USA > North Carolina > Edgecombe County > History of Edgecombe County, North Carolina > Part 26
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Following the ballot for first justice, W. T. Cobb, Ed Sharpe, George Howard, W. A. Johnson, G. W. Hammond, and J. J. Battle were nominated for associate justice. The first ballot re- sulted in no election. The second ballot gave Cobb the majority and the election. The ballot for third justice resulted in the election of J. J. Battle. H. L. Station, then Superior Court Clerk, held the office of justice ex officio until his term as clerk expired.
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
In the meantime R. H. Gatlin moved to go into election of county solicitor and J. L. Bridgers, Jr., Frank Powell, and Dorsey Battle were put in nomination. Mr. Bridgers was the successful nominee and was declared elected. Following the adjournment, the justices met and elected H. C. Bourne as presiding justice. All these men were Democratic in politics, and constituted the first Democratic court since the reconstruction acts were passed.
In August of the following year time came to elect new justices, and W. H. Johnson was requested to serve, since a lawyer was needed on the bench. Considerable differences of opinion, how- ver, grew out of this policy and caused a new split in the power gained by the Democratic party. The question was raised as to the expediency of placing a lawyer on the Inferior Court, and could a lawyer of any capacity fill the position at the salary paid. To increase the salary would of necessity defeat one object of the court, which was to reduce the expenses of the county. M. J. Battle took the stand that the people were satisfied with the court as it was in 1877, and that the matter should not be agitated. The Tarboro Southerner, on the other hand, contended that the more expert the workman the higher the wages, but in the end the work was better and hence cheaper. Mr. Johnson was beyond question a man of great ability, and had attained at the State University many high honors. At the time he was the logical man for the position. Mr. Johnson was elected to succeed Mr. Cobb, but at the meeting of the court in January, 1880, Mr. Johnson had not qualified. He at first refused election, claim- ing that it would lower him in the judiciary, as Mr. Bourne would be his superior. Mr. Bourne and Mr. Battle would not resign, and later, a compromise being effected, Mr. Johnson accepted.
In the meantime the court had reorganized and Justices Battle and Bourne were on the bench. Both appeared to take the posi- tion as presiding justice. The law required a chairman, and one could not be elected without one voting for himself. This natu- rally was not done. Widespread dissatisfaction prevailed among the magistrates who elected Mr. Johnson, for they desired that he might be chairman. When this failed, Mr. Johnson refused to serve, after having written a charge to the grand jury and refus- ing several cases in the court. Mr. Johnson deserves credit,
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however, in that he was the only lawyer in the State elected to that position who did not ask for more pay. Court was held in January with Mr. Powell clerk, Mr. Bridgers solicitor, and two justices, who did just as well as if three justices were on the bench, for they disposed of a large amount of business.
In August, 1878, the justices selected five commissioners, who were to administer the county government for two years, begin- ning December 1, 1880. The men selected were well chosen as to qualification, and representative men of character and of intelligence. .
In passing from Republican to Democratic rule considerable propaganda was used, both in and out of the county. The more intelligent negroes believed that the native whites were not hostile toward them so long as the negroes remained in their proper sphere. Edgecombe also had a few negroes who were loyal to her white people and made sacrifices for the interest of the common cause. W. H. Wytt, residing in Brooklyn, N. Y., gave an inter- esting account of the address of Harvey Dancy, a negro, in a Methodist Church in that city upon the subject of "The New South from the Negro Standpoint." In his talk Dancy, who hailed from Edgecombe, said much good of the South and his native county. He spoke with appreciation of the colored school in the county which the white people provided for the colored people.
Prior to the campaign of 1880, resulting in the election of Frank D. Dancy to the Senate, and C. W. Battle and D. Wimberly to the House of Representatives, there was considerable talk of nominating W. S. Battle, of Edgecombe, for Governor. . Mr. Battle, in addition to being a prominent planter, business man, and politician, had taken considerable part in the deliberations over secession and reconstruction.
The election following 1880 gave W. P. Williamson a seat in the Senate and C. W. Battle was returned to the House of Repre- sentatives, while W. W. Watson succeeded Wimberly in the lat- ter's office. The county was governed by a Democratic board of commissioners, while the Republicans exercised a somewhat full rule over town affairs.
