Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-28
CHICAGO THE PLACE
After Fifteen Ballots the Windy
City Gets the Convention.
The MEETING SET FOR JUNE 81.
The cities Given Twenty Minutes Each For
Arguments TO Present Their Claims
Intense Excitement During
BallotinE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. % The national
democratic committee met at noon yes
teriay in the spacious banquet room Of
the Arlington hotel which had been
beautifully deco ated by the demo-
cratic committee OF the District of Co
lumbia. Chairman Brice presided and
at once introduced Hon. John W. Ross
the democratic member for the District
Of Columbia who delivered the address
OF welcome.
The call OF the roll showed the va
rious states and territories all repre-
sented
On motion Of Senator Villas the COM
mittee went into secret session for the
purpose of settling all questions OF
proxies and contests, II being reported
that the right OF c. A. Broadwater TO
represent the state Of Montana might
be contested.
Chairman Brice suggested that as
the national committee was 20 be en-
tertained at luncheon by the district
committee at 3 p. m. II might be we'll
TO announce before going into secret
session that the delegations from the
competing cities would not be heard
before o'clock A motion to that eff
feet was made, but was finally with
drawn on the conclusion that this was
matter of business which should
rather be settled in secret session.
The committee then went into secret
session, the general public and press
being excluded.
In the secret session Secretary Har-
rity, Of the Pennsylvania central COM
mittee presented his credentials as
the national committeeman selected
by the central committee OF that
state to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Hon. w. l.. Scott Chair
man Brice had at the time OF Mr.
SCOTS death appointed ex-Congress-
James Kerr to fill the vacancy from
Pennsylvania, but the state CEN
trail committee Of Pennsylvania for
mally declared that Chairman Brice
had no right permanently TO fill
such vacancy and thereupon
selected Secretary Harrity as Mr. SCOTS
successor, utterly ignoring Mr.. Kerr's
claims. II was expected that this might
provoke discussion, but Mr. Kerr an
nounced that he would solve the dis
pute. cit Is my Intention" said he as
he stepped out OF the meeting for a
moment ito relieve the situation OF
embarrassment by simply rcsigning.
That will leave vacancy and the com
mittee can settle 1t without controversy
by accepting Mr.. IIarrlty's credentials
or otherwise as IL may seem fit. There
will be no unscemly contest"
The Montana contest was settled by
declaring c. A. Broad water tho regular
committeeman from that state, but
Mr.. Mitchell, his conte ,tant was al
lowed the privilege of sitting in the
room during the sessions of the com.
mittee. The latter was allowed nc
vote, the right OF vots being accorded
TO Mr. Lyman, proxy of Mr.. Broad
water.
When Pennsylvania was reached, Mr..
Kerr formally resigned whatever claims
he may have had TO represent that
state, AMI Mr.. llarrity, the new com.
mitteemau, was declared the successor
of Mr. Scott,
These two contests being settled the
committee proceeded to the selection OF
the date Of the national de nocratiC
convention. After very little discus
sion Tuesday, June 81, was selected.
At the cone usi IN of the secret SEES
sion tho committee took u recess unit
$3.50, 1t being decided that the argu,
ments for the cities should begin at 4
o'clock, each city TO be given twenty
minutes 10 present its claims, the argu.
ments TO be heard in the alpha betical
order OF the various cities.
At o'clock the committee wa,
again called to order by Chairman
Brice and the roll OF cities was ordered
TO be called by the secretary and eacl
representative advanced the claims o
the cit he represented
The balloting began in the evcnin.
at o o'clocS. aud the var.o1s surprising
changes announced from lime tn tim,
as II proceeded caused intense excite
ment among the adherents Of the ritie
cont,ndng for the prize. The crow,
grew Impatient and anxious, aud tn,
suspense was only re iesed when Sena
t Barbour, Of Virginia, stepping GU
of the Convention hall, said quietly
Chicago is the place She needs bu
one vote and she viii get II "
Fifteen ballots were taken. the las
one standing AS follows: Detroit, /
Kansas City, .; Milwaukee, is; 81
Pau, |; Cnicago, 20