The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-24
Especial to The Messenger.)

Especial to The M~essenger.)
Raleigh, N. c., February 21.-The lob
hes, foor and allies of the hall of the
House of Representatives were pack
ed with people when Chairman Sim
mons, at 8 o'clock tonight, assembled the
speakers chair and raped the state
Democratic executive committee to or
der. Secretary Fields called the roll OF
members Of the various committees,
and seventy responded in person or by
proxy.
THE FIRST CONTEST.
The first contest vas precipitated
when R. N. Hackett, announcing tine
death of DIR. McClelland, a member Of
the central committee from the Eighth
Congressional district, placed in nom'-
nation as his successor, Walter Muir
ply, of Rowan Paul b. Near nomi-
mated u. ". Long, of Iredell, saying the
chairman of the county COM
rnEtee had requested that he be select
edRn place of the deceased member
from Iredell. He said Rowan already
had Two members, and it would be
manifestIy unfair to give Rowan three
Iredell no representative at all on
either committee Hackett said the
central committee was but the creation
of the executive committee, n every
member of the executive committee or
the Eighth district had sent an en-
dorsement of Murphy for the acanc
He claimed that the central committee
had no mower, except advisory, ana II
- had always been true ITO other members
6f the executive committee selected
sL the state Democratic convention to
fiji vacancies in their own district. he
asked for a ruling on the point. Char
man Simmons ruled that at all COM
,nittee meetings all committeeman, state
central and advisory had an equal flSnt
to vote. Gillian, Lamb, Hackett AND
Reid differed with the chairman in MS
construction, Pou and Means sustain
ing 1t.
The vote resulted Murphy 20, LoE2
AZ. which was considered a tess Fote
between two factions.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The next contest arose over a mo
ton nv Hackett that the m &c
snto executive session. Scales offereu :
substitute, allowing all Democrats Il
good standing to remain. IneIe Wei'
spee2nes against session lINI
Scale and Pou. both declaring that CIV
erypody should see and hear what WAS
going, on. Watson CALLED atteatlon L
the immense crowd present, a1d LIN
impossibilfty of a conference unuer sa~l
circumstances. He was fotloWed ~
Crafse Reid, Gillian, Norton, WoooaIo
and Feinster in avor Of SeS
sion. McNinoh settled the difficulty D!
a resolution excluding all except Cove
nor Glenn. This was adopted 1mmcol
ateIv. Governor Glenn stated that n
was present simply as a private cLllH@
n as such he wound retire With III
others. He in company with ufle vas
throng. good naturally walked out re-
dxNzing the perfect proprleoy u III
cAnnittee's action. The vote sustatl
inc Senator simmons ruling that a
committeeman were entitled TO 'oot
and the exclusion of the com
mittee from filing vacancy, thereby Ie
SuIting m q majority OF tfhteeil ~
Long over Murphy was taken as d .<
of the relative strength OF the TWO lde
tionS. 3.
AT ten O'Clock the committee met /
executive session. John \. WILSON, {
Greensboro, proxy for j. u Neisoi' We
selected as chairman.
A telegram from Senator OVernid
in transmitting his proxy, contains
this expression: Il think the co1niE'
tee ought not to attmpt to instruct Il
legislature. Let Zach legislator hSei
pret the platform for himself.
COMMITTEE TAKES NO ACldO;
By a vote of fifty ito twenty-five III
executive committee at two ocl"c
adopted a resolution offered by JOS
phus Daniels, to the effect that u
committee take no action. This Vo
followed q speech of two hours fro
Chairman Simmons supporting q
Ward bill and defending his positlo
He declared that he had not sought
pass the bin as a party measure, or
drive amy body 10 its p NE NJ
assisted as a private citizen in eHof
10 carry out solemn promises to Il
people.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Wooda
of Wilson, declaring the letter wr1tt'
by Chairman Simmons during n cal
paigh to John R. Webster, defining t
attitude of the party ON the WAITS la
to Zoe the same the commit
now. was laid on the table. 1t was a
vocated by Watson, GdDIam, dacks
and Others. but the majority side Woo
mott entertain 1t. 4,
~0keWfrole session was lively DuC I
Ge1 was without acrimony.
Mr.. Stephen Mcintyre, of Lumbert
spent last night in the city.