The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-08-18

and rscsur~<a tf~ A~@aanx of TIE
Great Gathering. Was . TRr11itank
knors and One af the Mc~s Noxs-
BILE Features Of . Most Not~ha~
Conxention-
"a x;Ar correspondent Of The
Charlotte Observer. IA several col
umns 81 ness nc,cs or The recent
Republican State Coavention In
Greensboro. says,
Tao stirring Episodes
Undoubtedly the stirring features
OF the Convention were the speeches.
first. OF Mr.. Thomas Settle. IN which
he arraigned and scathingiY excori-
ated the so-calied referee system IL
the conduct Of the State distribution
OF Federal patronage With incidental
endorsement and hearty eommenda-
ton Of President Taft and his Atu-
tude regarding the South. and the
answering speech Of Col. V. s. LuHk.
OF Asheyille. IN which he approved
and endorsed the referee system and
scored President Taft Cor the insult
and slap in the face which he said
that he had given himself and every
other Republican in the State when
he appointed Judge Connor 10 the
eastern Federal judgeship.
Mr.. Settles address was In re-
sponse 10 protracted convention calls.
repeated cries OF Settle Tom Set
tle," resounding cavernously through
the great hall.
The convention had gathered at
the appointed honr, but the creden-
tials committee. which was tussling
with the contesting county delega-
tions. was not ready 10 report. There
were perhaps 1900 delegates occupy
ing the east end OF the building. II
was hot and everybody was restless.
Mr.. Settle, Immediately garbed. ele-
CANT and courtly, had just walked
causually in. He was bowing 10 his
friends, pausing here and hurrying
yonder, as gay and game as any war
rior knight of medieval times. As
he ascended the rostrum in the CEN
ter of the great hall there was a tu-
multuOus shout. It was repeated
again and again, until he whom the
convention desired 20 honor could
not any longer remain silent. He
arose, 4iiting hig1 ais head, ala "i,A
shoulders thrown back and eyes smii-
ing, he walked out before the great
assemblage.
MFR. Settle Speaks.
And then followed the speech that
in elegance of thought, beauty OF
language and import has never been
excelled in recent political annals.
Judge Adams was sitting in the great
leather chair facing the audience.
sphinx-like, without exerting the
least effort in the world to prevent
the blow that he knew was aimed
at himself, or rather at the system
which he represented and of which
he was the head. There was an air
Of repeated excitement. about the
hall as IL there was something about
to happen.
And happen il did. Mr.. Settle
first paid the customary tribute to
the convention, thanking 1t for the
honor just paid him and expressing
his appreciation of the compliment
coming as it did from such a stall
wart and true representation Of a
great party.
And then Mr.. Settle plunged into
what he said was the great question
before the convention, the total and
complete abolition of the referee sys-
tenn in the State. He spoke OF the
great unrest in the ranks as was in
dicated all over the State in the re-
cent county conventions, but declared
that this boded well for the cause
nf the great Republican party.
For Noble Discomfort.
Il favor peace" shouted he fer
wildly; but l appreciate that noble
discomfort of which Tennyson wrote
so beautifully and truly"
In brief. Mr.. Settle declared that
he saw hope for the party's future
only in the absolute and complete
. VI IAS III
the State.
North Carolina" said he, "is as
Judge Adams said il was, in senti-
ment a Republican State. North
Carolina would have cast her cleo
toral vote for the Republican candi-
date for President in the last cleo
ton had the same effort and exer-
tion been made in this State as IN
the State OF Indiana"
Continuing Mr.. Settle charged that
the referee system had been blocking
the wheels of Republican progress
and achievement in North Carolina
in the past as it would do in the fu-
ture IL some action were not taken
by the party.
AS he spoke In rounded periods,
calmly. dispassionately and slowly so
that his voice reached every part Of
the building, the very ground shook
with the shouts. Walking over In