstood, to arrange some important
details Of the campaign.
Among today's arrivals We're Julian
S. Carr, Of Durham, and Oliver II. AL
len, of kinSton.
The North Carolina Methodist Epis-
copal conference sends as delegates
to the Ecumenical council at Wash
ington next week Revs. F. ID. Swindell
and F. NJ. Bumpass and Joseph G..
Brown.
The Union and the Crown Life In
surance companies apply TO the insur-
ance commissioner for permission to
do business in this state
The governor last week decided to
honor the requisition Of the governor
Of Tennessee for Baxter Shemwell. the
Asheville man charged with ~swindling
a Knoxville bank out of 81, 900. Shem-
- - 6oA~@AS ~ A~~P SoAAo ~
Tennessee. He instituted habeas corpus
proceedings before Judge Stephens.
The latter refused Shemwelrs motion
for discharge and dismissed the habeas
corpus. Shemwell had given bond in
81, 900 to be present, but was called and
failed. His bond was fortified. Colonel
Robert Bingham was his bondsman.
1t is said Shemwell will take the mat
ter to the supreme court.
The Southern railway offers $500 re-
ward for information leading to the
detection Of the wire-cutters on this
division The evidence of all linernen
who have made repairs Is that the cut
ting was done by expert linemen. and
they say the strikers nave several UGH
with them
J. A. Parker, Of Kentucky, secretary
Of he middle-of-the-road populists. Is
here, to watch Senator Butler and the
latters North Carolina outfit. He says
the Observation-Disclosures will get some
North Carolina delegates. He assaiis
Senator Butler in no uncertain Ian
guage.