New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
PRICE FIVE CENTS,
KILKENNY CAT DEMOCRATS,
WILD DISORDER AT THE SPRINGFIELD CON.
VENTION.
ONE DELEGATE DREW KNIFE-THE GAvEL
sNATCHED FROM THE CHAIRMAN's
HANDs-PoLICEMEN CALLED IN
TO AWE THE RUFFIANS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBUSE.I

TO AWE THE RUFTANS.
fBY TELEGRAPH THE TkIBUSE.1
Springfield, Ohio July 1.-THE Campbell peopS
to-day fulfilled their threats that unless they
could carry the Clark County delegation in county
convention there should he TWO delegations from
this county 70 the State Convention. The mana
gers Tor the Governor in carrying out this deter
mination found it necessary 10 resort 70
dsreputable measures. Shortly after ? o'clock
the chairman of the Democratic Central Committee
raped the convention to order and lntroduceu
w. S. Thomas, who had been selected oy the
committee for temporary chairman. Madison over
was then elected temporary secretary.
All of the Campbell leaders, Major Burneta'
Colonel John Klnnane, F. NJ. Hagan.
John L. Zimmerman and w. .. arm
strong, had been defeated in their ward
caucuses for delegates They called "rump"
caucuses in the Fourth and Sixth wards aItef
the regular delegates had been selected, and ater
Major Burnett had openly announcsH IN speech
that the Campbell men had been fairly whipped. IL
was determined by the Campbell men, IN order
to obtain admission for the % rump delegates %
take forcible possession of the temporary orgahf
zaton of the convention to-day and TO control the
selection of the Committee on Credentials.
For this purpose number of rufhans were
brought into the body of the convention, although
they were neither delegates nor contestants MI
Thomas on taking the chair, made the
usual short speech of thanks. Colonel j. B' AOeh
moved the appointment Of the usual Committee
on Credentials Before the motion could ne put
bv the chair, pandemonium ensued. number
of CompBell delegates, with the outside ruftans,
rushed to the 'front.' and, led by w. c. Arm
strong. Jumped upon the stage and surrounded
Chairman Thomas threatening to put him of the
platforn and declaring that he should not act Oh
chairman.
w. c. Armstrong wrcstcd the gavel from tho
chairman's hands, in the midst OF the greateso
confusion and turmoil. number OF the regular
delegates rushed to the rescue OF the chairman,
and regaining the gave placed it into the hands OF
Mr.. Thomas again. lie thereupon put the motion ior
tie appointment Of Committee on CREDENTIALS
The motion was carried. All this time the stage
was full of quarreng and angry men. One OF
them with a drawn knife stood in front OF eN-
Speaker Refer, who a spectator, while dozens
of men shook their fists in each others facee'
One of the leaders Of the Campbell mop
was ex-Judge Hagan, who was repaylnS LIS deoO
20 the Governor by shaking lis fist and bowling
his threats at the chairman. The judge had been
defeated in bis own ward for delegate by vote OF
~ to 6, but sought to sneak into the convention
as a delegate from one OF the townships
W. III. Lice, n breWeIs Was PIoui'heH' Az Wv
riot in desperate effort to show his gratitude
10 the Governor, who was the agent for the halo
Of his brewery at a big price TO an English syndi'
cate On the return of the Committee on Gre
dentials. two Campbell ruffans snatched
the report from the hands Of the chair,
man Of the committee as he handed
X to the secretary but, nevertheless, the report
Of the committee seating the regular delegates OF
the Fourth and Sixth WARDS was adopted amidst
confusion
James johnson, ir., was then elected permanent
chairman and j. b. Abell permanent secretary
irncture four policemen were sent upon the stage,
but the disorder still continued Upon motion
q committee was appointed to select delegates
and altcrnates to the State Convention.