Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-22
A MAN FROM yENANGO NOMINATED
Hon. Charles Miller, the Candidate Chosen,
isa Large Stakeholder in
the Standard.
COL. c. A. HYATT IN SECOND PLACE.
In Allegheny Man Selected for Secretary Of In.
ternal Affairs.
nrrcuAr TELEGRAM TO THE p1sp.rcz,

nomination of candidates for Governor,
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of In
ternal Affairs, nearly four hours were con-
sumed to-day in completing the work. The
convention unanimously ratified the choice
of the Central Committee for State Chair
man, Prof. II. ID. Patton, of Lancaster, and
the gentlemen Il :de few remarks in recog-
milton of the compliment, after which on his
motion thanks were extended to the retiring
Chairman, A. A. Stevens, who, in response
to demands, delivered one of his crisp and
incisive speeches. His appearance before
the enthusiastic Prohibitionists was the
signal for uproarious applause.
The committee appointed to inquire into
the feasibility of establishing daily Prohi-
bition paper had made very little progress
and was continued at the request of the
Chairman. The collection of funds for the
prosecution of the campaign followed.
APPEALING FOR FUNDS.
Rev. W. R. Covert, lively member of
the cold water party from Westmoreland
county, appealed with great earnestness,
mingled with humor, for contributions to
the cause. He preached short sermons,
told laughable stories and availed himselfof
all sorts Of expedients to induce subscrip-
tions. His success wass illustrated BY the
fact that s., ,69S were guaranteed, a consider
able portion of which was paid in cash. In
addition a basket collection was taken up
amounting to $50 "a. One delegate an
nounced a contribution of SIS by his wife
of her own money. The smallest county
delegations sent up S190 to be used during
the campaign.
Resolutions eulogistic Of the lste Clinton
b. Fisk, thanking the railroad companies
for favors extended to the Prohibitionists in
reduced fares, and recognizing the Women's
Christian Temperance Union as an aggres-
sive and powerful ally, were adopted, after
which Mr.. Stevens presented the name of
Charles Miller, of Franklin, Venango coun-
ty, as candidate for Governor.
TIRED OF AUToMAToNs.
He spoke of the great importance of nomi-
mating q man for the office who had all the
qualifications for il, and said the time had
passed to nominate automatons to be
knocked down at the polls. A pronounced
disposition to close the nominations was
exhibited by those who wanted to get through
early with the business of the convention,
but number of delegates frowned down
upon motion having this object in view,
because they had favorites whose claims
they desired TO present.
Judge Briggs, of Philadelphia, was one
of the men who urged greater deliberation
In choosing q candidate for the head of the
ticket. As soon as he had taken his seat a
delegate on the platform named for the posi-
tion the Judge, who protested against this
move, as it looked as if he had arranged it
with the gentleman, whose name he even
did not know. Judge Briggs said that he
had received a number of letters and per-
sonal requests to run for Governor, but as
he thought stronger candidates could be |
secured, and he could do more for the |
cause as a private soldier in the Prohibi- |
tion army than as its leader in the coming |
fight, he had declined to be considered a |
candidate. He pledged himself to do all in |
his power for the election of the ticket that |
might be nominated, and to battle for the |
cause of prohibition until his death.
MORE PEREMPToRY DEcLINAr1oNs.
Ex-Chairman Stevens was also named but |
he refused peremptorily to stand, and asked |
the convention not to commit suicide The |
selection of a man who had been in the fore
front of the Prohibition fight be thought was |
a very unwlse proceeding. Judge Camp
bell, of Fayette who had been named, had |
his name Withdrawn bv friend for the
reason that he was a candidate for Congress
in his district on the Prohibition ticket
Rev. S. c. Swallow, of this city, also had
his name Withdrawn. w. B. Elliott and
others warmly pressed John B. Gill, of
Westmoreland, for the nomination.
After much useless discussion Charles
Miller was chosen on the first ballot, receiv-
ing 26O votes to 101 for Mr.. Gill. The small
vote was due 10 the fact that many of the
delegates had left the hall.
While the several nominations were un-
der discussion Rev. W. r. Covert defended
Mr.. Gill from the change that he had sold
out to the Democrats last fall in Westmore-
land county, and followed the action by
reading type written letter signed with the
name of M. S. Quay, dated October 20. 1889,
which produced a great sensation in the
convention, which INDUCED in loud ap-
plause as the name OF Quay was announced.
THE SILENT SENATOR FOOLED.
This letter was addressed to William
Ross, at Stoner's postofice, Westmoreland
county. This Ross was supposed by Quay
10 be liquor dealer. but he was in reality
William Ross Covert, who had addressed
decoy letter to the junior Senator from
Pennsylvania to entrap him, because, as he
several thousand dollars had been sent into
the county to defeat the prohibitory amend
ment The letter contained the following:
will be very glad indeed to have you help
the Republican ticket whether you are of our
politics or not. The submission Of the amend
ment to a vote of the people was not made
either to benefit or to injnre the liquor interest
or the cause of temperance, but simply to per-
NIT the people of PENNSYLVANIA to pass
upon propositions which very large
number of them desired to have in
corporated in the Constitution. AS it
resulted presume it benefited your people and
disposes of the question of prohibition for
some time, although it was not intended
specially so to operate and inasmuch as yours
was the victorious party in the struggle. you
certainly have no reason to complain of the
action. sincerely trust that you will help our
people out in westmoreland. where 1 under
stand they are pretty hard pressed.
WOLFE CHANGES HIS MIND.
The convention was subsequently excited
by the proposal of c. A. Babcock to read a
letter from Charles S. Wolfe. Several dele
gates frantically jumped up in their seats
and protested against the reading of the let
ter, because of the recent declaration of Wolfe
that be had about decided to support Pattison
for Governor. The intimation was thrown out
that the late candidate for Governor on the
Prohibition ticket had recanted, and that
he would stand by his old friends The
letter was finally referred to the Committee
on Resolutions as way out of the gnarl
John d. Gill, of Westmoreland; II. f.
West, of Philadelphia; Colonel Charles E.
Hyatt, of Chester; Rev. w. r. Covert. of
Westmoreland; Tsllie Morgan, of Scranton,
were named for Lieutenant Governor, but
before ballot was taken Messrs. West, Nor
gan and Gill withdrew their names, and on
8 rising vote Colonel Charles A. Hyatt was
named by large majority.
The Committee on Resolutions here pre- |
II 81. L I. IA