The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-09
THE GATHERING OF
THE INDEPENDENTS
Wake Republicans and Popu,
lists Their Allies.
NOMINATE NO 1ICKt'
Propose to do This on Twentieth of
September,
THE ATTENDANCE WAS VERY SMALL
An Exhoria,ion by G. Bent Afford, VAN WORDS
by Erastus BaIIentine, fisticufs BIZ lhad
Ivey and Rambling Discourse by
John htWater.

day in the court house.
They came in response to a call issued
by parties stating they were Democrats,
and inviting all conservative white vot-
ers of the county, regardless of past pc
litical company, to meet in Raleigh and
help nominate a full county ticket.
The meeting was set for II o'clock,
but a private caucus with a guardian
at the door began shortly after 10 in
the court house. In this private meeting
came the Republicans and Porulists of
Wake, because the call had asked them
to come But these were not wanted at
the preliminaries and on motion of Mr..
Bryant Smith, were invited 10 get out
till the doors were open for the regular
meeting. This they did.
Left in the court house We're about
thirty whom the signers Of the call con-
sidered regular enough to attend. These
mapped out the work of the main meet
ing, which was to consist of nothing but
to agree to a primary and a convention
on the goth of September.
The caucus had elected Mr.. l.. r.
Wyatt chairman, and Mr.. D. 1. Fort sec
rotary. The following resolution com
mittee was appointed to prepare the
views VI ut COuN euLtOu. D.. T.. bdlIP1-
tine, A. F. Taylor, w. H. Chapel, 3. T.
Sanderlin, w. F. Smith and w. TT.
Jones. 1t was decided that every pre-
cinct in the county should be entitled to
send one delegate for each twenty-five
Democratic votes cast in the last cleo
ton.
Having fixed the slate behind closed
doors these We're opened and the Repub-
licans and Populists drifted in, as did
about eighty people from Raleigh and
vicinity, drawn thither by curiosity.
Dave Lane, who failed to see what was
going on in the Greensboro Republican
convention, in company with three CT
four other negroes occupied a rear seat
in the court house. The "Independents,'
Republicans and Populists all combined,
now numbered about eighty-fiVe and a
number of townships We're not repre-
scented in the meeting. Altogether there
We're in the court house about 100 peo-
pie, half of whom We're spectators.
There were perhaps thirty men present
who have hitherto been regular
Democrats, and who were taking part in
the meeting. There were equally as many
old moss back Republicans like Ceburn
l.. Harris, L. NJ. Green, J. Pros. Massey.
J. r. Chamberlain, Ham Jones, J. p. H.
c1lA IltlIly IolldIu ana OtDolS VINO
are always ready to lend presence and
any influence they may have to any move
nent that has in it the slightest hope Of
dividing the Democratic party. Then
there were perhaps twenty Republicans,
Pouulists, such as w. H. Chamblee, w.
NJ. Arnold. Thadeus Ivey. Oscar Robert
son, Green Bagwell, Hill e. King and
others, who have for years beenreadv at
any time to lend their influence to any
kind OF anti-Democratic movement.
Besides these there were a rev that
might be termed Populist-Leaners
such as Henry Chapel, 3. w. Green, j. J.
Raincs, of Wake Forest; J. r. Gray, and
others, who generally feel better and
more at home in a convention of indie
pendents, or kickers, than elsewhere.
There were a few others who might be
termed
Gold Bug-Silverites, such as G.. Bent Al
ford, R. M. Wynne, and others, who be-
lieVe in almost anything except what
other folks believe in, and there was a
sprinkling of regular Democrats, who
went hither to see what was going to
happen, and these factions made I'D the
great Conclave that had been promised
and that was intended to be a regular
Mt. Pelee in its effect on the Democratic
party in Wake county, but its lava was
frozen and failed to do damage.
The convention organized by making
the caucus officers the permanent officers
on motion of DR.. l.. p. Sorrell, and about
seven voices agreed. Dr.. Sorrpll stated
that it har been agreed to hold prima-
RES on the 18th and a convention on
The Goth, and after Messrs. J. J. Raines
and w. H. Chappell had been heard it
was agreed to have the primary on the
18th. To call thpca nri 1ario . tho ob,;,
man was instructed to name one mem
Der of the committee in each township
and his one to select two others. Chair
man Wyatt gave authority to Secretary
Fort, to appoint the committeeman.
Then Secretary Fort was requested to
read the call ior the meeting, which he
did, aided by calls of louder" This done
Dr. Sorrell Informed the meeting of the
plans agreed on by the caucus. After
!his there was a long delay and those in
attendance looked at each other. Finally
there was IA call from two or three for
Afford and Mr.. G.. Bent Afford, of Holly
Springs, arose.
He began by stating that he did not
know why he was called, that he was no
speaker, that once he had been a candi-
date for Congress but couldn't get a
chance to speak. Here he driftcd into a
contradiction sermon and oxhortation.
telling no" he martyr had suffered and
how good 1T was to be independent. His
speech mad no connection with anv politi-
cal question, except that he announced.
amidst applause, that he had voted for
Mckinney. Ham Jones, Republican ex-
sheriff, was a factor in the applause, The
only proposition he presented was that
If the men whom he addressed would vote
for the proper men there would be good
crops.
j. e. Ballentine, defeated in Democratic
primaries for county commissioner next
spoke. He said that the meetiup was