The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-26
NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS IN
THE 3I0TH BALLOT
The Contest was n Close One and
Ended After Fifteen Hours Hard
Fighting - Something About the
Early Mornings work. and Hav-
the Deadlock Was Finally Broken
BeIIamy's 149 Odd.

States house of representatives from
this, the Sixth Congressional district.
The nomination occurred after an al
day and all night session, and ended
one of the fiercest contests ever waged
for congressional honors.
1t ook 80 ballots to decide the race.
n it appeared for a time thu an al
most unbreakable deadlock existed
which would indefinitely prolong the
conventions labors.
From the very first ballot on through
the 309th, with two exceptions, the fol-
lowing counties remained firm in their
votes for their candidate:
Each time through the whole night,
Brunswick gave it's IS votes and New
Hanover its SO votes for Bellamy; Co
lumbus, until the break. gave its A
votes for Brown: Cumberland stuck to
Major Hale with its "a votes until. near
the end: Robson remained loyal to
Patterson with its 50 votes from the
first till last: Bldden with 80 and Har-
nett with 80 were the only two that
varied. They gave first one and then
the other of the candidates part of
their strength, nut the race was so
close that never vas there any danger
of the necessary 160 votes being given.
The balloting began, as was noted in
yesterdays Messenger, about IL o'clock
p. m. and Bellamy led from the start.
He continued at all times ahead, ex-
cept three or four ballots, when Patter-
son assumed the top.
The ballots wele cast entirely for the
candidates most prominently known
Only twice were outsiders voted for
and each time, a furry of interest was
aroused and the fears or prophecies of
dark horse were mentioned.
In the 223rd ballot, Cumberland
county gave "a votes to c. c. Lyon. If
this was an attempt to launch a
boom it utterly failed as Mr..
Lyon received no further votes. On
the following ballot, Bladen gave it's
entire strength to H. l.. Cook, but like
the first, this ended with the ballot
it started on. From early in the night,
Robeson's large, minority had been
fighting and demanding for their pro-
portionate vote and this would have
gone Bellamy, but they failed to get
representation. Columbus ended the
fight. They saw it was useless to con-
tinue their support of Brown and at
a caucus it was decided to Split the
majority going for Bellamy and the
rninnrifv for DatforSnn Gum hprla n6'S
minority by the early evening vote We're
completely at the mercy of the ma
jority, who decided ito follow Columbus
lead in deserving their own candidate
and giving their strength to Patterson.
The combined votes, on the 31Oth bal
than was necessary. The whole ballot
was as follows:
Bladen-Hale l, Brown 4, Bellamy %,
Patterson 4: Brunswick. Bellamy IS;
Columbus, Bellamy q 2-1O, Paterson
1e sic: Cumberland. Patterson "a; Har-
nett, Bellamy %. Patterson 8; New
Hanover, Bellamy SO; Robeson, Patter-
son 81 Totals-Hale l. Brown 4, Bella
my 149 2-10. Patterson 1914 $40. The
sudden break caused surprise, though
the frequent caucuses and conferences
indicated that something was in the
-air." The result was greeted with
wild enthusiasm by the allied anti
Bellamy forces.
Chairman Myrover Immediately APP
pointed a committee of three, Messrs.
Mcintyre. Mccormick and Sinclair to
find Mr.. Patterson and escort him to
the hall. Mr.. Patterson was at the
hotel, where he had been anxiously
awaiting the news. He was taken to
the hall and was given a rousing well
come. He spoke feelingly for a moment,
of the honor that had been conferred
on him and pledged himself to work
for the whole district. there were 10 be
no sections in it for him.
The convention then at : o'clock, at
ter session of fifteen hours came tc
a close.
The attendance at tho session Wed
nesday was very large and il was a re.
markedly fine body of men. truly rep
r~eSentative men Of the district. The
proceedings were watched with closest
interest and the contests and fights
were bitterly struggled fer. Only words
of praise have been heard for the citi-
zens Of Fayetteville. The delegates
were Hospitality received and well en-.
tertained.
Mr.. J. H. Myrover the permanent
chairman made an ideal presiding of.
ficer. He commanded the body witt
perfect ease and he was firm in his deci
sions. HE voice could he heard plainly
over all the hall. His short speech ii
accepting the craftsmanship was tn
right thing. He spoke briefly and elo
ouently, and with less than two min.
utes talk had called b body to order
From the first glance at Fayetteville
it could be seen that il was the felt
against Bellamy. Strong, RELENTLESS