Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-27
The Delegates to the Con-
ventiOn in Session.
They Discuss Charges Against
a Member.
The Resolutions Adopted and Affi-
davit Sworn To.
Native Sons Installation and Presenta-
tion-Other Matters of Consider
able Interest.

county Democratic delegation to the
coming state convention to hold two
meetings yesterday to consider certain
points made in the publication which
did not meet with the general approba-
tion of the delegates. The afternoon
meeting listened to the reading of the
editorial, and adjourned until evening
it being decided to invite Mr.. Joseph D.
Lynch, one of the editors of the HERALD,
to be present and give an explanation Of
the following portion of the article re-
ferred to:
"Why should the loafer element of the
Democratic party, or of any other party,
through money introduced from abroad
be able to put on Democratic ticket, a:
a delegate for San Jose, man who has
served a term in the penitentiary at
San Quentin?
''If there is delegate to the San Jose
convention who has served a term in
San Quentin, is it not right that the
HERALD should suffer greatly and
should feel that the party has suffered
an intolerable injury at the appearance
OF this mans name amongst the dele
gates who represent great party and a
patriotic and original idea?"
The meeting last evening was held at
the Office of Stephen M. White. A large
proportion of the city delegation was
present and many from the country.
Chairman of the County Central Com
mittee J. de Barth Shorb occupied the
chair. Mr.. White stated the OBJ
ject of the gathering, gave his under
standing OF the matter contained in the
editorial in question, going into details
to a considerable extent, and said he
had asked Mr.. Lynch to be present and
make statement. That gentleman
arose and spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, l shall
talk to you informally, as Mr.. White has
done. l suppose l will not be expected
to make categorical replies to all the
interrogatories propounded by Mr..
White.
Mr.. White-Mr. Lynch will certainly
make his statement in any form he de-
sires.
Mr.. .Lynch-In the first place, l wish
to say that newspaper claims and
must be granted certain latitude of
expression of opinion or of criticism.
In the very nature of things it cannot
always be sure that the facts it pub
fishes are capable of being verified by
legal evidence. In the case of party
paper it should be consistently true to
its party, but should permit no rule to
prevent its utterance of its convictions.
IN the case OF the HERALD,
it is boldly, emphatically and con-
sistently Democratic. One of it's editors
(and 1 refer to myself) has not only
always been Democrat, but has three
generations of Democratic ancestors.
But l say that at the late primary elec-
ton ! was the witness of scenes which
shocked me, scenes which should be
condemned by all true men. l passed
them by, but 1 found they had made a
deep impression on the better class of
people. l listened to various stories of
repeating at the polls, of bribery, and
the like. did not examine into them
as lawyer, but l believed them, and
they appalled, me. But when l was as
sured, by responsible reputable gentle
men that one Of the delegates was con-
vict, when this was asserted and re-
peated, l did not hesitate, but did what
/ considered my duty as Democrat and
an editor. l never saw Mr.. Nicoletti
before; | have no animosity towards
him, but have right to make
the issue which I did. Mr.. Nico-
letti, l was told, had made
a murderous assault with knife on
some person, that he had been i'm
prisoned and tried and that the jury had
disagreed that he was then retired and
acquitted. The use of the term San
Quentin was perhaps wrong. Turning
to Mr.. Nicoletti.) ''Mr. Nicoletti, were
- oIo~ T
have mentioned?"
in Jail for twenty-four hours in my life."
Mr.. White-''Mr. Lynch, it seems to
me that you should give the source of
your information. This matter should
be put straight. Mr.. Nicoletti should
know where your statement came from"
Mr.. Lynch--No, sir. 1 shall do moth
ing of the sort. A newspaper man will
no more betray confidence than a
priest at confessional. l am not dis
posed to be obstinate about this matter,
however; if have been misinformed,
as is possible of course, l will be glad to
remove the implication from Mr..
Nicoletti.
Mr.. White-What you know of the
matter then is what some one has told
you; you may have been imposed on,
and if so, we should know who it was.
Mr.. Lynch can easily ascertain if
the story is true or not. By Wednesday
will be able to find out.
Judge Morgan here made demand
for the name of Mr.. Lynchs informant.
He was afraid that he might be taken
by spectators at the San Jose conven-
tion for the man referred to in the edi-
torial. He thought the Democrats of
the city, county and state ought to
know who originated the story. He
thought this very important.
Mr.. lynch consider the important
part OF this matter is to know whether
these charges are true or not; where
they come from is no ones concern but
my own. Mr.. Nicoletti has denied
them, and 1 hope his denial is
true. But 1 will not have the
matter railroaded through as far
as it concerns me. A great in
Justice had been done Mr.. Nicoletti if
he has not stabbed man; but if he has
stabbed a man he should be expelled
from the delegation. If he has been
wronged no man can make fuller,
freer reparation than will. By Wednes-
day l will either prove what l have
said or withdraw it in freehanded
manner"
Judge Morgan again made long
speech about what should be expected
from opposition and party papers. He