The election of 1882, however, was full of unusual interest. Opposed to the regular Democratic party were the Republican
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and Liberal parties, the latter consisting of so called Independent Democrats who had become dissatisfied with their party and coalesced with Republicans to defeat it. The county government bill and the prohibition bill, which were passed by the Democratic Legislature, were the points against which the coalition directed its attacks. It will be recalled that prohibition in 1881 was de- feated in the State, Edgecombe County giving a large majority against it. The combination was therefore aimed at the State Legislature and not local matters. This fact was shown by the election of John R. Staton, a strong Democrat, as sheriff of the county in 1882.
The racial question never was so intense in the days of 1869 and 1870 as it was in 1882. Negro and white men walked arm in arm upon the streets of Tarboro. Moreover, a deep agitation was moving the negroes with increased vigor. The reawakening grew out of the law providing for the county magistrates to be elected by the Legislature, and to allow the county commissioners to levy the county taxes and to rule county affairs after they had been elected by the magistrates. The change from electing the commissioners by the people, as was the case under the reconstruc- tion regime, was shown in providing Inferior Courts. The reason for the change was the fact that the negro, without property or education, controlled the elections and had piled up much debt, which threatened to bankrupt the county. The western couunties, although free from the negro menace, joined the east and passed the county system as a financial policy.
The result is easily seen when one considers the political nature of the act. The Legislature of the State was beginning to have a Democratic majority. The Legislature would naturally elect Democratic magistrates, who, in turn, would elect Democratic commissioners. The Republicans and Liberals, therefore, charged that the obnoxious law deprived the people of the right of local self-government. This was exactly what was intended by the Democrats, who had struggled for over a decade to take local self-government away from the Republican party, which con- trolled the majority.
In 1882 the Democrats gained an advantage when Frederick Philips was nominated by the judicial convention in Weldon on June 22, 1882, for judge of the Superior Court of the Second
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JUDGE FREDERICK PHILIPS
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Judicial District. He received the hearty support of both parties. His training qualified him for the position, having been engross- ing clerk of the Legislature of 1865, master of equity of Edge- combe County in 1866, and later prosecuting attorney for Nash County. He had also been mayor of Tarboro two terms beginning with 1875. Judge Philips was of a strong and courageous char- acter, and presided with great efficiency while upon the bench.
In 1884 the intensity of politics had subsided much, as com- pared with the previous elections. This year Donnell Gilliam made his appearance in politics, a young lawyer of fine ability. It was unfortunate that he died in his prime. He received a liberal education and was well adapted for the career he selected. His oratorical ability was of a high order. In 1884 Mr. Gilliam was chosen presidential elector for the Second District. In the campaign for this year he became one of the principal speakers and many felt the weight of his ability.
Two negroes, B. S. Taylor to the Senate, and B. W. Thorpe, were elected to the House of Representatives, and N. D. Bellamy, Republican, to the House of Representatives. In 1886 the number of voters in the county was more than forty per cent in favor of the negroes; the whites having 1,278 and the colored 2,303. The following year a considerable increase was noticeable, the whites having 1,304 and the colored 2,523. The results of the election of this year showed a Republican majority for legislative offices again, with R. S. Taylor (negro) succeeding himself and C. C. Crenshaw and D. Wimberly going to the House of Representa- tives. C. M. Cook was elected sheriff of the county in 1886, and remained in office until November at which time Joseph Cobb filled the unexpired term. H. C. Bourne, a Democrat, succeeded to the office in July, 1887, and occupied the position until 1888, when Joseph Cobb was reelected.
Early in the year 1887, however, there was a noticeable decline of the Republicans in the county and a faint sign of the rise of new parties. In the Third Ward of the town of Tarboro, which had been Republican since the year 1866, the Democrats had a fighting chance. The trial vote showed that the Republican majority, with a full vote, would not exceed a dozen. In the Second Ward B. J. Keech and L. McCullen were candidates at the beginning. A caucus was held April 2, 1887, in the old
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
laundry building in Tarboro by some of the Republicans of the Second Ward. Keech and McCullen were present and also Charles Duggen, the leader. Keech and McCullen opposed any nomina- tion, but signified their willingness to run as independent candi- dates. They refused to state why they wanted no nomination, but intimated that the people could guess the reason. In its guess the Tarboro Southerner suggested it was because Keech and McCullen were either ashamed of Charles Duggen as party associate, or else by running as independent candidates they hope to get some Democratic votes.
