The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-03
NOW FOR THE CAUCUS
Eve of the Biennial Session Finds In.
terest Centering in the Speaker
ship. Members Arriving and
Candidates Early on the
Scene as Usual.


set. There are many things in the
watchers of the rest. The cigars are
twinklng in the lobby. The candidate
is abroad in the land The smoke
clouds drift. above nodding heads
There is a buzz of conversation, like
the sound of hive of bees. The corn
ers OF the lobby are full OF six-chair
caucuses. The little bill is edging a
cautious way into the open. Hello,
Bill! The Legislature is herei
All day yesterday there was a slow
augmentation of the crowds. First
came the candidates, always early on
the ground. those for the offices of
honor and emolument and those fol
the minor appointiVe offices. The
pursued different methods but similar
aims. They were here to see" their
friends. to set currents to moving in
doubtful directions. to make appeals,
and suggest inducements. For awhile
the candidates had it almost to them
selves. There We're few legislators on
hand. Those who wish Office sat about
the hotel and talked animatediS
among themselves. But presently the
men on whom hang their hopes corr
menced to pour in from the trains.
BY night they were much in evidence.
And they gave to the newly furnished
old lobby of the Marlboro House, that
has seen SO many similar and dissimi-
lar gatherings. the old time natural
look of what it is, the storm centre
of North Carolina politics.
Tonight the lobby buzzes with Cos
sip and argument and hope. In few
days it Will palpitate with the business
of the session. But as yet there has
little been thought of the work that is
to do. It is candidates day.
The Picked Crowd
The legislative crowd is one that Is
fulls~4sf-Athe interest that always at
estaches to representative yet diverse
gatherings. This years throng is the
fourth of a remarkable quartette o.
assemblies which are made UP of the
strong men of the State. To those VINO
remember the days of the fusion gath
erings. when Marion Butler, StalkeG
like a man of mystery across the stage
leaving behind his path the shudder-
ing and admiring hush which fell upon
his gathered hands. the contrast %
independence is one that Is still con-
spicuous for the memory. These are
men who in most instances make I.
personal sacrifice to come to Raleigh.
those were in most instances either
non-entities who stood agape at an
undreamed of magnificence or shreWd
wise ones who saw possibilities that
made the four dollar per diem looa
like thirty cents. Here are lawyers in
fine practice, doctors who are leaing
paying patients, business men and
bankers who have put their affairs for
the time into other hands to come to
sit down for over sixty hard working.
strenuous days for the sake of a prIn-
cipal. If there be a value which has
vet accrued from the frantic fusion.
days ii is this: that the people of the
State were shocked into sending their
best men. The Importance of Il legis-
lator was impressed by the exhibition
of his capacity for harm. 1t was 4
bitter lesson which was we'll learned.
bat it has produced magnificent law
making bodies. t sounded Il call to
the people to name the best among
them; and a call to men of force to
make u sacrifice for the sake of "a
duty which was emphasized by mis-
rule.
The PrcpOndcrant andidate.
The first days of the session are full
of life and color by reason of the can
didate. is thought that is of I,
perennial sadness that he is more num-
erous than the offices he would fill 1t
seems too bad. He wants SO little. buJ
he wants that little so much And
the most distressing feature of the case
is that he is generally SO deserving.
of what he wants. The candidate for
the smallest of the offices has his
friends in his community who know
his work for the party, his personal
worth, and his fitness for the place he
wishes. They cannot understand when
ne fails. They forget that he is one
of an army of men who haze all dons
good work, who are all important men
in their communities. The legislature
IS q Statewide affair which is run on
remarkably economical principles
The offices within its gift are few anG
there are naturally many who desire
them.
Nobody is more aware of this con-
d.tion than the candidates themselves
And they make a hustling game for
first place The money consideration
is small and at first blush it would
seem that there was lots to do abou
nothing. The financial view does not
however. cover the case There is the
glamour of the service; the excitement
OF the session and its work; the Ease
nation e,ssstsststs ae ~ a fountain CT
.evs-ssssF the renewal of cd fieg and ola.
associations. There are uGo 81 en- III III
many among the candidate. 80 80
after old position that they L -
They have known the taste az, 80,
1t good. Some haze been droppod go
the running. They come back 49,
full and undeterrevd. There are 49,.
pictures among them The si iil,t'iE
minded, be-whiskered man who E ,,l
as though he was Just from the VIZ VIZ
fired with new ambition shy tail,
bis courage in his hands to MAXI
canvass. One knows his case to
hopeless. He lacks initiative. he want
gall. He is the man who will BE-
passed over in the crowd. Then there
is the man who ought to have Learned
the eame and hasn't. The citizen who
is in Gerry way worthy, but loses on;
on Il natural seif-concet. At home he
is accumtomed TO command He has
not learned how to ask gracefully. he
IS surprised when he finds that he
needs All introduction. There is the
alert candidate who would win did he,
not have alert competitors. He is up>
te-date. He appreciates the difiiclh-
ties. His face is uerous and his eyes
wander apprehensivey. lie has chosen !