The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-06-24
RALEIGH NEWS Letter.
ALL THE TALK is ABOUT THE
STATE CONVENTION.
Unique Situation in Regard to the
Race for Governor-The Drum
Corps "Hit- at Nashyille-Prepar-
ing for the Educational Campaign.
Messenger Bureau.

| Messenger Bureau.
| Raleigh, n. C, June 21
Private Secretary Pearsall went to
IGoldsboro today to attend the Demo-
jcratic Congressional convention of the
Third district. He said with a smile
that his visit was more of a social one
than otherwise. as, of course, Congress
man Charles Randolph Thomas would
lbe re-nomnated by acclamation.
There are a number of calls for
speakers in the educational campaign
lof this year, which is merely to be a.
lsort Of skirmish line II will not be
an urgent campaign like the ones of
lyear before last and last year. Over
100 public school districts are agitating
the question of local taxation and to
these. speakers will be sent. This is the
jplan of the campaign committee. which
lis composed of Governor Aycack, State
superintendent Joyner. DR.. Charles D.
McIver. and Of which E. c. Brooks is
THE secretary. Since the first of May,
l1a local tax districts have been inau-
Igurated. and the enthusiasm continues.
| AT the request of the Masons at OK
ford and by reason of the date of the
Democratic State convention at Green's
Iboro, the annual meeting of the Grand
Lodge of Masons at the Oxford Orphan
Asylum is postponed from st. Johns
IDay, the 24th instant to the 25th. An
order to this effect is made by Grand
Master Walter o. LiddeH. He as we'll
Jas DEPUTY Grand Master Francis D.
Winston and many other prominent
lMasons will be present, and the cele-
hration will be very handsome one.
Nearly all the talk here Is about the
Democratic state convention and the
Isituation is so unique as to attract
much attention everywhere, with four
regular aspirants, at least two in re-
serve, and two, if not three. dark
horses
The plans are being perfected for the
holding of the Farmers Institutes
which begin July 1st, in the central
Ipart of the state. Two parties are to
be in the field, sent out by the agricul-
IItural department, one to start from
Robeson county and the other from
lChatham, both to seek westward and
lnorthward so as to cover during July
land August, 40 counties between Ra-
leigh and the Blue Ridge.
Mention has been made of the great
scarcity of labor in the state this year
3Out of 290 correspondents of the agri-
department TepOItlilS Oh
lonly 40 say that there is a Sufhciency.
Bishop Duncan of the Methodist Epis-
tcopal church will arrive here tomorrow
and will be in Raleigh day or two.
He will preach at Edenton Street Meth-
Iodist church tomorrow evening.
In the course of a very interesting
with Mr., A. B, Stronach,
who commands l.. o. B. Branch Camp
Confederate veterans of this city, and
Iwho went to the Confederate reunion
lat Nashville last week, taking the only
Confederate drum corps in existence,
1T is learned that North Carolina made
la decided hit there. About 800 North
Carolina veterans were present, headed
by Julian S. Carr, commanding the
division, and never were they enter
ltained in handsomer style. The drum
lcorps made a great hit, but never
swept an aurience more completely
Than it did the one of 5000 persons in
1.-THE auditorium when it entered and
lplayed Dixie" A noted orator was
speaking when the drum corps entered
the great hall. In front, marched
Commander Carr, followed by Mr..
jStronach, then by veterans who bore
1.-THE flag of i. o. B. Branch Camp,
which was the battle flag and also the
flag Of the city OF Raleigh. which is
distinctive and striking. The drum
corps came next with little ten-year
lold Mary Stronach, marching in front
lof it, in Confederate uniform, and lit
lerally covered with badges. Behind
the drum corps came the sponsors and
maids of honor from North Carolina.
And such music as that drum corps
made! The aisle was cleared of people
land down it went, the drummers and
1.-THE ffers, while the cheering crowd
lleaped to it's feet and the great orator
was put out of action until it had swept
down one aisle. passed in front of the
platform and then up the other aisle.
Never was "Dixie" played in more soul
lstirring fashion and the cheering, as
the drum corps put it, seemed as if 1t
would raise the roof" The drum
Icorps serenaded the governor at the
lea pital and he made little speech
There in response to the one made by
Commandant Stronach. The drum
corps will probably go to st. Louis, to
make it's merry-music during the con-
lvention of the Daughters Of the Con-
Ifederacy. The North Carolina veterans
fought to see to it that it goes there.
There is nothing like it in this coan-
TRY. The volume of sound it can turn
|out is astonishing. Mr.. Stronach tells
me that in a counter march in which
lit passed the superb band Of the Sew
tenth United States Cavalry. it abso.
Ilutely drowned out the latter.