In the meantime Frank Whitted, negro policeman, who had been given a job under the Democratic rule, and Charles Duggen, a liquor dispenser in Tarboro, had organized and overcome the Republican fears, while in the First Ward the Democrats had no opposition. Below is the ticket by wards, showing the number of votes and the candidates elected :
FIRST WARD
William E. Fountain, Democrat 42
George Howard, Democrat 42
Benjamin Norfleet, Republican. 2
Wiley Howard, Republican 8
SECOND WARD
Donnell Gilliam, Democrat. 56
Charles G. Bradley, Democrat. 60
B. J. Keech, Republican. 31
L. M. McCullen, Republican 27
THIRD WARD
W. H. Knight, Democrat 65
Olando Burnett, Democrat. 60
W. H. Foreman, Republican 86
R. S. Taylor, Republican 86
At the same time W. E. Fountain was elected mayor. He was a Democrat and was destined to become involved in Edgecombe politics.
During the year 1889 the town charter was amended and the electing power was placed in the hands of the county commission- ers, giving them the power of ruling the Republicans out of office in local affairs. It is observed that almost each year disclosed the
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fact that Democratic legislation curtailed the right of the Repub- licans to rule. It was the only method of offsetting the great majority exercised by the Republican party in the county. Dur- ing the year 1889 not a single negro appeared in the list of magis- trates, while W. E. Fountain, Democratic mayor of Tarboro, was reelected. D. Wimberly was elected to the Senate and Edward Bridgers and R. H. Daniels, all Democrats, to the House of Repre- sentatives. The Republicans, however, succeeded in putting George H. White (negro), resident of Tarboro, in as solicitor for the Second Judicial District in 1888. White was a man of great native ability, and had the reputation of being impartial in his prosecutions. He had practiced law in Washington City, and also had considerable experience in law in other cities. His greatest weakness was his desire for social equality, which eventu- ally resulted in his rejection by not only the white people of the county, but also by his race. White, a few years later, received his first rejection at the hands of his race. Several years ago John Robinson's Circus made its annual appearance in the county and exhibited at Tarboro. About the year 1900 White was a member of the audience to watch the exhibition and sat down with the white people. The circus officials asked him to move over to the colored side. White refused, and policemen were called to put him out upon his declaring that he would not sit with the mem- bers of his race. This caused an alienation on the part of the negroes, who claimed White could not go with white people and that he thought himself too good to go with negroes.
The election of 1890 was the beginning of a change in political movements and caused considerable excitement and upheaval. A cleavage developed in party lines, and the Republican party, real- izing itself worsted by a Democratic Legislature, began to look around for an alliance to strengthen its ranks. There began also a great negro exodus under the efforts of negro labor agents, among whom was George P. Mabson, which had weakened the party. Great dissatisfaction prevailed among the negroes gen- erally. The movement began early in the year 1889. A conven- tion met in Raleigh April 25th, and after discussing the conditions of the negro, advised an emigration. The dominating principle of the whites in supporting the movement was that political con- ditions would be improved by the riddance of the negro. It was
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undeniable that the white people were persecuting him by discrim- inating legislation as a result of the political revolution. More- over, the farmers had organized due to the surplus of negro labor, and the alliance pushed oppression against the negroes every- where. The election law was also referred to later as being a direct blow at the negro, since it was necessary for him to read and write before he could vote. In 1890 the population had de- creased from 26,181 in 1880 to 24,173, making a decrease of 2,068 in ten years. The division of the races was as follows: In 1880 there were 7,968 whites as compared with 8,478 in 1890, while the negro population in 1880 was 18,213, as compared with 15,634 in 1890.
The year 1890 proved to be of such alarming nature that the decree issued by the Democratic party to rid the county of the negro was revoked, and severe measures were imposd on recruiting agents working in the State. Each agent by law was compelled to secure a license at the cost of $1,000.00 before recruiting in any county. This practically marked a prohibition on their busi- ness. The county lost over 3,500 negroes in less than eighteen months, making a telling offset upon Republicanism in this county.
