The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-08-09
HOW BURKE WAS NOMINATED.

The remarkable contest between Burke,
Moncure and Richardson in the Baton Rouge
Convention on Tuesday and Wednesday last,
for the State Treasurership, is unprecedented
in the political history Of Louisiana. That
three candidates should have been SO strongly
and persistently sustained by their respective
supporters through ffty-eight ballots, each
candidate retaining to the last very nearly the
same number of votes originally cast for him
on the first ballot, necessarily must render
very interesting the full account of the re-
moval of the deadlock. The facts are these:
Tuesday, late in the night, after the fifty
eighth ballot, the convention adjourned to
the next day. The rumor then began to
circulate that the friends Of Richardson had
proposed to those of Moncure to hold, imme-
diately after the assembling Of the convention
on the morrow an informal ballot between
Richardson and Moncure, at which the can
didate shown to be the weakest should with
draw, the highest Of the two to be then pitted
singly against Burke. The Moncure men de-
clined his proposition
Early Wednesday morning MI. George Sim
clair, of Lafourche, representing Moncures
called on Burke at his rooms, and solicited
his concurrence in the following resolution,
which he said he would offer on the floor Of
| the convention
Resolved, That the friends of each Of the
three candidates who received the highest
number of votes on the last ballot be request
ed to appoint a conference committee OF nine
members, three to be named by the support
ers of each candidate with view OF arriving
at q harmonious solution of the difference
| that now exists in this convention, and that
said committee be requested to report at the
earliest moment.
Major Burke consented. Mr.. Sinclair had
scarcely left, when Gov. McEnery, represent
| ing Mr. Richardson, entered the room, and,
almost in the exact words ofSMr. Sinclair,
made the same request. Again Major Burke
consented.
At the assembling of the convention, there
fore, Mr.. Sinclair offered his resolution. It
was carried.
In accordance Herewith Mr.. Moncure ap"
pointed to represent him Messrs. George Sim
clair Of Lafourche, Thos. G. Sparks of Pointe
Coupee, and J. c. Wise of Rapides.
Mr.. Richardson appointed Messrs. John
McEnery, j. Floyd Kind of Concordia, and
John S. Young of Claiborne.
Major Burke appointed DR.. Bailey, Jr.,
IGeorge W. Dupre and John Fitzpatrick, all o
Orleans.
The conference committee thus constituted
Withdrew from the convention, a recess of al
hour having been ordered.
The conference committee soon organized
with Mr. Sinclair as chairman and JE Bailey
as secretary.
Gen. Floyd King Immediately arose. and
after q few preliminary remarks, offered thi
resolution:
Be it resolred That for the purpose of ter
minating the existing deadlock and OF asee.
tanning the strength Of the respective canch
dates the convention proceed by unanimous
consent, to take three informal ballots in the
following order: Moncure and Richardson
,, , Burke and Richardson, Moncure and Burke
Be 1t further resolUed, That after these in
, formal ballots the candidate receiving the
lowest number OF aggregate votes shall be
,, dropped, and that no other nominations be III
| order, and that the two highest candidates sc
/ ascertained be brought before the convention
for formal and definite ballot.
The friends Of Burke discovering. through
, words dropped by Mr.. King, that the Rich,
ardson and Moncure parties had held a con.
sultat1on and were fully agreed on the above
resolutions, whereas Burke was ignorant Of
their purport, asked the privilege Of retiring
II in order to submit them to him. This was
y of course. aeeedea to. Major Burke being