The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-26
"A NATIONAL BUPFOON'

"A NATIONAL BUPFO0N"
Is What Ono Delegate Calls Another in
the National Convention of CoIored Men
Hired by the DemOcracy-A Very Funny
Time-Cleveland Endorsed.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 25.-The negro
Democratic National Conference, called
by ]. Milton Turnerand seventeen other
colored men, convened in the rooms Of
the Hendricks Club in this city at II
o'clock this morning.
]. Milton Turner called the conference
to order. He suggested that the confer
ence at once pass into executive session,
excluding from the hall all persons ex-
Cept reporters for the press, not holding
credentials as delegates.
Thomas Fortune, of the New York Sun,
adelegate, wanted all outsiders, reporters
included, excluded until after the tenn
porary organization had been perfected.
He said il there should be any lack OF
harmony it would then be known only
to the delegates. Fortunes proposition
was antagonized by several delegates at
the same time. After a prolonged
wrangle over the question, Acting Chair
man Turner finally recognized the point
OF order raised that n committee had
already determined upon the temporary
organization.
Fortune then demanded TO know by
what authority any so.callcd committee
had etIecteda temporary organization,
aud moved thatthcf conference proceed to
appoint committee on temporary Orga-
niZatiOn.
Turner said he believed it was time for
the negro voters TO assert their under
standing Mt least OF the primary princi-
pies Of American sovereignty. The ele-
vation Of Cleveland to the Presidency,
he said, had brought political CmanCipa-
ton which was felt by no one more than
the negroes, and they had the honesty
and courage 10 meet Grover CleYeland's
administration half way.
An Ohio delegate cried out, "Why noi
meet Thurman the other half?" which
brought out prolonged cheers and wav-
ners address he introduced Charles II.
Shelton, OF Evansville, Ind, MS the tenn
porary chairman. Shelton was chosen
by the anti-Turner Democrats at their
stormy caucus held last night.
Shelton, in the course OF his speech,
mentioned that it WIS through the aid
OF Democratic soldiers that he had cs-
capped into Ohio, while slave. He be-
lieved the conference would eventually
be the means OF settling the negro prob.
lem, and it was the purpose OF the dele.
gates to break what Republicans call
the Solid South.
Noah Plummer, OF Massachusetts, was
made Temporary Secretary. A rcsolu-
ton endorsing Cleveland and Thurman
was adopted by 4 unanimous viva voce |
vote. The balance OF the session was
occupied in noisy and heated wrangle,
during which the Chairman was unable
to restore order, over the formation OF
committee on permanent organization.
The afternoon session was far more
stormy than the morning one and was
given up to the discussion OF the Com
mittee on Permanent Organization.
That committee presented majority
and n minority report. Thomas Brown,
OF Springfield, Illinois, presented the
majority report, which recommended
Prof. Peter II. Clark, OF Ohio, for per-
mnnent chairman. Joseph Houser, of
Illinois, presented minority report,
which named J. Milton Turner for per-
manent chairman.
G. J. Taylor, Of Kansas City, ex-Min-
istcrto Liberia, strongly urged the elcc-
ton of Clark, declaring new converts to
Democracy should not be put in charge
OF the ship. He characterized Prof.
Clark as the "noblest negro Roman OF
them ALL"
Great confusion again prevailed and
Turner finally obtained the floor, and
replying to Taylor called him a national
buiIoOn, which threw the conference
into state ofexctement.
Late in the afternoon the previous
question was moved, and after many
abortive attempts the chairman shut Off
the debate, and ordered the secretary to
call the roll OF States.
1t was nearly 6o'clock when Secretary
Plummer, an avowed Turner partisan,
announced that the total vote stood at a
tie-32fo for Clark and 80 for Turner.
This announcement was the signal for
an uprising, that for few minutes bid
fair to Overwhelm and trample in the
dust the half-doZen reporters at the
press table. There was wild rush to-
ward Plummer, and cries of "Fraudw
"Thief!" and YOU'RE IL liarw were
roared from all parts OF the hall.
Finally W. T. Scott, the Cairo edi-
tor, who was Conspicuously en-
deavoring to protect and defend
Plummer, was struck in the face by
some one.
This was an insult only blood
could avenge, and Scott drew a
revolver from his pocket and selected
Mail Agent OgcIby, Of Ohio, as his vic
tim. Matters were now ut white heat.
The local spectators, both white and
black, ut the sight OF pistols madc.a mad
rush for the door, and tumbled pell nell
down stairs.
Meantime Ogelby and half dozen
others had drawn their firearms, and
blOOdshed was imminent, when a colored |
police officer rushed in with assistance
and showed the struggling combatants
into the directors room in the
rear, where they Intellectually tried
to shoot one another. Scott
and 0gelby were placed under arrest,
but the officer was prevailed upon to
release them, declaring he did so chiefly
because he was colored Republican.
Chairman Shelton finally secured or
der, and announced that lie knew Sec
retary Plummer's figures to be correct.
The next vote was 80 for Clark and 80
for Turner, and he therefore declared
Peter II. Clark, Of Ohio, the permanent
presiding officer OF the conference,
which then adjourned amidst confusion
until 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Gold Discoveries in Lower California.
Cry OF MEXICO, July 25.-Reports