The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-07
For The Messenger.

Nominating conventions take place n
not weather, away up in the COS; and
consequently Mr.. George H. Bethany,
Of Brunswick, always arrives in town
neatly dressed, but with his coat folded
on his left arm, his hat tilted q little
TO one side, and with a cigar In his
mouth. He is a very large man; but,
except for shocking his coat he Sc
I renely ignores the vagaries of the Their
mOmeter. He is always chairman OF
his delegation, and has his work cu1
out before hand. With his big voice
and his generous, compelling personal
ity one would hardly believe it-but he
is a very cautious politician. Should
a new point come up in his delegation,
he is not content to count noses" a
second time; he may be expected to
arise and address the chairman OF he
convention at once, asking a recess for
a caucus. He is jovial but not noisy,
and I doubt if he ever cheered IL n
convention in his life.
Dan Hugh Mclean made the speech
in the convention nominating H. L.
Goodwin of Harnet; and, like every
thing that he does of that sort, he per-
formed his task we'll. HI has a re-
markable voice, which, whether he be
speaking in the open air or in a great
crowded hall, he never finds il neceSs-
airy to raise to a scream or a yell.
He %rejOices in a stomach Of aIderranic
proportions, which he uses t o advan-
tage as one of his stage properties. He
does not diSdain an occasional orator.
cal flight" but he depends for his ef-
fects chiefly on his humOr, which is
exquisite, and his knowledge Of the
people whom he is addressing, which
is intimate. As he said in the speech
in question, he knew 80 per cent of
them, and was kin to nearly as many
On the morning after the convention
Dan Hugh Mclean was in a store on
Hay street where he was a stranger,
and where he ordered an article to lie
sent to his room in the Hotel LaFay~
cite. But | don't know YOU" said the
store keeper. You don't know me.
my FRIEND he said, drawing himSel.
up, Why where in the world were
YOU raised? | am the 'gentEeman from
HarnettI'" The article was sent fort
with.
A. A Mcclellan, of Cumberland, |
Clerk of the Superior Court, known to
his friends as Gus" Mcclellan, was a
prominent figure in the convention iall
the other day, his sturdy form and gray !
head the storm centre of more than m
bitter fight. He is one the shrewdest
politicians in North Carolina, and the
democrats of his county have absolute
confidence in his skill and Judgment.
comes very near knowing by name
every man in his own party as we'll
as in the other; he is conservative n
making up his opinions, but bold III
he is faithful to his friends. and
as a leader has no superior. TO sum
when he has heard all sides, and
has made up his mind, he IS as stub
born as the devil.
When Columbus county was called
the other day a man arose IN the Bla-
den delegation, and assembled the rOs-
to place in nomination J. A.
Brown. This was DIR: Leslie B. Evans,
son of the late Jonothan Evans, who
was a power in Cumberland politics
twenty-five years age. Yet under mld-
die age DR.. Evans falls short OF the
gigantic stature of his lamented father
though he is tail and heavily built, he
has his ruddy complexion, Snd, Tx
him, wears gold eyeglasses. Ihose VINO
knew the father could not mistake the
son; but the light of the diamond III
the rough had been extlnguisheG
in the grave, n here was the diamond
SET and polished. If he had any con-
of tho ract oJrHianca frHnr-
ing him. he is a cOnsummate artist, for
he showed no sign of it. He seemed
wholly intent on placing his candidate
in the best attitude before the Cape
Fear democracy. Each private and
nnblic virtue and merit such act Of
public and private life, came out clear
cut as blocks in a marble building, unto
the cap stone, wsich was a perOvatiOn
of choice English, thrilling with the
true e]louuence of deep feeling and
conviction. Great applause followed DR..
Evans from the stage, but he did not |
look as if he heard the cheers.
While sitting in q Cumberland coun-
tv convention a few years age, | hearc !
D. L. Nc Bryde, of Little River Acad-
emy make an address. | being an old
man and he quite i young man, | had
to ask VINO he was. | predicted then
that with matuer years he would de-
ve!Cn into one of m forcible and mag
hectic public speakers in North Car
DINA: and his effort the other day. |
nominating H. l.. Cook, confirms me In
my opinions. |
To me one of he most remarkable |
men on the floor of the convention was !
w 4 Stewart of Harnett who second F!
ed the nomination of Goodwin. He is
IF medium height, with well-knit figure, |
of pleasing face, and wore a white
duck summer suit. His movements on
the platform are easy and graceful, his
voice is nervous and magnetic, and is
under complete control; his command