The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-05-24
Politics in North Carolina.
Wilmington Messenger.


State. Down here in New Hanover
it is getting so that this is the chief
subject Of discussion on the streets.
Much interest is being taken in the
county convention which meets Tues
day to appoint delegates to the
State, congressional and judicial con-
ventions The chief point OF interest
is the congressional convention dele
cation. Indications are that there
will be a lively contest over the choice
of chairman of the county conven-
ton. There are four candidates in
this congressional district and all
have friends and supporters i'll this
county. We hope that each one will
have given him his full strength on
the delegation to the district cOnven-
ton. That is the rule established by
the State executive committee and it
il fair and lust. There have been i'll
stances in the past when this rule
was completely ignored in this coun-
ty as regards candidates for State
offices and in this aud other counties
i'm this district in the manner OF cast
ing the cOunty's vote for congress
sionaI candidates. In these instances
the minority has been completely ig-
uOred and the full vote of the county
east for the choice OF the majority.
This is not right and should not be
tolerated. Every time it is done it
works injury to the party. Demo
Gratis don't like to feel that they have
been nniustly treated by the men who
have control of the county or district
affairs of the party.
County politics do not figure to
much extent at present. That part
Of the contest will come UP later in
the summer, and the Indications are
that times will be pretty lively when
it does begin.
The present outlook is for Il spirit
ed contest over the congressional
nomination in this district. 1t will
probably be the hottest contest OF
that in any district i'll the State, ex-
cept. perhaps in the eighth, now rep
resented by Mr. Blackburn, the lone
Republican congressman from this
State, and which will probably be
represented by the same gentleman
i'm the next congress, no matter
whom the Democrats may nominate.
If is rather strange that there should
be more Democrats seeking nOmina-
ton in that Republican district than
in any other in the State. The Re
publicans count on carrying the
eighth. and many Democrats concede
it to them; still, there is a pretty big
demand among democratic politl-
clans for their party's nomination.
1t is we'll understood that MessrS.
Pom. in the fourth district and Page
i'm the seventh will have no OppUsi-
ton for denomination.
Mr.. Claui kitchin i'll the second,
will hardly have serious opposition,
if any at all.
An effort will be made to defeat
denomination OF MIR. W. W.
strenuous OppOsltlOntOt heSoutner1
fast mail appropriation, but it will
prove fruitless.
Messrs. Small, OF the first, and
Thomas, OF the third, will be pretty
sure to have very slight opposition.
Matters have not sufficiently de-
veloped in the ninth to Indicate the
outcome. Mr.. Webb, though, will
likely be given il third term.
In the tenth Mr. Gudger will have
q fight for his nomination, and who
ever is nominated will have IL hot
fight for the election The Republi
cans claim that they have a good
showing i'll that district.
In State matters there is nothing
for the convention to do but indOrse
the nominations for superior court
Judges made by the conventions i'll
those districts whose judges term
expires this year, to nominate IL cor
pOratiOn commissioner us successor
to Chairman Mcneil; to adopt II
platform and to choose q State com
mittee and a member Of the national
cOmmitte.
Mr.. Mcneil is Il candidate for re-
nomination and he has Il strong OPP
pouent in Mr.. Jacob A. Long of
Alamance. There will probably be
other candidates for this office by the
time the convention meets.
Because of the state of affairs i'll
the national party the choice OF n
State committee and n member OF
the national committee will be of
more than usual Importance. Ac-
cording to what is done in this re-
spect the party in the State will be
classed for or against Organism. Mr.
JOsephus Daniels, the present mem
Der OF the national committee, is n
strong advocate OF Mr.. Bryan snOm-
ination in 1908. Should he be re-elec-
ted it would amount to the conven-
ton declaring in favor OF Mr.. Bryan's
candidacy. Should he be superseded
by some member of the party who is
of the other faction it would be tam
tamount to n declaration against
Organism
The time for holding the Statecon-
vention is only about a month and
n half off. 1t is time the people were
considering this question of choice of
n national committeeman. This year
it will mean more than the comforting
of an empty honor. Heretofore it
made little difference who the South
ern Democrats put on that commit
tee as representatives of the party in
their States, and Southern Demo-
Gratis have allowed their politicalco
freres of the North to dictate to them
in all matters. We look for a change
IN this state of affairs during the
next two years. The representatives
OF the Democracy of the South on
this committee will cease to be mere
figureheads. In future more signifi-
canoe will be attached to the class of
men chosen. Their political views on
the questions which divide the party
will play more prominent part. For
this reason it is not a bit too soon
Tor the Democrats of the State to be-
gin to consider who shall represent
them on this committee in the future
1.-THE Messenger is mistaken about
a member of the national committee
having to be elected this year. The
term OF Mr.. Josephus Daniels does
not end until 1908. we think.-GoLD
EAF