St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-24
NOT CUT AND DRIED.
Last Night the Democratic
Committee Met to Call a
Convention.
Nothing to Show That Anyone
Is Trying to Perpetrate
Sharp Practice.
Criminal Trial of Timothy
Byrnes Begun in the Dis
trict Court.

Another Biehloride Of Gold
Institute--Peeuliar
Suicide.
The Democratic county committee
met last night in J. W. Lawrence's Of
fee. 1t was a good meeting, attended
by every member of the committee with
two exceptions. The evening papers
have for days been endeavoring to dis
seminate the idea that it would be
''Scrappy" meeting-that within it the
Foote and Winston forces would first
meet in open opposition and have
their first tussle for supremacy.
Nothing of the kind occurred. There
was not enough spice in the meeting to
make it interesting. Nor was the pro-
gramme of business foreordaiDed. The
committeeman had work to do and they
did it in the best manner possible after
full and free discussion. The fact that
there were half adOZen different opinions
about the best thing to be done should
he sufficient to prove that there was no
scheme on to steal the county conven-
ton, or to hold snap convention" as
it has been termed.
After the appointment of committee
to look after the printing that the COM
mittee may need, Chairman Foote ex-
committee-to name a date for the
holding of the county convention to
elect delegates to the state con-
vention for the election of dele
gates to the national convention.
1t was the unanimous desire 10
have the county convention called
for a date about a week or ten days
before the state gathering. Without
very much discussion Tuesday. March
%, was decided upon as the date for
holding the county convention. The
convention will be held in NOrmanna
hall.
Then came the matter of deciding
upon the dates for holding the prima-
RES. 1t was moved torecommend to the
precinct committees that the primaries
be held on Saturday, Marcn 10, the last
Saturday before. the county convention
Alex Stewart moved to make it March 5.
IF you hold the primaries so long be-
fore the convention" said Ed Egan, of
COrcoran, ''some of our boys out IN the
country will forget that they have been
elected to come to a county conyeu-
tiOn."
Another suggestion was for Friday.
March IS.
''Pll tell you, gentlemen, what seems
to me an easy solution of this question"
said Chairman Foote. Let the secre-
tary call the roll, and as each name is
called, let the committeeman express
his preference as to date OF holding the
primaries"
Secretary Mullen called the roll and
Saturday, March, 10, was the date chosen
for the primary elections.
Alex Stewart moved for an executive
session. The question was voted on
twice without decision being reached.
On a roll call, the meeting was declared
an open one. 1t was then nearly
O'Clock and Tom Scott. unused to being
up so late, moved to adjourn. The mo-
ton did not prevail.
The question of apportionment came
next. Charles F. Baxter moved that
the apportionment be E:ade OH the basis
of the votes cast for Thomas Wilson for
governor, and that one delegate in the
county convention be allowed tor each
fifty votes so cast, or the major
fraction of fifty. The secretary
had already made few figures
on the apportionment. On the
basis mentioned in Mr.. Bakers
motion the county convention would
consist of 2S5 delegates. each election
district being entitled to one delegate
anyhow. The majority of the COM
mittee was in favor of big convention.
This question was discussed informally
for few minutes and then Mr.. Baxter
amended his motion. As amended it
was adopted. Each election district
will be entitled to one delegate at large
and, in addition, one delegate for each
fifty votes cast at the last election for
Thomas Wilson, or for the major
fraction of fifty. This will make con-
vention of 4l9 delegates.
That was all there was for the CON-
mittee to do. 1t was suggested that the
committeeman Immediately fix up the
precinct committees, but as some of the
old precinct committee members may
have moved out of the districts they
represented last year. it was
thought better to postpone the
matter. The county committee will
meet again at the same place
next Tuesday night. In the meantime
the members of the county committee
will look over their respective wards
and select a list of precinct committee
men 10 De presented at the next meet
ing of the county committee.
The number of delegates to which
each election district will be entitled
will be figured out in a few days and
published in the official call for the
county convention.
Now that the county committee meet
ing has been held, the aspect of the
coming county convention is more
clearly revealed. In spite of the hints
that have been thrown out, no attempt
has been made to capture the county
convention. Not move was made to
call any ''snap convention in the i'll
terest of q. NJ. Foote. Yet, Mr.. Foote is
a candidate for place on the delega-
ton to Chicago as delegate at large.
He says so himself. But he is not try
ing to secure the delegation from this
county by any sharp political practice.
1t Is generally admitted that the mayor
is candidate for the same place.
although he has not openly avowed his
desires. As it looks now, the county
| convention will offer chance for full
and fair expression of opinion on the
| part of the voters of Minneapolis and
Hennepin county. 1t is an open contest
with no favOrs asked or enjoyed by
| either side.