The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-25

to a point where human nature would
demand an adjournment. Stedman
was doing as Wei as Glenn. not
fast enough to overtake. but faster
than the leading candidate. In mo-
ment the situation turned on itself
seven foot pole of county
standard high above his head
as he might have handled a
cane. rushed before the desk of the
chairman, his face red with the eX-
ertion of his lungs and reckoning with
the standard as though with wand
Instantly the Glenn men broke all
bounds. Their reserve force was
wonderful. They capered and danced
and sung and checred. Horns blew
the air was filled with missions
Strange crowds came from all over
the hall-the grating rasp of the
squee-dunk, the roll OF drums, the
fanfare of trumpets All this amid
rolling orgy of sound that poured
from a thousand threats while men
| danced upon the tables of the report
ers, struggled over and broke oaken
chairs as though they were paste
board to be crushed and, swarmins
down the aisles With their standards,
| gathered in front of the chairman 5
seat, over-fowed the platform
| drowned the noise OF opposition as
| one would spank q child. Minute af-
| ter minute the riot went on. Stand
ard after standard came to join the
mass of struggling humanity in the
! fore ground. The mass SWayed and
| cheered together like some conglom-
| crate single giant. The standards
| hooked over each other and formed
| a canopy, that quivered and flashed
| with the look of an almost human
| intention. From the middle of th9
screaming mass came high pitched
| laughter and short, gruff oaths.
| Fists flashed out from the muck Oc-
casionally a. heave and surge would
| indicate a fight. In two seconds the
! combatants Would be hopeiessly sep
| arated. And still the minutes went
| by-fiye ten. fifteen. II seemed that
| there would never be peace. The
| hail was practically bare of the coun-
| ty device upon it. The opposition sat
stood q stubborn pole with the coun-
| ty device upon it. The oppostism sat
quiet, scornful, determined in their
seats. But the death warrant OF
| their hopes had sounded: it was as
unmstakable to them as it was tC
| every other one of us whose ear
| drums ached with the crash of tho
| ever rising diapasm of sound. The
| contagion spread and compelled its
/ sometimes unwilling victims. The day
was won, it remained only for the vic
| tors to remember chivalry and the
| conquered the honor of their cause.
| Clearing a space about him stood
| in the conspicuous foreground stall
wart athletic young lawyer, Sted-
man enthusiast. AS he watched the
| riot of confidence about him, he
| snread his legs far apart and stood
fer minutes watching the dancing
! Glenn adherents with lip curling
with scorn and an eye that flashed
| defiance | watched the change that
came over this mans face-a change
! that was sinking like iron into the
souls of the Stedman men. Slowly the
curl left his lip. his face became
drawn and white with hopeless pas
| sion his eyes lost their flash and
! sparkle. Slowly / saw the tears
| come. He scorned to wipe them away.
| With head in the air--those fighting,
| legs still set far apart-he stood stu
| gazing through the mist of his grief
at the triumphing host of his enc
| mics. 1t was a fine and thought
| full sight.
When on the next ballot the result
! was announced there was repetition
| of the scenes before the final ballot,
! the difference being only that the note
of conflict was gone, the bitterness
of exultation already subsiding In tl,e
moment of triumph.
| Some man from Iredell marvelously
| made himself heard with a motion To
/ make the nomination unanimous. Zeh
| Taylor. ex-1nayor of Greensboro, anc
Ian ardent Stedman men, climbed the
| platform like a cat and with the heat
| of battle still ringing in his tones
| gracefully seconded the motion. A
1 moment later Solicitor Brooks raised
| his tall form. shook back his flowing
hair and made a similar declaration.
His management of Stedman's cam
paign has laid hold upon his heart
| strings so that all may see-but no
man could have with more taste per-
! formed as he did the handsome
| thing
And so, with the pale grey light OF
the dawn. the people chose their
| Governor.