Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-18
MOCK HARMONY.
THE ARENA PROVES QUITE INTER-
ESTING DESPITE THE At
TEMPTED "HARM0NY."
Click Slaughtered in Convention
and Resurrected by slate"
Martin.
The largest Democratic Convention Ever
Held in Kansas-Ed. Carroll, A. A.
Harris Dave u. Dale and Tom
Lowe Delegates at Large
Report Of Proceedings.

/
for uniqueness has never before been
| equaled in this state. 1t is impossible TO
| give an adequate idea Of the personnel of
! the convention, but it is only proper to say
! that taken as body the members of the
convention were both in appearance and
| in intelligence rather above the average
! Democratic convention of other states,
whatever compliment there may be in that.
! Indeed in looking over the faces of the SIS
/ delegates who hailed from every nook and
! corner of this great state, it at first thought
seemed little strange that those promi-
nent Democratic characteristics 50 fire.
quent and noticeable in similar conven-
! tions were almost eradicated here. This
could only be accounted for by the fact
that residence in Kansas under the benign
! influence of Republican government had
| to a great extent Modified those peculiari
ties which usually distinguish Democratic
! politicians from others.
There were present ali of the leading
old time Democrats of the states,
except, perhaps, the Hon. Tom Fenlon,
| of LeaYenworth, the silver tongued
orator of the Kansas Democracy, whose
| unavoidable absence on account of sick
| ness was greatly regretted by the entire
convention for the reason that he was
loaded with bully speech" Mr.. Fenlon
was, however, paid a very pretty compli-
ment by the passage of resolution regret
ting his inability to be present at the con-
| vention.
| The scores of candidates who were en-
gagged in what assumed the viciousness of
| a fight for life to acquire the empty honor
of being delegate to the st. Louis ratif-
cation meeting, were all on hand with
THAR workers, getting things in shape for
the great battle of yesterday. Another
most active element and potent factor in
the wire-pulling Was the federal office
| holder, who under the Democratic admin
istration, in Kansas, at least, has devel~
| oped into an offensive partisan of the most
active type and was, in fact, the power be-
hind the throne in many little intrigue
which was manipulated. Notwithstand-
! ing this strong influence of the administra-
TONS favorites there was very early
noticeable mighty under-current of oppo-
Sition to any prominence on the part of,
or any domination from that class of
politicians AS the time for holding
the convention approached, this feeling
began to more thoroughly permeate the
various delegations and early the night
before the convention assembled. it was
apparent to all that mo administration
| beneficiary need apply for anything what
| ever. This feeling found its outcropping
| in the opposition to Ex-Governor q. w.
| Click, who as the recipient of the greatest
| favor to be dispensed in the west-the
Office of commissioner of pensions for the
western states-was regarded as the leader
| of the administration forces. In spite of
| their great protestations in favor of civil
service reform and against offensive par
tisanship made by their benefactor, these
erstwhile Democratic leaders, were unable
to divorce themselves from an inordinate
desire to dabble in state and national
politics and for their ambitious pretenses
We're rebuked by the active politicians of
the party who have never tasted presi-
Dental bits. The result was very
strong disposition to revive all of the dor
mant animosities and jealousies which
were created when these several appointees
were favored by President Cleve-
land. Upon the head of Gov
ernor Click was poured all the
venom of the united opposition
to federal interference or ''bossism," for
the reason that by his ill-timed effrontery
in coming to the convention and demand
ing an election as delegate at large to the
| St. Louis convention.
As the Topeka Democrat, the late organ
of Governor Hill, would say, the political
| situation in Kansas was fast becoming
! Democratic" and something had to be
done. At attempts a compromise which
would avert collision between the federal
! II had 1al
| The older heads saw that to allow the
name of Governor Click to come fairly and
souarely before the convention meant
nothing more nor less than defeat for him,
which in itself could be construed into
nothing if not a direct slap at the admin
! istration.
| Judge John Martin, Of Topeka, one of
! the leading Democrats of the state, was
! the recognized leader of the anti-Glick
! factions. He also wanted to go TO St
| Louis, but in no way could a compro-
mise be effected until Frank Dale, of
this city, fixed up scheme by which
| j. H. Tomlinson, OF Atchison, was TO place
Gov Click in nomination for delegate TO
/ st. Louis. At the critical moment Judge
| Martin was to fall upon Clicks neck and
weep, calling upon every friend he had to
vote for Geo. W. Click, who upon being
elected was to decline in favor Of Gen.
/ Charles W. Blair, of Leavenworth, not
withstanding that gentleman was at the
time the Kansas member OF the National
/ Democratic committee. General Blair, of
course, declined and placed in nomination
Judge Martin. OF course, the judge de-
clined and the play was TO conclude with
Judge Martin nominating Ed Carroll,
chairman of the state central committee.
HooDwINKING THE KIDS.
OF course. the play was made smoothly,
the '-grand-stand was worked" 10 perfec-
ton. the new ones the little fish. were
taken in and the convention proceeded in
harmony as if there had never been
federal appointed, or if there had been
one. he had never wanted any
empty honors. such as delegate at large to
national ratification meeting. But TO
the gentlemen. who for the sake of that
which Democracy so dearly loves and
about which we hear so much-harmony-
sacrificed their position in the fight, the
reflections upon the incidents of yesterday
cannot be as gratifying as upon the surface
/ they appeared to indicate
| Taken altogether the convent on was one
Of remarkable ''whoop and hurrah'' quail
ties. The meerest mention of anything
would produce wild and enthusiastic cheer
/ ing. This grew SO common that the chair
WIS at one stage OF the convention forced
to request them not to cheer when there
was nothing Tor which 10 cheer. The at
tendance was phenomenal, only one cour-
~, Stevens, with but single delegate