The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-31
POSITION DEFENDED
DIR. Mcneil, Replies to the Executive
Committee.
Editor Messenger:

Editor Messenger:
Allow me space in you paper TO re-
ply 10 that faction OF the executive
committee, who, representing them
selves, boilers. defeated office seekers.
and dIsorganizers, and not the demo-
cratic party, enacted the farce, of at
tempting 10 nominate T. NJ Moore, a
man who had been fairly defeated in
our county convention, in place OF
myself, the regular nominee of the
democratic convention. No executive
committee has the power 10 AXE down
any can iidate nominated BY a conven-
ton. ani nominate some body else in
his place. II the executive committee
lad the power 10 take down candi-
dates, We would not go 10 the trouble
Of holding conventions; but such is
not the case.
The people are the Sovereigns,-the
people are supreme.-the peopl had
held heir county convention-probably
he largest democratic convention ever
held in the county. / was the choice
OF that convention, and when certain
members of the executive committee,
undertook TO override, and annul the
wishes of the people, as expressed in
hat convention, and had the cheek,
and ~effrontage, 10 try TO uSurp the
o~rerogative OF a county convention,
and attempted to nominate T. NJ.
Moore, who was defeated at the con
y%ention, in place of myself, the regu-
lar NOMINEE OF the convention, they
perpetrate an outrage, that should
cause a feeling of Indignation, in the
mind of every fair minded man in this
county.
My pen refuses to write the terms
that would fittingly characterize lei
action. l d~enounce their action, as
being extremely unfair, and unjust,
and without precedent in the history
OF any party, and 1 ask all fair minded
men in the county, who like justice
and fair play, to repudiate their action
at the polls on election day.
This faction of the executive com
mittee had something to say about
my alternating myself from the party,
by a declaration that 1 made in regard
to the amendement at the county
convention; and they had something
to say about a resolution that was
passed at the county convention.
Now, these men very we'll know, that
1 Wen before the convention before L
was nominated, and told the people
composing that convention, in plain
and uneQuivocal terms how l stood
on the amendment, and was immedi-
ately afterwards nominated on first
ballot. That didn't look much like |
had alienated myself from the party.
The resolution referred to was pass
ed in my absence, after | had been
nominated, and of course could not
be binding on me, as the convention
thoroughly understood my position,
before l was nominated. In fact l have
been told by persons who were present
that there did not a dozen persons
vote on the resolution; that nc atten-
ton was paid to it. The people were
the proper judges as to whom they
wanted as their candidate.
The same element that is now try
ing to down me, did their best to de-
feat me at the convention, but a large
majority of the people were with me,
and the action of that convention was
a happy v~indication of my course in
carrying out my pledges and promises,
and standing by the people.
Since that convention was held,
some of the boilers n diSOrganiZerS
who were defeated and disappointed
in their efforts to down me at the
convention, urged the populists and
republicans to put out a man against
me and some went so far as to say
that they would support him; but the
populists and republicans ignored
their wishes, and manifested their ap-
pIONdl VI lily SoulSS III ooN
my pledges and promises and stand
ing by the people, by refusing TO put
out any n against me.
The dissatisfaction of this defeated
and boiling element has finally culmi-
mated in Mr.. Moore's candidacy. Mr..
Moore, however, is not the candidate
of the democratic party, nor of any
party. The party in convention assem-
bled refused to nominate him, and that
committee did not have the power.
l. am the regular nominee-the candi-
de II of the party, the only regular can
didate for the house OF representatives
in this county, and 1 will not down at
the bidding of this committee.
1 am pleased to know that several
members of the executive committee
are my friends, and like to see fair
play, and do not at all approve of the
action of a portion of the committee
I wish to thank all of my friends who
have supported me thus far, and
now leave the issue with the people,
with the full assurance that they will
render a proper verdict at the polls.
Your obedient servant,
I D. B. McNEILL.
Supply, n. c.