, 1892-02-24
NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS
P~andemonium Reigns in the
Industrial Congress.
Georgia Delegates Kick Up a
Full Grown Racket.
congressman Livingston and
Simpson Take a Hand.
Third Partyites Won the Vic
tory at Last.
Third par,v,tes Victorious.

luITu
ST. LOUIS, Feb. %. -Seldom, if ever.
has a more turbulent scene been witnessed
at a great political gathering than the one
presented late this afternoon in the big
national industrial conference. For sew
eral anxious minutes the convention
seemed about to break to pieces in a
fight. The committee on credentials
caused all this trouble by seating contest
ing. or third party delegates from Georgia.
As soon as their names were read pande-
monium broke loose. Moses OF Georgia.
an anti third party man, made a vigorous
objection unless the contestants would
submit to the unit rule. In an instant,
Post, one of the contesting men. was up.
by the state alliance, while Moses was
chosen by the executive committee.
Nineteen twcntieths of the state alliance
of Georgia was in favor of independent
political action, and the small faction
represented by the other wing was not
deserving of consideration. Congress.
man Livingston exclaimed Post, had
himself declared in favor selecting dele
gates all of one opinion or the other, and
then had chosen a set OF men whose pur-
pose it was, as it was L~iyingston's own, to
deliver the alliance bound hand and foot
to the old Democratic party
Branch OF Georgia also called at the top
of his voice In the same vein. The
uproar increased. the delegates shaking
their fists in one another's faces. and the
ohairman's gavel had no more effect thar
a pin.
Chairman Brown of the credentials
committee said the committee had recog-
nized the great seal of the Alliance of
Georgia and found their men entitled to
seats. This left two vacancies, and in
the interest of harmony these had been
filled by a selection from the opposing
force. 1t was not a question of old polit-
cal parties, but a question of peace. The
confusion continued for fully FIVE minutes.
Finally Ellington of Georgia mounted a
chair and repeated Posts charges against
the Georgia executive committee. Moses
tried to get at him and a free fight
seemed unavoidable. But the convention
seemed suddenly to realize the disgrace of
the affair. and took an astonishing right
about face. The report of the committee
on credentials was adopted, with a long
wall from Georia.
When quiet was measurably restored,
a long list of members of the platform
committee were finally completed and
read, making a total of $50 members.
The announcement of Post as a COM
mitteeman from Georgia started another
row in the Georgia delegation, w%Aereupon
Jerry Simpson suggested half of the
Georgia delegates be appointed to Alaska
to give them a chance to cool off. Soon
after. Willetts, national lecturer of the
Farmers Alliance, moved the convention
demand the passage of the sub-treasury bill
as a means of relief, instead of
petitioDing congress to enact its proposed
%anti-option law. Wheat, the lecturer for
the knights of Labor. moved TO Law
Willetts' motion on the table, and this
was done.
Kelly of Kansas offered a resolution
that the appropriation pending in con
gress for a permanent census bureau be
endorsed. if a provision was made for
continuing the investigation of farm
mortgages as a permanent part of the
work OF the bureau. Simpson and Liv-
ingston seconded his motion. Livingston
selziDg the opp '~rtunity to deny the accu-
sation made by Post. He invoked har-
mony. Afrer some desultory discussion
the convention adopted the census reso-
luton by an emphatic vote. The free
coinage trouble was not pitched among
the delegates by Wilson, the Georgian
offering a resolution that the convention
pCbitiou CObkICoS " lit dJOUUtOu VI Tue
pending bill for free and unlimited coin
age of silver. Livingston fought hard to
rave this carried, but this time was ham
pered instead of helped by the Kansaus.
Tracey of Oregon. apparently at the
instance of a Kansas man near by, tackled
on an amendment demanding the passage
of the sub-treasury bill. T~hunderous
protests were raisedsat this critical mo-
ment against the consideration of any
more resolutions outside the platform
committee. and the free silver motion,
with its sub treasury tail, was In effect
unceremoniously dumped upon the table.
The convention waited a long time
after supper to hear from its mammoth
committee on resolutions, and finally ad-
io1rned until tomorrow.
The committee on platform is working
late tonight. Hugh Cavanaugh, general
worthy foreman of the Knights of Labor,
having been elected chairman after Gen.
Weaver declined.
Ignatlus Donnelly said to an Associated
Press representative tonight that it had
been practically decided to incorporate in
the platform the sub treasury scheme,
free coinage of silver, woman suffrage and
prohibition.