Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02
sssK>p, eAioAS cpsrnSr,os
Called 10 Order at I2.45 I'D. M
David y. HHurphey Chosen Chair.

| Oda' ttc hnu JOuEuhls
DoyER, pt. 30.--rL 'public2p State
Convention wss oall,d 10 0ii,r at 70 45
O'Clock, this Afternoon, by Chairman
Pen.eRill Of tho State oo.nmittee, aud
David J. Murphey was elected temporary
chairman, with Walter Hayes, Eeq.,
Captain Carey and W. u. Wallace IS
temporary secretaries. The usual COM
mittees were named.
On George v. Massey's motion the
| functions Of committee permanent organ.
izstion were dispensed with and the tenn.
porary organization was made permanent.
N. b. Smithers, Esq,, requested the
| committee on resolutions 10 meet him at
his office to prepare its report.
Mr.. Massey moved to dispense with
| the committee on credentials, as there
were no contests, but Messrs. Spruanes
and Stone opposed. Mr.. Dunn's motion
to accept lists as handed in by ohairmen
| Of disti lot caucuses was adopted, and Mr.
Massey withdrew his motion.
A recess for 80 minutes was then
taken.
CAUoUsING FOR CONGRESSMAN.
During recess there was much oauous-
ing in relation to the Congressional nomi-
nation. The Layton boom has nothing
In IL, and there will be square fight be-
tween Higgins and Massey, with chances
iavoring the former, who will be nominated
II New Castle sticks to him solidly.
THE ELECTORS.
The following sleok rs were nominated
| by acclamation
New Csstle-General Henry DUPONT.
Kent-Joseph A. Truitt.
Sussex-Sime0n Pennewell.
PRESENTING THE CANDIDATES.
After the Presidential electors had
been duly nominated Mr.. Massey, with q
brilliant and glowing eulogy, nominated
Hon. Nathaniel B. Smithers OF Dover as
the candidate for representative in Con-
grsss. Among other things he said
due regard for the eternal fitness Of
things demanded his nomination, as Of
all other men In Delaware he ia peou-
liarly the personal friend Of Blaine.
Then Mr.. Smithers dramatically made
the greatest effort Of his political life by
declining the nomination, with gracious
| thanks for the compliment, and kind
acknowledgements for the many iavors
that had been heaped upon him. He
closed by saying: "This is the last utter
snoe you will hear from me In any con-
vention."
Then the Kent delegation withdrew,
and after elaboration insisted on keeping
| Mr.. Smithers' name before the convention.
"Mr. chairman" said Mr.. Smithers,
"under the circumstances permit me to
withdraw And he retired.
William G. Spruance, Esq, In nomi-
mating Anthony Higgins, Etq., said his
nomination would strengthen the ticket
/ In New Castle county, and secure its
election. He said Mr.. Higgins nomina.
| ton would draw largely from the vote Of
the neutrality-suspicious. from the
Irish American Democrats. some of
their representatives is on the floor Of
this convention" said Mr.. Spruance,
sand know whereof speak" He also
said they had reasonable ground to
expect that the Germans would support
Mr.. Higgins, as they had asked him to
\ deliver the address at their recent annual
festival. He said no Republican in Della
| ware would dare 90 back on Anthony
Higgins, while his dark-skinned brethren
would as soon forget their God ss turn
their backs on him.
George W. Stone Endorsed what Mr..
spruanos had said, and John M. Dunn
spoke as an Irish. American, who had
always been Republican. He said II
Higgins was nominated the Republican
county ticket would he elected, including
the one man there seems to be some doubt
about. "Give us Nr. Higgins" said Dunn,
sand we will sink even Mr.. Ford and
II you Of Kent and Sussex do what you
did four years ago, we will elect him and
carry your electoral ticket through"
Mr.. Massey then made his Intellectual
effort to secure viva vooe vote, but the
convention ordered ballot, by rising
vote Of 81 to 81. Then the ballot was
taken and Mr.. Higgins was nominated.
VOTE BY BALLOT ORDERED.
Mr.. Sprusnce moved that the nomina-
tion be by ballot. MIR. Massey favored a
viva voce vote, making an amendment to
this effect. The amendment was lost by
rising vote of 81 to So. A vote by
ballot WAS then ordered.
The ballot was taken amid considerable
confusion, but with great promptness.
Messrs. Spruance and Massey were tellers,
and George W. Stone called the delegates
Ia stentorian tones. After all had voied,
Mr.. Spruanoe read the ballots and Mr..
Massey kept the tally. The result was,
for Higgins, 100 votes; for Smithers, 81
1t was announced by Mr.. Massey, and
the delegates oheered Justify.
Mr.. Massey grimly proposed the Gus
tomary motion to make the nomination
unanimous. Mr.. Sprusnoe, with 8
bestifio smile illumining his oountenanoe,
said IL the result Of the ballot had been
different it would have been not only his
l IL 60 hnt q hn
nomination be made unanimous. The
motion was then carried by storm Of
ayes and about dozen or fifteen vigor.
GUS and spiteful noes.
Walter Hayes, Esq, Of Wilmington,
moved for a committee OF three to inform
Mr.. Higgins OF his nomination, and the
chair appointed Mr.. Hayes, DR.. g w
Marshall Of Milford and d. o. Moore Of
Broad Creek bundled, Sussex county.
MASSEY SHOWS HIS RAGE.
After all the convention ended in Q
snarl. George W. Stone OF Wilmington,
arose with request from the New Cssele
county delegation, for the abrogation o.
the district rule adopted by the State
convention held last May. This rule
divided New Castle county into two dis,
\ Isl.
and Ii being an awkward way to manage
the committees, 1t WAS desired to have
the rule repealed, 30 they could unite.
Mr.. Massey viciously opposed the srR-
gestion. He said the district system had
been adopted by the May convention
after being reported BY the committee OIL
resolutions, and WAS now a part of the
organic law OF the party. Every deliver
snoe that this convention could lawfully
make had been made by the committee OF
, resolutions, and it was too late now IL
ask for any change.
Mr.. Spruanoe took issue with Mr.
Massey, but the latter ont him short with
a motion to adjourn, which Mr.. Spruanot
said he thought very unfair. The motion
: to adjourn was defeated by rising vote
of 81 to "a.
MIR. Massey rsised q point of order tina
Mr.. stones motion to change tn,
rules was out OF order, but the chat
,, ruled the point not we'll taken.
Mr.. Stone then renewed his motion II
resoind the district rule. He said tina
!, though It was enacted at the request o
: gentlemen from New Castle county, the,
I did not represent the sentiment Of tn
! party.
MIR. Massey vigorously. and with muol
heat retorted that to come In now, afte
> the convention had practically ende,
and one-third Of the delegates had left
with o request for radical change il
the organic law Of the party, WAS unfair
q an unjust reflection upon the last con
: vention, and au outrage upon deceno.
and propriety. He then put on his hs
:. | and atrnda ont of the hall