Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-10
STILL WANT SHIRAS.

His Delegates Met Yesterday Afternoon
and Offer 10 Support Him as an Inde-
pendent Candidate But He Refused the
Honor-A Talk With Him.
A DISPATCH reporter called upon Mr..
George Shiras last evening, and made in
quiry regarding a meeting of his delegates
in opposition to Colonel Stones nomination.
Mr.. Shiras said: SIT is true that such a
meeting was held shortly after the adjourn
ment of the convention at which William
A. Stone was nominated. The meeting was
held at private law office on Diamond street,
Pit.sburg, where was Unexpectedly called by
a district messenger boy. On entering, and
after some talk with the delegates present.
discovered that the purposes OF the meet
ing were to enter into formal pro-
test against the ignoring OF the IL
contests in the convention, and also
to talk over the advisability of nominating an
Independent candidate against MI. Stone. On
the first subject great deal OF bitterness was
shown. These particular contests were the
strongest of some 80 contests that 1t would
have been possible for us to have made. and
were without exception based upon gross ir-
regularities such as intimidation, frand, stuff
ing the ballot boxes. the election of delegates
not citizeus of the United States. the wagering
of money by the members of the election
boards on the success OF w. A. stone In the
precincts in which they were officers the carry"
ing away of my supporters in the patrol wagon
at the opening of the polls upon alleged mis-
behavior of the previous day and the threaten.
ing of speak-easies and other law breakers tnat
unless certain districts were carried Tor stone
they would be prosecuted by the municipal
authorities of the city.
I'm so much as these numerous cases were
pushed with the utmost energy. and the serv-
ice made upon the contestees within few
hours of the time prescribed by the county
Committee, it is the duty of the convention, re-
gardless of the claims of any candidate, TO
have made thorough investigation OF the
same and to have suspended the enforcement
Of the provision requiring service to be made
on or before particular hour. which service
in limited number of cases Of an ordinary
character could have been complied with. The
convention. in view of the fact that the cand1-
date who is desirous of having the investIga-
tion had received majority OF the votes cast
by the individual Republicans OF the district,
together with the fact that the delegation was
very nearly equally divided between the two
candidates, should have been considered
enough to have ordered such an investigation
instead of yielding to the demands OF the can
didate who three months previous had violated
every rule regulating the Congressional Con-
vention. After this matter had been thoroughly
discussed, the propriety of nominating al
independent candidate against the present
nominee was considered"
"Was any action taken on this matterr'
nominated me as such candidate. The same
was immediately declined and full and suf.
ficient reasons. Of private and public nature,
given for the same"
'.Was there any talk Of boiling Mr.. Stone at
the electionf
''Yes; this was discussed. and argued
against taking any action of this character
right on the heels of the convention, but to
wait until such matters might be more calmly
considered and that above all things they
should remember that it was not the party that
was at fault. but some of the despotic leaders,
who might properly be rebuked without at the
same time injuring party the supremacy of
which is SO essential to this community The
delegates then agreed to take no hasty action,
but to return to their constituents and abide
by the voice of those who had sent them to the
Convention"
do you intend interesting yourself any fur
ther in the present contest? ?'
mo. The next few days will be devoted to
settling up the affairs incident to a campaign
of this character and shall then leave for
Lake Superior to obtain rest necessary after
the two contests that1 have just gone through"
The Democrats Of the district still have hopes
of inducing D. T. Watson to make the race
against Colonel Stone.