The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-22
(BY R. Il. GRAY.)

Greensboro, N. c., June 21.-The
first section of the Southern double
afternoon service to the convention ar
rived late this afternoon from out the
middle of a cloudburst that was run
into just past Burlington, and it's pas
sengers, after threading dangerous
way past long freight which OBJ
structed the station, emerged to find
Greensboro sparkling and happy in its
prevailing talk Of politics.
The hosts cannot yet be said to have
even sent their vanguard that will
pour in on tomorrows trains from
every direction, and by tomorrow
night the now comfortable hotels will
have been changed into a bedlam OF
conflicting opinion. Tonight the COM
paratively few arrivals are sitting
about the lobbies in quiet sociability,
with no frown in their talk
This talk is necessarily largely corr
posed of rival claims, but it is no
ticeable that the platform is bearing.
its part in the discussion. AS has
been forecasted. there is a general
sense that the convention should speak
out squarely; that this is no time for
a Straddle.
AT the same time there is a strong
conservative sentiment. If the conven-
tion is progressive to the point of COM
mitting the party to any particular
State policies save those of education
and temperance, and these but gener-
ally, it's deliverance in those respects
will be the subject of prolonged and
determined opposition.
Not that there will be any back
track taken, the Watts law will be en-
dorsed, as we'll as Governor Aycocks
educational policy. But these endorse
ments will look to the past and not re-
commend except in general terms the
future actions of the Legislature.
| have talked tonight with many
delegates and with most of the recog-
niZed party leaders who have so far
arrived, and the foregoing remarks
as to platform are the concensus of
opinion as culled from those sources.
For instance, / had a talk on those
lines with Ex-Governor Jarvis, who ar
rived this afternoon. Asked as to the
platform, and particularly as to the
Watts act and it's place in platform
resolution, Ex-Governor laughed be-
nignly as is his way, and replied in
substance: 81 am in favor of the
Watts act and in favor of endorsing it,
but it ought to be amended. AS it
stands it is about the meanest piece of
legislation ever constructed"
When / suggested that a plank
might be proposed which would en-
dorse the Watts act and pledge the
convention to oppose its repeal, Gov
ernor Jarvis dissented positively.
In reply to the same suggestion
| Speaker Gattis replied: "That would
| be going too far. We intend to stand
| by the Watts act and by education
This is no time for a straddle, and
none will be attempted. The conven-
ton will not go backwards, but hard
4 ,,Ic <~f4 -,
ter would meet with favor"
Another question that is being dis
| cussed is That of a legaliZed primary.
| 1t is noticeable that the plain dele
gates from the country districts-there
are few of these here-are almost
unanimously in favor of the innova-
| ton. They are enthusiastic. Others
! of more prominence are non-commit-
| tai 1t may be forecasted, however.
that the legalized primary will have
| its day in court" and that the
chances are in favor of it's endorse
ment by the convention.
| Glenn and Stedman headquarters at
the Guilford are taking a long breath
! before the battle of the
next few days the respective claims
are set out in Mr.. Joyner's telegram.
| Both sides are doing hard work and
/ the leaders of the opposing forces are
! getting early on the ground Mr..
| Eller is at Mr.. Glenn's headquarters
and Mr.. Brooks is course unsparing-
! ly in comand at those of Major Sted-
man. The delegates are doing some
| talking in a mysterious strain con-
corning developments and discoveries
among the uninstructed delegations,
which they say encourage them to
| hope for nomination OF the first
| ballot. These claims, however, have
no visible foundation and while they
| may indicate a sensation, probably
| have their source in enthusiasm.
The more frankly spoken adherents
of both Glenn and Stedman expect a
| longdrawn conflict, and in the mean
time there is growing a Turner senti-
ment that is slightly contagious His
strength seems to lie in the mobility
of his forces, and in the expectation
that when a break comes in the case
Continued on Page Five.)