, 1888-02-23
NO SELECTION MADE.
Of the National Dem
oCratic Committee
The Convention to Be Held
July 3.
The Place of Meeting Not Yet
Selected.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-The national
Democratic committee met at Williard's
hall in this city at noon to day for the
purpose Of selecting the date and place
Tor holding the next Democratic conyen
ton to nominate candidates for president
and vice president. Ex-senator w. ii.
Barnum of Connecticut presided, and
L. o. Prince of Massachusetts acted
as secretary. The vacancy caused by the
death Of Hubert o. Thompson OF New
York was promptly filled by the election
OF William Steinway. Organization hav-
ing been completed, the chairman stated
that the first business in order was the
selection Of the date for holding the ma
tional Democratic convention.
Senator German offered a resolution
fixing the date July 3 next. This was
vigorously opposed by Congressman
Scott OF Pennsylvania, who was present
as proxy for VIM. A. Wallace. He read
a long speech depicting advantages which
he believed would accrue to tie Demo
cratic party from il convention Leld as
early as May %. The campaign could be
made vigorous and aggressive by the Sc.
lection OF an carly date and a distinct and
early dcnunclation TO the American peg
pie of the principles which would be
wrought into the Democratic platform.
Dawson Of South Carolina followed in
the same VEIN.
Another proposition was made to fix
June 5 as the date, but this, as well as
the early date suggested by Scott, was OBJ
iected to by Senator German, who de-
clared that in view of the fact that there
were some differences of opinion in the
Democratic party upon the tariff question,
it would be impOlitic to hold the conven-
ton before the Democratic house OF rep
r~esentatives had an opportunity to agree
upon a tariff measure which would bring
together dissenting opinions and secure
the united support of the party. When
such 4 bill had been agreed upon the
Democrats could fastcn upon the Repub-
lican senate the responsibility for failure
to enact a law revising the existing tariff
law and correcting its evils.
Senator Pasco, of Florida, briefly ex-
pressed himself as in favor of the early
date. The committee finally, by a vote
of 2S to 10, agreed that the convention
be held July Sd next. A short recess
was then taken.
~cHIcAGo's CLAIMS.
The committee then gave a hearing to
representatives OF the various cities con-
tending for the honor of securing the
convention, the first audience being given
NJ. w. Fuller of Chicago. He congratu.
lated the committee on the changed con-
ditions of political affairs since four years
ago. Then twenty four years exclusion
from power had imbued the Democratic
party with a feeling of timidity which
characterized the minority party and kept
it such. Then the Republican party was
indulging in the arrogant assumption that
nj -half the American people were unfit
for public Office. But the election of 1884
had changed all that Honesty. sim
picity and the courage Of the leader
which the last convention had selected
had carried the Democratic party to vic
tory, and nov three years of Democratic
administration saw prosperity in the cOun
try, honesty in every department and
success in diplomacy through astuteness,
knowledge and good sense rather than
through the fiery cffervescense OF pyro-
technical display.
1t was a matter of consideration wheth-
er the committee should contemplate a
change of luck by 3 change of place.
Chicago offered an unequalled July eli
mate, the amplest hotel accommodations,
and the largest telegraph, newspaper and
railroad facilities. 1t had an auditorium
witha seating capacity offs, 600 and an ex-
position building with a seating capacity of
5000 which could be increased to 1000.
He then referred to what he regarded as
to changing OF the policitical condition of
some states bordering upon Illinois and
declared hat the holding of the conven-
ton in Chicago would have the effect of
Fastening that change. For the first time
in thirty-two years the Democratic party
was going into the presidential campaign
with the prospect ton account OF the pos
session by Grover Cleveland of qualities
which had endeared Stephen \. Doug
las to the Democracy of carrying Hi
nois.
CINCINNATI.
Gen. Halt presented the claims OF Gin
cinuati n duty which had hePn assipned