The morning call., 1892-05-07
THE LEAGUBRS.
The Convention Of Republican
Clubs at the Palace.
a Scene Of Wild Disorder, but Some Good
Work Done-The Officers Who Were
Voted For and Declared Elected.

Clubs OF California to order at o'clock
yesterday in the Maple room of the Palace
Hotel he raped for order upon the table
with small pocket-knife. and the roomful
of men were as silent as tin soldiers
When Chairman Lemon closed the con-
veniion at j o'clock this morning he was
pounding the same table with hickory
club while the delegates were raving and
shouting about him, utterly regardless OF
his authority.
Never before in the history of Republican
politics was there such a convention as that
Of We Sterday. and, If the old politicians can
be believed, there is DC one that ever wants
to see another like it,
just why the delegates acted as they did
no one seems to know or even to be able &c
hint al a reason. Men who have served
for years in dehberati bodies seemed ia
lose all control of themselves.
AS Chairman Lemon said at the height OF
the row last night, ''lt was disgrace even
TO p0liticS"
Notwithstanding the noisy gathering
there was good work done. A few of the
leaders kept cool, and by sheer persistence
conquered the wild, unreasoning members
and brought them into line.
From the start the convention was badly
split. The San Francisco delegates were
divided between the alliance aud Kelly
Crimmins factions and the country delegates
stood alone, joining first one side and then
the other throughout the day, and thus kent
warm the strife, as neither Of the two city
factions or the country were at any time
sure Of a majority on any proposition.
The convention was called 10 order by j.
J. Evans upon the authority of a letter from
w. II. Chamb erlaln. member of the Ma
tional Executive Committee of the Republi-
can League, who wrote that he was detained
by official business in Colorado.
In assuming the duties of chairman pro
TEN. Mr.. Evans gave a short history Of th G
league, saying that TO its efforts more than
to any other one cause the election of Har
rison was due. He reminded the delegates
that. while California was the last of the
States to enter the league, il was at the
same time the link which made the chain
from ocean TO ocean complete. The objects
Of the league were then briefly outlined.
and concluding this address Mr.. Evans said :
And now, gentlemen, what is your pleas
HTe?"
Then commenced the battle which ragged
increasingly from 2:30 until o'clock.
A dozen men were on the floor demanding
the recognition of the chair before Evans
had taken his seat.
Prominent among them were DR.. Meyers
and Fred Lee of the -Crimmins fac
tion in this city, and supporting them was a
score or more Of lesser lights from the same
ranks. The country delegates seemed in
stinctYely TO realize the situation, and In a
moments time the forces OF the convention
were arrayed and eager for the fray. The
fought with the Alliance men from
the start, and their speakers were allowed
to lead the hundred and one Onslanghts
made upon the programme Of the Kelly
Crimmins men.
The charm an recognized Marcus Pol
lasky OF Fresno, who at once nominated j.
j. Evans for temporary chairman. There
were cries OF mo. no. I'VE wont have it,
Declare the nominations closed" and a
general uprOar followed.
Finally the motion to declare the nomina-
tiOns closed was put and carried by viva
Voce vote.
MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
Immediately a motion was made to re-
consider and then came another wrangle, a
dozen men standing on the floor shouting
al the top of their voices and gestIeulatiDg
with both hands.
Despite the protests the motion to recon-
slider was put and lost by an overwhelming
vote. 1t was an indication Of the temper Of
the convention. but Dr.. Meyers and Lee
only redOubed their efforts
The matter OF nomina tiDg a temporary
secretary was taken up and Merton c.
Allen was chosen, he being acceptable to
all parties.
The question of how the convention
should be permanently organized caused
another row. Knapp of Los Ange les moved
that committee consisting of one dele
gate from each county should be appointed
on permanent organization. Amid an upTOar
this was amended TO make the committee
one from each Congressional district.
Then DIR. Meyers secured the floor and
despite the efforts to silence him finally
gained hearing and convinced the chair
that committee on credentials should be fsrt
appointed. The chair so held and the fight
was transferred to that proposition and re-
newed with redoubled vigor.
Twenty propositions and motions were
made looking toward the organization of
the committee. Evans got nervous and lost
contro!-if ii could be said he had it be-
fuTe-of the convention.
The country members declared that San
Francisco was again trying to run the poll
ties of the State, and that they should not
do 1t. The statement was made openly
upon the floor.
The San Francisco delegates fought each
other, and for time ii looked as if the con-
ventOn would have to adjourn.
Finally motion 20 appoint one delegate
from each Congressional district as a COM
mittee on credentials was carried, and then
The row was transferred TO the question of
the time to be allowed the committee. The
ACii9 -NIluiluluc CIONQ AT UISL tIIeu TO Sc
cure an adjournment until 80 o'clock. The
country and Alliance delegates fought the
motion bitterly, the former alleging that a
scheme was on foot 10 get them out of town
and then run the convention. The Kelly
Crimmins contingent denied this, and Lee
in q speech, said that "al they wanted was
to take the league out of the hell hole of
pOlities-San Francisco"
This suited the Alliance men, and then
Meyers and Lee did not want it. Meyers
tried to make the chair recognize him for
the tenth time, and was cried down when
Delegate lsaacs rose up, and shaking his
finger at Meyers, hOwled:
HIS OWN MEDICINE.
That's your own medicine. How do you
Ike 70"
The laugh which greeted the sally cleared
the atmosphere and the chair succeeded in
announcing the committee on credentials
as follows: T. b. O'Brien Of San Fran
cisco, representing the Fourth Congress
siOnal District; c. A. Fuller of San Jose of
the Fifth District; l.. A. Sheldon of Los
Angeles OF the Sixth District; Z. G. Sey-
mour of San Bernardino. Seventh Dlstr let
). Z. GOhrman Of Oakland, Third District
Hocheimer Of Willows, Second District, and
a. G. Burnett Of the First District.
Amid howl of opposition motion to
declare recess Of 80 minutes, In which
to allow the committee on CREDENTIALS to do
their work, was carried.
Then began a scene of lobbying that put
similar work at the State conventions of
the past In the shade. Many of the country
members had arranged to leave town, but
concluded to remain over, and those who
did 20 left behind them proxies to
be voted for the defeat of the
gang, as they styled the San
FRANCISCO delegates. A half dozen states
were made and broken in as many minutes.
The fight narrowed down to the choice of a
permanent chairman and secretary of the
convention. The Alliance men wanted
Evans. and the Kelly Crimmins men while
wanting nobody in particular wanted any.
body but Evans. The result was that they
went over to the country members, and i
was decided to elect either Walter Moore OF
Los Angeles or Judge Lemon of Santa
Rosa as the presiding officer.
When tile convention reassembled move
was made to defeat all proceedings b. ar
adjournment. The country members, lee
by POllasky of Fresno, came TO the from
and defeated il.
Finally after a half hours hot discussion
In tuk NJ al a,,6 ia III