Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-25
A HARD CROWD TO HANDLE.
first Republican Convention to
Name Delegates to Chicago.
PANDEMoNlUM RElGNS SUPREME
The Chase and Carson Factions Both
Elect Representatives, One
For Sherman and the Other
For Blaine.
A HOwling Mob.
WASHINGTON BUREAU THE OMAHA BEE,
hla Enr rRTEENTu STKEET.

WAsnINGToN, ID. c., Jan. "a.
Probable the first convention held in any
part Of the country to elect delegates to the
republican nominating convention at Chicago
next June was called to order in Williard's
hall here this morning, and it proved to be
the most boistcrous and exciting political
meeting ever seen at the national capital. 1t
was literally mob, and almost eliminated
in riot. There are twenty-five legislative
districts in the District of Columbia, and five
delegates were last night regularly selected
TO the convention o.day in each district were
irregularly selected so that when the conven-
tion was called TO order by A. II. S. Davis,
the chairman Of the District central com
mittee, there was food of contests, and the
two factions elected "a temporary chairman
and other officers
ARMED FOR THE FRAY.
The hall is not very large, The stage small,
and the 220 men who claimed recognition as
delegates forced their way in and took their
places among friends armed with razors and
pistols. These conventions have long since
become such disgraceful affairs that very
few white people attend them, and the
negroes who run them ride over factions by
force. 1t was not long after the convention
was called to order that Chairman Davis
WIN 10 oliBiildil IIoHl NliuhcSotti, ittiCu
from the stage, leaving two charmen on the
platform and Fred Douglas on his feet plead
ing for peace. These are what are known as
the Chase and Carson factions-the former
for Sherman and the latter for Blaine-and
the fighting war for supremacy between
them.
AHOwLING MOB.
For hours there were cat-calls and cries of
"Git long dar, nggah," Glands off razors,"
etc. Delegates galore climbed over the re-
porter's table onto the stage and shook their
fists at one another and at the chairman. A
half dozen or so pu lied off their coats and u
revolver flashed for instant in a swarthy
hand. Detectives Horne and Rolf and Ofi-
GERS Burns and Moore took up position in q
perfunctory sort of way as if at a prize fight.
The newly elected presiding officer Mr.
. Dryson ordered Chairman Davis off the floor.
He did not go just ut the moment and his
presence made confusion anew. Steven Wall,
the secretary of the central committee. was
then declared secretary and bodily hoisted to
the stage by his friends. A decidedly pacific
element was introduced into the convention
in the shape of half a dozen buccoated po-
licemen, headed by Lieutenant Amss and
Sergeant Diggins, of the first precinct.
CENSORS OF THE MEETING.
Headed by the lieutenant they took their
places on the stage, and the muscular, wide
mouthed, cyclone style that had prevailed
became for 4 few moments more subdued
Ineu Lawyer lJuu WIZ Decn
sitting by the reporters, leaped on to the
table at which the newspaper men were try
ing to write their reports of the meeting and
harangued the mob in the interests of har-
mony. The assembled crowd set up, howl
at once, the chairman began to belabor the
tin footlight range with his cane and in his
already hoarse voice put motion that the
hall be cleared. 1t was carried, and Mr..
Lacey, colored man, who was supporting
the chairman, in shrill voice announced the
decision, and said "lf you don't clear out
de white peoples comm"
SEPARATING THE DELEGATES.
This was done so that the wheat could be
separated from the chaff, or in other words,
those who were delegates could be separated
from those who were not delegates, but were
ordinary howlers Long before this both
the doors of the hall had been broken from
their hinges and Chairman Dyson's cane had
been splintered and was replaced by good
sized section of hickory tree. There was,
Of course, great feeling shown when the con-
testing delegates were crowded out and the
chair only recognized the Chase men. Every
body wanted to speak now.
FRED DOUGLASS RECOGNIZED.
Back in the body of the crowd the vener-
able Mr.. Douglass had been sitting until now
almost unnoticed, but he was found by some
of the better elements in the convention and
carried bodily and put on the stage. He
stepped to the front and for the first time
there was semblance of quiet, but it lasted
only moment, for young colored man
hhmtu iiShiS l&u'NS, a. pun iooili hsSpcI. Sob
up and protested against Mr.. Davis relin-
qushing the chair to Dyson. This aroused
u chorus of yells to the effect that "Yo,"
meaning Dyson, ''aint been 'lected, and we
amt goin' to reckonize yo" Mr.. Taliferro
(white), succeeded in making himself heard
in a few plain words. The stormy waves
calmed. Then the storm broke loose
again and after raging few moments
Mr. Douglass stretched out his hands and
said, "Please be still" and gradually the dis
rordant sounds subsided and in few mo-
ments the din was queted 1t was "A strange
scene, this whte-haired old man tanning the
violent passions of his fellow colored men
but few moments before struggling and
bowling with the savagery of wild beasts
His speech was -intiammatory and was in
the interests OF peace, not favoring any fac
ton, but counseling discretion and gentle
manly conduct. 1t was not the speech, but
the man, that was listened to. The speaker
paused for moment and n voice in the back
of the hall said: "Mr. chairman, I'd like to
aS de gemman u question: Then the storm
broke out again. When Mr.. Douglass sat
down in prominent seat on the stage the
pandemonum like proceedings were re-
sumed.
DOUBLE CONVENTION.
Mr.. Davis resumed the craftsmanship and
Mr.. Dyson did not relinquish it. The con
sequence was that there were two chairmen
and two sets of motions and seconds and
votes before the convention-one for each
chairman. II was now well along in the
afternoon and there were no signs of abate-
ment of the mob, and the lessee of the hall,
Colonel Staples, stepped upon the stage and
moved to adjourn the convention till O'Clock
this evening, his intention being to clear the
hall and deny further use of il for the meet
ing, as it was being badly damaged, but the
convention paid no attention to him.
TWO SETS OF DELEGATES CHOSEN.
Finally balloting began by the Chase fac
ton, which composed what We're recognized
as the regular delegates, and Judge Shella-
barger, of the law firm of Shellabarger Il
Wilson, and Fred Dyson, the chairman of the
convention, were elected delegates to Chi
cago, the District of Columbia being entitled
TO but two delegates. Both are Sherman
men. The convention proper then adjourned
and the Chase faction left, but the Perry
Carson crowd of delegates continued in ses-
sion. Carson is u six foot, three inch, coal
black negro and has long been a boss,
He was delegate TO Chicago
IN 1854 and voted for Blaine.
He is forthe plumed knight now and is a
a member of the national committee. The
aftermath convention then elected Mr., Car
son and Andrew Gleason, a white man, dele
gates 10 Chicago. As soon as they We're de-
clared elected Gleason got up on the stage
and said II will bet s., 900 to $500 that the
Chicago convention will recognize me and
Carson rs the delegates" There were no
taEnrs A 1pnI of 10 falt 10