Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-22
8eHtuttatit Narfhmesf.
s'The Party that Represents the Better
Elements OF Society,""

Oelu tuelr NOunty SOnNentiOu On lueo-
day, September 8, and they had high
old time. heproceedings and incidents
were convincing proofs that the Repub-
lican is the great "moral, T" Temperance"
and ''law-abiding" party, or in the words
Of the Republican press, "the party that
represents the better elements of society"
The Enquirer gives the following as
some Of the scenes and incidents:
From the time of meeting Of the Con-
vention at the afternoon session the scene
was of most disgusting description. 1t
was perfect bedlam, and fights were
in progress all the time. Even during
the dinner hour the delegates were fight
ing like dogs on the outside of the pavil.
ion. Many revolvers were drawn, and
knives cleaned in the air, but were ar
rested in their course. The respectable
delegates in the Convention were COM
pletely at the mercy of the hummer and
thieves. There were premonitions of
storm all day in the Fourth Ward dele
CATION, and it broke out just before ad-
iournment. AL Smith, who had fought
the Fagin-Steigelman combination, was
knocked down by some one, but before
it was known who did it the crowd clos
ed in, and the belligerent fellow was lost.
Hardly had the Fourth Ward fracas oc.
cured before another disturbance arose
in the Tenth and Twelfth Wards. Jake
Marklein the high-cockolorum in the
Tenth Ward delegation. coolly flattened
out one of his men because he tried to
get some of the delegation to change
their votes from Montgomery to McDow-
ell. The Twelfth Ward fight was the
cause of breaking up the Convention.
An adjournment was arbitrarily an.
nounced by Butterworth, at the sugges-
ton of Parker Dickson, who was as mad
as a March hare. Then the no wiling
drunken gang rushed for the inclined
plane, while the respectable portion lin
gered for a few minutes to discuss the
gravity of the situation. More than one
of the country delegates declared their
intention not to return to-day. Several
leading Republicans remarked sadly that
the whole ticket wonld be beaten. Open
charges of bribery were made in the
Convention. Early in the day Tom Nc
Dougal, the reformer of the First Ward,
created quite sensation by affirming
that some friends of Montgomery were
trying to purchase three guiless colored
men in his delegation. Candidates
plingled freely on the floor with the del
egates, and the contemplate schemes of
several of the candidates for the dignified
position of Judge were disgrace to the
party and themselves. 1t was almost
impossible to keep an account of the
fights, but there were no less than fifteen
first-class knock-downs; the last one of
all, in the Twelfth Ward, standing pre-
eminent. The Democrats present were
jubilant, and anticipate an easy victory
this fall.
During the opening prayer they exhibit
ed theirpiety bycries of "louder," hurry
mp" and "cut it short"
Even the Republican Commercial is
forced to admit that the Convention was
a adisgrace to Hamilton county. Here is
what it says:
Tho Don,,h1;nnn
which sweltered, fumed and fought DUR
ing yesterday and last evening, in the pa
vilion on Prices Hill, was, beyond doubt,
the most disorderly and disgraceful ever
held by the party in Hamilton county.
The weather was intensely hot and thirs-
ty, beer was convenient and plenty, and
the results Of these circumstances were
shown early and often. The proceedings
were halted nine seperate and distinct
times, between the assembling in the af-
ternoon and the adjournment to attend
fight. The body showed itself to be large
ly composed of men with keen appre-
citation of a knock.down. No sooner was
there scuffle than the whole hall was
converted into scene Of the widest up
roar, mon climbing on chairs and upon one
another's backs to see the fun. In vain
the sturdy Chairman mauled his table
with big policeman's mace, and Shrek
ed for order. In vain the extra force
of Sergeants- -at-arms attempted to clear
the aisles. Only when the police had
forced their way in and separated the
combattants was anything like general
and comparative peace restored, only to
be broken up again by another row. The
country delegations, composed of quiet,
respectable men, hung their heads in
shame. The better part of the city dele.
cations keenly felt the outrage.
Although in session till late at night
the Convention did not get beyond the
nomination of Common Pleas Judges,
and the Chairman summarily declared
the Convention adjourned until the next
day. On the 7th the Convention again
met and succeeded in placing in nomina-
tion the remainder of the ticket. While
on the second day there was not so much
drunkenness, yet the use of money was
more evident, especially in the Staley-
Zunstein contest for Treasurer.
One Of the cheap and trashy sayings
of the Republican papers is, that John
W. Bookwalter has not been Demo-.
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