The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-03
LEE 8, 0VERMAN WINS
ON SIXTY-FIRS1 BALLOT.
Result Greeted With an Outburst Of Wild
Applause.
~StVENTY-.THREE VOTES
Watson Received So, and Craig li---Nomina.
ton Made Unanimous Without a Dis
sentjng Voica---Sp.eches Of
Candidates,

rather Unexpectedly to many, but there
were many who looked for the contest to
end last night. Everybody was anxious
to have it over. and when it became APP
parent, after the second ballot, that a
nomination was in sight, there was a
feeling Of relief on all sides The legis-
lators had come to place where they
wanted the struggle ended. The feel
ing of WEAKNESS that has caused the
public cry out to nave the contest ended
was even stronger in the Legislature.
It has been remarkable that a con-
test so free from bitterness should be
SO long protracted. It is a tribute to
the esteem and resard in which the cam
didates were held. From the first moth
ing but friendliness has prevailed among
the candidates and their friends, and The
end leaves 10 animosities or heart
burning.
The caucus opened promptly at eigh-
O'Clock. There seemed to be a listness-
ness at first which pervaded the Whoie
House. The only absentee in the caucus,
not paired, was Woodley, of Chowan
Goode, of Cleveland, Can Overman mani
was paired with Glenn, OF Guilford, Ia
Watson man.
h first ballot aroused no interest,
though there was some applause When
Watson was in the lead. The vote on
the 57th ballot stood:
Overman.. !. . -. -. :. oil
Craig. +. !. ;. !. !. J. !. !. . -. !. /. /. :. -
The 5sth ballot was:
watson. -. -. =. :. ;. oo
Craig. . :. !. :. =. =. =. Is
The announcement was received with
continued cheers by the Overman men
on the floor and in the gallery. They
felt that they were going to win and
showed it in every movement. The 59th
ballot stood:
Craig. . . /. =. :. . :. ;. IA
The Overman cheers were then moro
enthusiastic and hearty than at any
time before. His leaders and supporters
crowded the aisles and appealed to every
Craig man who would listen to get on
the band wagon" as they said and vote
for Overman.. A feeling of confidence per-
vaded the Overman forces in the hall,
and as the next vote was found to bring
him within three votes of the nomina-
ton. The 60th ballot stood:
ONeTLldu.. . F.. =. ;. :. =. =. :. :. . p. y. ~
Watson. =. . =. !. :. i. :. 50
Craig. . . :. . {. -. 5. (. +. . :. :. F.. . =. II
Amid great excitement, the roll call
for the 61st ballot was proceeded with.
Everybody felt that the end was near.
The Watson men looked solemn and
sombre; the Overman men were jubi-
liant and could not keep their seats. The
galleries caught the contagion and every
body was restless and nervous as the
procession of members passed by the
open basket and deposited their ballots:
1t was precisely 5:57 o'clock when Rep
resentative Whitaker began to call out
the ballots and Clerk Murphey to repeat
them. When it was found, as the roll call
was completed, that Overman was nomi-
mated, there was wild cheering. The 61st
ballot, which nominated was as follows:
Cyerman.. :. :. :. !. :. +. 5. 73
Then the applause grew fast and furi-
Gus and everybody was talking at once.
Senator Webb, of Buncombe, seconded
by Mr.. Doughton, of Allegheny, moved
CldC IL HOLuludIIOu OI MI. oS6IIudu De
made unanimous. and this was done.
On motion of Speaker Gattfs a commit
tee of three was appointed to wait on
MY. Overman and notify him that he had
been nominated. and to invite all the
Senatorial candidates to come before the
caucus. The committee named was CON-
posed of the following: Messrs. Webb.
Doughton, Gattis, Murphy and Watts.
While the committee was out, on motion
OF Senator Blow, the public was invited
to come into the hall and it was q gay
scene. The listlessness passed and every
body was glad the long strain was over -
the Oyerman men were happy that they
had won and the supporters of Watson
and Craig, who had made a warm fight
and had lost, glad that the strain was az
last over, ard a Senator had been named.
The caucus, having completed it's work
which had gone on for many days during
which sixty-one ballots had been taken
waited impatiently for the coming of the
man it had named as the Democratic
nominee for United States Senator from
North Carolina, and who today will re-
ceive the solid Democratic vote for that
great office.
Suddenly, as the caucus waited there
were shouts heard in the distance.
These heralded the coming of the win
ner in the great contest. The shouts
grew louder, and as the party reached
the rotunda of the Capitol they grew in
volume.
without the Hall there was a mass
of humanity. Into this finally came Hon.
Lee S. Overman, his escorts, and with
them Hon. c. B. Watson and Hon. Locke
Craig. whom Mr.. Ovcrman had Joined i'll
the office of Governor Aycock. Through
the crowd they managed, with difficulty.
to push their way into the senate char
Der, where the great crowd followed.
n,oe. thropged about the three men
80 names have been tho topics of
a-.ore,tion for weeks and months, and
.m.;1o tbcv showercd congratulations on
-" r,;,+or there were many expressions
=, congratulations to the defeated unon
,ne sreat fight their friends had made