Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-05
DODGED A DILEMMA.
Why the Americus Club
Didn't IndOrse MOntoOth.
TOO MANY FAV0RITE SONS,
And the Members Will Shout Only
for the Nominee.
SOME OTHER POLITICAL GOSSIP

There was political sensation sprung at
the meeting of the Americus Republican
Club, Saturday night, which has been dis
cussed with bated breath by the members
ever since. 1t was not down on the regular
programme, but it occupied startled atten-
tion for nearly half an hour, and the politi-
cal leaders OF the club had an object lesson
in the position OF being between the Prince
of Darkness and the Deep Sea.
During the evening Corresponding Secre-
tary W, W. Colville offered a motion that
the club attend the Harrisburg Convention
in a body. The idea seemed favorably re
ceived and was about to be put to q vote,
when a call was made for remarks. An ex-
President OF the club arose and said that If
the club went in an aimless fashion to the
State Committee the famous query Of FIana-
gan, of Texas, would be very properly
heard: "What are we here for?" and what
would be the answer?
Continuing, the speaker cited the fact
that there was hardly a community In the
State that was not enthusing on the flavor
ite son, resident-citizen" basis, and from no
section of the State could such enthusiasm
be more legitimately expected than the ban
ner Republican county. II therefore move
won. Mr.. Chairman" said the speaker,
t'that the Americus Republican Club pro-
ceed to Harrisburg in the interest of Allie
gheny county's Gubernatorial candidate,
Major E. A. MonTooth, member of this
club"
AN AwKwARD SILENCE.
If silence were salable in large Jumps
somebody could have made a fortune.
Everybody stared at each other in blank
amazement and then all ewes turned toward
the corner in which was visible the debon-
naire form of Major Montooth himself.
There never was a more awkward hiatus,
and it was like certain religious creed
perdition either way.
Three ayowed Gubernatorial candidates
are active members of the club: Major E. A.
Montooth, Adjutant General Hastings and
State Senator Delamater. A clear majority
of the membership is for Delamater. Hast
ings has some friends, however, and the
strong following of Major Montooth among
the Americus Club lis a portion of the history
of the last Gubernatorial Convention.
The essence of the awfuIly awkward pre-
dicament was something as follows: If any
body opposed the formal Endorsement of
Major Montooth, local pride would have
been thereby smacked right between the
ewes. In the clubs situation either horn of
the dilemma was distastetul. If Major
Montooth were Endorsed it would bind the
club TO his canvass. which would have been
a grave situation for men pledged already to
Delamater or Hastings.
To vote by formal ballot against Major
Montooth's Endorsement would have been
contingency almost too dreadful for con-
take such a step.
On the other hand, the friends of Delama- |
ter and Hastings were afraid to breathe. To |
vote TO indorse Montooth was against their |
inclination toward other candidates, and to |
vote the resolution down would give away |
their position. So the membership held |
their breath and waited for the Guberna-
torial canvass to be settled, so far as the |
club was concerned.
NEVER SUCH A CRISIS.
Major Montooth evidently felt the |
strained condition Of affairs, and looked as |
if hean-bake or a campfire would have |
been Paradise compared with present sur |
roundings. There never had been such a
crisis in the history of the club.
Then the speaker went on to explain the |
reasons why the club should go to Harris |
burg and "holler'' for a local man. A |
member caught his breath long enough to
say that it would be proper enough to 'hol-
Ter" for the nom nee
1--WE don't have to go to Harrisburg to do |
that We want to go down there to make
candidate the nominee. Major Montooth /
received solemn promises at the last Guber-
material Convention, and we want to go
down there and see them redeemed. The /
Americus Club was for him four years ago.
and he Is a stronger candidate now than
then. Why should we change front? We
don't want to wander around the capital
with our fingers In our mouths, to shut off
cheers for the nominee until some candidate
has won his fight" etc., etc.
The embarrassment was growing. Finally
q member from Allegheny got upon his feet
and proceeded TO issue remarks carefully
chosen for their inexpressiveness. He eau
tiously platitudinized, and wound up by
deprecating any action which would bind
the whole club BY the membership present,
less than sixth; hoped no issue would be
made at this early stage of the campaign;
said many men had many minds. and that
action on such an important matter should
be the subject of grave deliberation, etc.
WITHDREW HIS MOTION.
The gentleman who fired the bombshell
arose and said that he would ask unanimous
consent to withdraw his amendment to Mr..
Colville's motion; whereupon a simuItan-
eous and heartfelt sigh burst from the men,
bers and permeated the ambient air. Then
The motion to go in a body to Harrisburg
passed hurriedly, there being conclusive
evidence that no more dynamite riders
we're desired.
So the Americas Republican Club will 90
10 Harrisburg pledged to "holler" for no
,ne in particular, bnt it was freely, though
quietly, remarked that the club must, by
'eason of the occurrence, stand right square
1pon the obvious fact that an endorsement
If the local candidate, Major E. A. Mon
Doth, was an avoided and dreaded contin-
yency