The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-02
Merchants Making Efforts 70 Bring
About Better Arrangements
Matter WIFI be Considered at Next
Battle Flag Captured by q Rhode
Island Company to be Returned to
the State-Work of the North Caro-
lima Retail Merchants Association.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, y. c., February "a.

a Drle1 wire TOLD the failure of the
Merchants Association through a
special committee, and the telephone
companies-three in number-in Ra-
leigh to arrive at u conclusion iii a
meeting Or conference for thai purpose.
All in all perhaps the Representatives
from the phone companies and the
committee were together about five
hours, and when the matter was
brought before a called meeting of the
association, after discussion, it was
re-referred back to the committee.
The called meeting was not attended
by the representatives of the telephone
companies, as it was known by them
that a positive agreement had not been
reached. Now the committee has more
m for further consideration, and will
report at the regular meeting of the
association to be held March II. Your
correspondent cannot, of course speak
with a definiteness and directness, but
from all sources there comes the cry
that Raleigh does not need but one
system of telephones, as the expense
OF three is so considerable and the IN
nOyance Occasioned by the calls of
three bells is of itself terrorizing. 1t
Is generally hoped that a deal will be
cOnsummated by which a sure and
business like disposition will be made
OF the entire matter. There is a feel
ing that has marks of sentiment about
1t, which is a more or less natural mat
ter in usual considerations, this as it
concerns the Raleigh telephone COM
pany, by reasOn of the holding of it's
stock by local people; again on the
other hand the people and the mer-
chants, as we'll as the citizens of all
classes realize and know that with
the Bell system cut out from Raleigh
there is the n fact staring them in
the face; there would then be no COM
municatiOn with the outside world by
the long distance service which only
the Bell Company a and does supply.
The bar between buyers and sellers
stands in the expression: "We will sell,
but we must be kept whole and pro-
tected in what we have expended"
In fairness to the committee, when
a vote was called to express approval
of one phone or two phones, at this
meeting it was decided not to give such
an expression by those of he Mer-
chants Association who were present.
So the matter lies in allegiance for a
week or two longer.
Sheriff Sharp of Wilson county
brought to the penitentiary a negro
woman convicted i'll that court Of burg
larly while under the influence Of Ii
quor and sentenced to three years con-
finement. There is a certain pitiable-
roco oIDrf tho yrorfnp ouyinO fn tho
fact that even though the woman was
addicted to drink she was imputed 10
have Deer of the more intelligent
class and was a capable servant. The
evidence goes to show while drinking
she entered a house occupied by other
people, being left there Dy two COM
paniens and when the residents Of the
house returned was found in a drunk
en- state, though no article about tue
house had been removed.
Owing to the crowded condition Of
the civil courts in Forysthe county
Governor Glenn has ordered a special
term for the week beginning March
10Th, Judge r. B. PEBBLES presiding.
Norman H. Johnson, attorney scner-
al Of the North Carolina Retail Mer-
chants Association, states that he will
within a few days arrange to fill sew
eral appointments in the state of Nir-
ginia, and that the associations at
Roanoke, Staunton, Richmond, Lynch
burg, Norfolk and Newport News are
already interesting themselves in pro-
noting the aims of the organization.
Mr.. johnson has received a great many
invitations requesting that he will de-
liver addresses in the various cities of
that state but or account Of a large
number of ac%ceptances already given
in North Carolina he cannot at present
accept them; these will however be
taken up at a. early DAY and his new
obligations thus discharged. AS is al
ready understood Mr.. Johnson will di-
vide his time between the states Of
North Carolina and Virginia and he
will also establish an additional office
in the last named state. The North
Carolina Association is recognized as
the best organized in the United States.
1t embraces fifty II local associations
and includes four-fifths of the mer-
chants Of this state. In every essent-
ial it is proven most beneficial to Car
DINA merchants.
Colonel J. Bryan Grimes aceOnlpan-
led by Mrs. Grimes and child have re-
turned from a visit to Grimesland.
The much talked of Selma connec-
ton case will be argued early next
week before the U. S. supreme
court by Attorney General Gilmer who
has gone to Washington for that ap-
pearance.
Governor Glenn returned tonight
from Southern Pines where he attend
ed the reunion of the Blue and the
Gray. i
The battle flag of Company H. !,
Tenth North Carolina troops, which
was captured at the fall of Fort Men
roe, April %, 1862, by Company E,
Fifth Rhode Island troops, will be re-
turned with formal and impressive
ceremonies Friday March 2, in the
North Carolina senate chamber. Chief
Justice. Douglas, of Rhode Island will