Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-08
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ]

tFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
MINNEAPoLIs, June THE opening ol
the convention found the Presidential con.
test still problem to be solved, a political
battle yet 10 be fought and won. The lead.
ers of the two great factions had exhausted
every resource of strategy and diplomacy,
but all the toll and vigil and unceasing con-
ferences of sleepless night had been ur-
able to bring either man within less than 80
votes of the haven of his hopes. An ugly,
threatening day, delegates in thorough
fighting mood and very ill-natured, almost
TO the point of savagery-that's, the open
ing of the Republican National Convention.
Just before the convention was called to
order, however, a cloud appeared in the
political sky. The success of the Blaine
men in the National Committee last night,
in the selection of Fassett for Temporary
Chairman, had been so generally COM
mented upon as a forerunner of Blaine's
victory in the convention, that the admins
tration men began to consider the hopes OF
their candidate might not be seriously i'm
periled by allowing Fassett to be selected
without contest.
senator Culiom Draws out-
Senator Cullom, of Illinois, whose repre-
sentative in the committee had last night
moved to make Fassett's selection unani-
nous, explicitly stated this morning that
he did not desire to be drawn into any
contest in the convention, so that it became
necessary for the Harrison managers to look
around for another candidate if Fasse.t's
selection was contested. General Horace
Porter, of New York, was the name most
discussed, and it seemed likely that if the
administration people made the fight the
convention would find the Empire State
furnishing both of the candidates of the
rival factions
The rumor that the Harrison people
would force a fight on the temporary organ
ization of the convention, spread rapidly
through the hall, and at once created great
excitement. The Harrison people them
selves declined to make any announcement
of their intentions in this regard, and up to
the opening of the convention it seemed
probable that no definite line of action had
vet been agreed on, and would likely de-
pend on a final conference of the heads of
the Harrison delegations at the last minute
before the opening of the convention.
The Fights in the State delegations.
The meeting of the few State delegations
that held meetings, showed the usual sharp
contests in those meetings between the
Blaine and Harrison delegations. A sharp
conflict occurred in the New Jersey delega-
tion this morning. The absence of John 1.
Blair, delegate at large, was the cause of
1t. His alternate, 2. F. Murrell, is a
colored man.
As Murrell is Blaine man, Mr.. Sewell
endeavored to get ruling that the alternate
having the highest number of votes should
take Mr.. Blair's place The National
Committee decided against him and gave
the seat to Murrell There are threats of
contest in the convention over this, but the
cOlored man says he has the tickets and he
will not surrender them.
Broadshouldered, pushing Tom Reed, of
Maine, was the first man of national fame
to peep into the hall, but slipped out again
before being generally observed.
At 11:3j a. NJ. Convention Hall pre-
Sented decidedly lively appearance. with
animated groups eagerly discussing the out
look. On the floor. moving briskly among
the delegates, was the striking gray
bearded figure of Blaine's particular friend,
Congressman Hit, of Illinois.
Applause for the Big Guns.
Chairman Clarkson, trim and sprightly,
was seated modestly in delegates chair on
the platform, chatting with friend and ap-
parentlv in excellent spirits.
The first applause of the convention was
when at ten minutes to noon Governor Nc
Kinley was seen entering the main aisle
and starting toward his place in the Ohio
delegation. The rapture with which the
spectators and delegates clapped hands,
stamped and shouted for the Ohio Governor,
and then crowded around him to shake his
hand, seemed prophetic
Chauncev Depew, Senator Hiscock, War
ner Miller and Platt, almost punched, were
the next arrivals to attract attention, as
they marched in with probably so other
New Workers, who were generously ap-
plauded. Following close upon the heels
Of the New York delegation came another
numerous set that drew out cheering and
much scrutiny-the Illinois delegation.
Prominent among them was Abraham Lin
coins counterfeit, Senator Cullom, and
whispers of dark horse" were heard here |
and there as the Senator took a seat we'll to |
the front with other Illinois delegates.
An nOvation TO Ex-senator ingalls,.
The white and gold banner of the Cali |
fornia delegation was brought straight on to |
their old-tIme place to the right of the |
speakers chair Their division as to Presi- !
dental preferences deprived their entrance |
OF the furore that marked it in former con- /;
ventions.
A moment later a storm of cheering /
broke out in the back of the hall, whittier a |
large number OF people were now present |
1t certainly was the greatest outbreak of |
enthusiasm thus far, and everybody looked |
TO see the cause. A slim man with white, /
close-cropped hair, peculiarly retreating
forehead, with goggled spectacles, was seen
stepping along q side aisle, preserving an |
appearance OF utter unconcern whether he |
was applauded or not. He was the pep
perry" ex-senator Ingalls,, of Kansas
1t was just 1915, and fully nine -tenths of
the chairs were filed, and many more hun
dreds OF people than enough to occupy the
remaining ones were moving about the floor
while the orchestra was putting forth one
national anthem after another. The Harri-
son managers abate their vigilance and en-
ergy not one jot Thev continue to main-
tain before all that Harrison will be nomi-
mated on the first ballot. They have Sc
lected ''Uncle" Jerry Rusk as their second
choice.
Tho Ball Opens at Last.
At 1924, formidable looking manu-
script, which proved to be the roll of the
convention, was being unfolded at the
speakers desk. A momentary hush fell
upon the convention. The band ceased a
stirring Yankee Doodle" and a feeling
that start was at last close at hand was
evident
Scarcely had the last echo of the music