The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-12
PROGRESS AND POLITICS
in BUSY GREENSBORO
Brief Review of the Magic City of the Piedmont
Plans-Col. Bill Osborne It's Aggressive
and Popular Mayor.
BY r. B. ARENDEll.

oAVShSbOiOs Az. ~, april - uou liNc
in Greensboro. l sometimes wish ! did,
because 1t is without question one of the
smartest, eleverest and most energetic
little cities in the South, and while
don't live here my business frequently
brings me here and l am glad that it
does for there are object-lessons here,
for even an occasional visitor, that are
both interesting and valuable. During
the past decade or so what was formerly
the unpretentious county-seat of Guilford
has grown from village to town, and
then from town to a city. In the Ian
guage of one of the city's progressive
young citizens: 1T went to sleep one
night a town, and woke up next morning
city" 1t was formerly called the
City of Flowers" and 1t is entitled to
still, but it is more than that now. 1t is
the city OF factories as well as flowers,
the hotel city as well as the dollhouse
city. IL is city of business as well as
blooms, \ college as well as a chrysan-
themum city, and a convention city as
well as a city of carnations, and it has
all been brought about in comparatively
short while. 1t was presto change"
from the old town to the new city, and it
is wei on the way to even greater devel-
opment and greater wealth and impor-
lance.
There is a spirit of rivalry here in
every avenue of the citys activity, but
it is generous, friedly, rivalry, that
is healthful and all together makes up
a current of progress and prosperity that
moves forward every interest of the
hustling community. This spirit of rivalry
in perhaps a. gentler sense seems to
manifest itself here even in the con-
struction of the city's houses of holy
worship and for this reason they are
larger, handsomer and more imposing
than they would otherwise have been.
There is seemingly the same spirit of
gentle and friendly rivalry in the es
tablishment and maintenance of its in
situations of learning, and no city of its
size in the South, can lay just claim to
better Or more convenient or comfortable
buildings and grounds erected and dedi-
Gated to the cause of education.
And this generous but energetic spirit
of rivalry Is demonstrated in every phase
of the industrial life of Greensboro, and
because of this fact the general bust
ness of the city and community has grown
into a sweeping volume that flows out
into all parts of the commercial world
You may always confidently rely on
finding something other than the every
day routine going on In eensboro. 1t
may be a political conference or con-
vention, a religious or educational gath
ering reunion OF veterans, Grand
Lodge or other gathering, and when there
happens to be a lull in the movement
hther of outside forces of conventions
or individuals, the people of the hustling
city amuse themselves by organizing new
manufacturing enterprises, erecting new
and imposing business blocks, planning
and erecting a new hotel or opera house,
laying off a new city park, building new
roads and streets, organizing half a
dozen or so of new banking insurance
or other like institutions, erecting hand
some and commodious houses for them,
organizing new companies, for the build
ing of new furniture factories, lumber
plants, cotton mills or other industries,
and then they go stirring out into the
busv world for business. And they get il
because pluck and energy, coupled with
brains and money, wins, wherever you
find them acting and working together.
This is brief sketch OF the magic city
of the Piedmont plains, and it is the
truth as | have observed 1t during my
visits to this busy centre OF trade and
travel.
The same spirit of active but friendly
rivalry appears too In the political con-
tests here as we'll as in the everyday
life of the community, and Greensboro is
rapidly becoming a most interesting
political centre, and if you happen tC
be hankering after political discussion
along party lines of any other lines, yot
don't have to HE yourself away from
Greensboro to find it, but if you will
wi hnf
ii stumbling up against you.
Last night the great gathering of the
faithful followers of the G. o. P. were
within the gates of the gate city. Al
day and nearly all night the air wa:
charged with the hopes, inspirations, as
pirations, and Authorizations of Pritch
ard Duncan Rollins Robinson Bynum
Settle Blackburn and the other large anC
small lights of the retiring commander
of the Tar Heel remnant of the G. 0. p
They all marched up the Greens
boro hill elected Rollins chair
man and selected Robinson for Natona
committeeman. and then marched dowI
again. leaving their tracks and ducat:
behind them, and Greensboro kept RICH
on doing business and in few hours tn,
departing guests were forgotten and tn,
stirring city had recalled the fact tina
II had little political matter OF it,
own to discuss and consider and on ever!
corner you could hear people discussing
the approaching municipal election
There is already more or less spirit an(
activity manifested in the mayoralty con
test here. Among the gentlemen men
toned for tho place, | heard the name
OF the present incumbent, Col,# w. II
Osborne. Mr.. Glenn G. Wright Mr.. w. r
Land and Mr.. John King. but to passer
by 1t seems that the real contest is L
be between Col. Osborne and Mr. Glen
Wright. two of the most popular men il
Greensboro.