The Democrats had a substantial ticket for the pending elec- tion, consisting of R. H. Speight for Senate, J. T. Howard and Jesse Brake, House of Representatives, William Knight for sheriff, and Dr. W. J. Lawrence as coroner. At a meeting of the Central Democratic Executive Committee in the summer of 1890, Mr. Howard, however, tendered his resignation for the Legislature, and also Dr. Lawrence his resignation as coroner. W. A. Bridgers, of Township No. 11, was chosen to succeed Mr. Howard, and Dr. H. T. Bass, Dr. Lawrence. The selection was very timely and very beneficial. Mr. Bridgers, besides being a good scholar, was in touch with the people and exercised a good influence in the county. He was also equipped for a lawmaker.
With the exception of Mr. Knight, who was then occupying the position of sheriff, none of the Democratic candidates were opposed in the Democratic convention. The Republicans, on the other hand, were considerably weakened by the existence of two factions in the party. B. J. Keech led one faction and Joseph Cobb the other. Both of the men wanted the office of register of deeds. Battle Bryan was running for sheriff. The only member
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POLITICS 1880-1900
of the party who could give bond was Joseph Cobb, and he was unfit for service on account of his age. In order, however, to harmonize party issues Mr. Cobb consenting to become a candidate, but before the time for election withdrew. In making the com- promise the nomination for register of deeds was awarded to Elbert Bryan.
The Republicans were called in meeting in the summer of 1890, acting through Battle Bryan, who seemed to be the one most interested. The local paper puts the meeting as a tame affair, which was not characteristic of the party. About noon Mr. Bryan went into the courthouse and rang the courthouse bell for the Republicans to assemble. About half a dozen were in attendance at the time and Mr. Bryan remained until the afternoon. While he was ringing the bell a crowd assembled in opposition and stationed themselves opposite the courthouse to heckle him. About three o'clock the bell was rung again and Mr. Bryan, with about fifteen of the Republican party, proceeded with the meeting. In Mr. Bryan's speech he showed the necessity of having Republicans on the ticket, and denounced the action of the previous convention for endorsing Democratic nominees for sheriff and treasurer.
Frank Dancy was appointed chairman of the meeting, who made a speech and introduced Frank Battle, who made a speech expressing disappointment in the legislative ticket. The meeting was eventually interrupted by Stephen Clark, who was opposed to the wrangling of the partisan members. In spite of the agi- tators, the meeting closed by endorsing the old ticket.
The results of the election gave the Democrats a big majority in State, county, and town. R. H. Speight was elected to the Senate, W. A. Bridgers and Jesse Brake to the House of Repre- sentatives. When Mr. Brake's landlady's daughter, of Raleigh, asked him how he was elected from so great a Republican County as Edgecombe, he replied, "I have enough children to elect me."
Mr. Knight was elected sheriff to succeed himself, while the town election resulted in two Democratic and one Republican commissioner. Don Gilliam for the First Ward, B. F. Spragins Second Ward, and J. W. Gant (Republican) for the Third Ward, by a majority of one vote. This occurred on account of the fact that D. L. Williams, Republican, refused to allow W. R. Moore
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
to vote. Mr. Moore voted in the Third Ward in 1888 and 1889, and swore he had not changed his residence. The fact, however, that he went away to marry a woman in Wilson and because his wife, who had relatives there, remained for some weeks, Mr. Wil- liams and the Republican poll holders decided he was not a citizen. W. S. Clark succeeded W. E. Fountain as mayor, receiving a majority of votes at the first meeting of the town commissioners.
The facts in the election revealed a disgruntled element, espe- cially in the ranks of the Republicans, while the Democrats did not possess any too much solidarity. Elbert Bryan, who was beaten for the nomination for register of deeds by Geoffrey Hyman, was dissatisfied and insisted upon a new ticket or a re- modeling of the old one. Joe Pope Stewart, a man of northern designs and candidate for clerk of the Superior Court, labored under one disadvantage the fact that he was not known in the county. The negroes were constantly asking, "Who was Stewart!" In addition the county negro was not favorably impressed with George L. Lloyd. His Republican leaders estimated he would not get ten votes in his own township. Moses Clare and Ed Bridgers had charges of licentiousness against them and this alienated the colored people.
