Smyrna times., 1886-08-18
The Democratic State Convention.
BIGGs FOR OR-PENNINGTON
For CONGRESS.

From the bitterness Of the fight. the
personalities ind~lged in in the contest
for the su .remacy, the unscrupulous
tactics FesoFted to by each to out
general the other, everybody expected
there would be "big day =" Yesterday
at Dover, and they were not disap-
pointed. The masses like to see a
circus and hence the convention in
stead of being composed of set of del
gates for serious deliberation was
rather a mass of howlers, with an in
terested audience of spectators made
up of Democratic, Republicans, Prohibi.
tionists-everything but "niggers."
A special train started from Will
mingtOn with ten cars and 500 men.
mostly Herbert's crowd, brought down
to impress by presence and noise. A
number of persons were picked up at
every station and a great many came in
carriages. A Biggs and Herbert COM
bination was formed the night before
and when the convention was called at
twelve O'Clock it was an easy thing for
John +. Salisbury to manipulate the
chairman and committees, with every
thing cut and dried in the Biggs inter
est, From the time it opened until 5
o'clock, with an intermission of an
hour it was " mass of confusion worse
contounded faction was cOntending
against faction, each striving for the
advantage, fuming, cheering, groaning,
believing like bulls-anything to make
a noise. When a man attempted to
make motion or speak he was cheered
nnOfnn hn h.
No chairman could have controlled
such a disOrderly crowd and several
times the " FOUNDERS" had possession
of the convention. They crowded the
platform and one of the heelers got
directly in front of the chairman for a
harangue. This, of course, created an
indignation among the delegates and
with those who wanted the proceed
ings decent and in order, and there
were eXpostulations and VOciferations
from every quarter. Among them was
the voice of a Smyrna editor who
shouted himself hoarse with: Put him
out put him out the desperate cow
| boy teach him he is in Delaware and
not in Texas Put out the cowboy. >"
| Either at this time or later in the day
the chairman did collar one of these
| disorganizers and ran him to the back
of the stage.
The heat was intense, the mercury
apparently resting somewhere up in
the hundreds, and many took off their
coats and some all their outer clothing
but shirt and pants
! When the committee on credentials
made their report three of the dele
/
! Thos. Kirby, Robert Hill and Robert
Denney-were left of, reducing the
vote of the hundred from to ). AS
the credential committee was in the
Biggs interest while our delegation was
not, the natural inference was that a
trick was intended, or at most that it
was a very singular occurrence, and
w. p. Cummins, who sat at the secre-
tar's desk, insisted that no further pro
ceedings could be had until these
names were restored, which, after con-
siderable uprOar was done.
The biggest uprOar was when they
reached the point of making a choice
| of candidates and l.. G. Vandegrift, of
Wilmington, instead of presenting the
name of r. II. Cochran offered that
of William Herbert on whom the
Cochran, Herbert and Cooch delegates
it was understood had united against
Biggs. II fell like q thunder-clap on
the Salisbury and Biggs faction and
the Herbert clacquers were wild, but
the noise did not bring the votes.
Robert J. Reynolds of the State Com
mittee called the convention to order
and presented the name of Robert III
Davis Of Cedar Creek (South Milford)
as temporary chairman.
John M. Newell of Wilmington NOV
ed promptly that the chair appoint a
committee on credentials, composed
of five men from each county. The
motion was literally seconded by the
Herbert and Biggs delegates, but be-
fore the hesitating and already per-
spring chairman could put it Davii T.
Marvel, Esq, of Georgetown moved to
amend so as. to permit the delegates OF
each county to choose their own repre-
sentatives on the committee. 1'hie
had been the custom and was good
Democratic custom. But MarveI,s
motion raised pan-demonium. EVERY.
body was shouting at once, when Will
bur H. Burnite of South Murderkill
made the point Of order that the con.
vention was not yet orgaized. Then
all the leaders looked foolish.
The following was the Committee ON
credentials: New Castle-JOhn M.
Newell, James I. Shallcross, Robert G