The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-04-11
The State Convention.

The State Convention.
About 5000 people attended the
Democratic State Convention on We'd
nesday at Allentown. Ex.Congress-
man r. Milton Speer of Huntington,
was chosen temporary chairman, who
was continued as permanent chairman
On taking his seat Mr.. Speer said :
"To this graceful tribute return my
sincere Acknowledgements, and in taking
this chair l do it with the earnest pur-
pose to preside impartially and fairly.
As l look you in the face remember
the last democratic president who was
inaugurated, but not the last who was
elected, was Pennsylvania, and !
hope the issue of this convention will
be the nomination of another Penn
sylvanian who will be elected. Penn
sylvania could not be unmindful of
herself aud the democratic party can
not be unmindful of her. As long as
there is employment for labor she will
not turn to the democracy in vain. The
enforcement of the laws and the purifi-
cation of the civil service are dear to all
OF US. A man has been named here who
has been in the public service for twenty
five years and is to-day poorer than
when he entered it, If he shall be
declared, as he will be, the choice Of
this convention for the national execu-
tive, let him go not only with your
votes but with your hearts"
After the transaction of preliminary
business the convention adjourned at
IL o'clock to meet at 2 pm.
THE PERMANENT CONVENTION
Mr.. Spcer renewed his expression of
thanks and announced his readiness to
dispatch business 1t was announced
that the committee on contested seats
would not be ready To r,port before
three o'clock, and the chair asked what
the convention would be pleased to do
meanwhile. A delegate proposed that
the platform committee be r. quested to
report and that was adopted. Con
gresham Mutchler presenting the re-
port. During the reading of the reso-
lutions the first real enthusiasm was
developed when the name of Samuel j.
Tilden was pronounced. The whole
convention gave itself over to bowling
and for several minutes all business
was suspended. Then the resolution
was read and when the tariff plank was
reached an outburst followed but the
climax came when Mr.. Randalrs name
was mentioned and Mr.. Mutchler be-
came embarrassed. When quiet was re-
stored, he proceeded with the reading,
however, and the vote by which the
report was unanimously adopted pro-
voked fresh outburst. The COM
mittee on credentials not being yet
ready delegate called for Mr.. Ran
dali and this was followed by gener-
al cry for the favorite son. MIR. Speer
said that he didn't know that Mr.. Ran
dali was present but would gladly en- :
tertain motion for committee to
wait on him. The motion was made,
the committee appointed and Mr.. Sow.
den called on 10 make a speech in the
interval. He responded 10 his usual
eloquent style and was just warming
up to the work when Mr. Randall
entered by the stage door. 81 give
way to the next president of the United
States" said Mr.. Sowden, and the con-
vention stood up and yelled. For sew
eral minutes hats were thrown up and
pandemonium reigned. Mr.. Randall
meanwhile advanced to where Mr..
Speer stood and the gentleman with
words of welcome introduced him to
the convention when he said
REMARKS OF MR. RANDALL.
/ am present in obedience to your re-
quest and desire to acknowledge my
deep and lasting obligation to you, the
representatives of more than four hun.
drel thousand democrats of this great
and glorious commonwealth, and to
thank you for the high honor which
you have to-day unanimously bestowed
upon me. | do not attribute this action
in any degree to my personal merits.
On the contrary, recognize and rea,
lie il as an approval of the resolute
and aggressive course which l have
pursued in congress in advocacy and
defense of those cardinal principles ad
vocated by Jefferson, Jackson, Polk aud
B Ichanan. A il has been with me in
the past 10 it will be- to the end, and
now / thank you one and all and beg
that each of you will convey back tc
your constituents the assurance that in
the future they will tind no faltering by
the wayside III def nee of your rights
Then there was fresh outburst, and
the idol of the people hid himself in the
scenery. The routine proceedings were
resumed after the episode.
Senator Kennedy reported that the
committee on contests had agreed, anf
the report was adopted. General Da
Wis was nominated for Congressman at
large. Electors-at-large were chosen
after which the ballotirg for delegates
at large was proceeded with. This wai
the subject in which the greatest inter
est centered, and all were exceedingly
anxious as to the outcome. -Four men
Messrs. K. B. Coke, w. A. Wallace
w. +. Harrity aud James +, Barr were
elected and the other two seats were
left for a free-for-al race between q
dozen aspirants. On the first ballol
the four named and b. +. Meyers and
w. H. Sowden were chosen, and the
congressional districts were called foI
the purpose If submitting the district
delegates AID electors, aud when that
was completed The convention adjourn
ed without day.