During this election West Tarboro exercised its right of self- government. Captain Haywood Clark called a meeting of the citizens of this section to nominate commissioners for the first time. In the nomination for mayor Captain Clark was suggested and subsequently elected.
In the meantime the Second Judicial District was under an agitation preliminary to electing a judge, Judge Philips's term having expired. John L. Bridgers, presiding justice of the In- ferior Court in 1890, was suggested to run against Judge Philips. Mr. Bridgers had become very popular because of his favorable stand and support for public education. This constituted a great factor in winning for him popular approval. Mr. Bridgers ex- pressed his sentiment by issuing a letter of refusal, thereby pre- serving the solidarity of feeling in the party and not jeopardizing the strength of the county in causing a split of votes by having two candidates.
The election of 1890 resulted in the greatest reverse the Re- publican party had ever encountered. This was true to such an
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extent they did not turn out in 1891. Even the strongly con- tested Third Ward in the town of Tarboro went through the campaign and election without opposition. The Democrats, al- though victorious, were to witness a change of tactics the follow- ing year, due to the appearance of a third party.
In order to understand the movement, it will be necessary to go back a few years when the organization began. About 1867 the "Grange" movement was started in Washington by a number of the Government clerks who became interested in improving the conditions of the farmers in the South and West. It was a secret society, and both sexes could become members. About 1868 the first society was established in Edgecombe, and in common with other granges, was nonpolitical. Upon the agitation, however, of government regulation of railroads, the grangers in the West and endorsed by the Grange was declared unconstitutional by the began to participate in the movement. One of the laws advocated courts, and this caused the farmers to get in politics. The coali- tion of the Granges resulted in the "Farmer's Alliance." The independent parties which had appeared in the early seventies again appeared in political life under different names. The farmers in the county were censured for entering into politics through the "Alliance," which had been declared a nonpolitical. organization. A reply was made in the Tarboro Southerner in which it was declared that since the Democratic party had not done anything for the farmers it was high time the farmer entered politics and did something for himself. In addition to that the "free silver" movement was at its acme in 1892, and free silver was supposed to be of benefit to the agricultural class, thus meet- ing the approval of at least seventy-five per cent of the population of Edgecombe County.
In 1889 Edgecombe had about fifteen local Alliances, one designated as Edgecombe, with Ellias Carr, president, and J. C. Powell, secretary. Another was Sparta, No. 218, with Ellias Carr, president, and J. A. Davis, secretary. Maple Swamp Alliance, No. 483, met at Whitakers, with W. T. Mayo, president, and J. S. Dixon, secretary. There was also another at Whit- akers, No. 583, with J. M. Outchin, president, and J. O. Bellamy, secretary. Dr. A. B. Nobles was president and T. P. Wynn, sec- retary, of Cocoa Alliance, No. 553. Otter's Creek, No. 732, had
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HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY
a strong organization with H. H. Whitaker, president, and W. T. Dunford, secretary. Joseph Cobb was president and George Suggs, secretary, of Farm Creek Alliance, No. 763; W. C. Brad- ley, president, and Miss Lulu Leggett, secretary of Excelsior, No. 790; Dr. W. T. Bass, president, and F. B. Lloyd, secretary, of Tarboro, No. 918; W. J. Davenport, president, and E. T. Speed, secretary, of Hickory Fort, No. 933, which met at Coakley; A. J. Williams, president, and W. H. Worsley, secretary, of Juneville, No. 1080; E. C. Knight, president, and J. R. Harris, secretary, Mildred, No. 1084; and J. J. Battle, president, and George C. Battle, secretary, of Battleboro Alliance. This is only a partial list of Alliances, which were increasing each year. There was hardly an interval of five miles in the county east, west, north, or south that did not have an organization.
The election of 1892 was the first time that the local Alliance participated in politics. Its support was beyond a doubt the cause of the successful candidacy of Ellias Carr, of Edgecombe County. He had been an active member, and succeeded in creat- ing a deep interest in the Farmer's Clubs not only in the county, but also in the State. Both parties had representatives in the Alliance and prior to 1892 there had been no fusion of parties, while the Alliance was inclined more to the Democratic element than the third party in 1892.
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