The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-17
TEXAS DEMOCRATS SPLIT.
The Clark and Hogg Factions HolS
Rival Conventions.

HlN6A OOu V 81 IAOn5.
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 16-The Picay-
tne's Houston Tex special says: THE
democracy is rant in twain and a double
barreled convention is the result. The same
scenes which were enacted in this city four
years ago during the Stewart HUTCHINSON
campaign occurred to-day. 1t was
foregone conclusion that if
the Hogg people, who had
delegates, attempted TO control the conven~
ton, as they had a erfect right to do, the
Clark people would bolt. They had agreed
upon this line of policy at their secret eau
cuses, and to-day they carried it OUT, the
convention never completing, or even going
into temporary organization.
CLAIMS OF THE CLARK FACTION.
"The Clark faction assert that knowing
the danger OF a deadlock to the sue
cess of Gov. Hogg, the airman was to
arbitrarily run the machine, and his at
tempt to do this brought on fight When
Chairman Finley assumed the gavel
and called the delegates 30 order,
he counseled moderation and
fairness and told the delegates TO smother
the prejudice which had been eDgendered
during the bitter ca npaign of the party for
months, and warned them of the dangers to
the democracy. He announced that the
first thing was the election of the temporary
chairman. J. T. Shepherd of Camp county
was nominated by the Hogg people and
Jonathan Lane OF Fayette. a contested
county, by the Clark faction.
OPENING OF THE FIGHT.
Chairman Finley ordered the secretary
to call the roll by counties aud then
mighty yell of opposition went up. In
numbers the Clark people had them. For
200 votes they had 5000 men to cast them,
and the convention instead of being body
Of constituted delegates, was in the hands
OF multitude. Ex-senator Mattock
moved that the vote on the election OF
chairman be taken viva voce. Chairman
Finley ruled this out Of order, and then the
storm of indignation broke out afresh
Hundreds Of delegates we're on their feet,
wildly gesticulating and endeavoring to
secure recognition, while thousands In the
hall were bowling like dervishes. Bedlam
reigned supreme. Through the din OF voices
Mr.. MattocS appealed from the decision
of the chair.
With stoical indifference Chairman Fin
ley refused to entertain the appeal and or
dered the secretary 10 proceed with the
roll call. Many Clark counties refused to
vote. and the call by counties showed that
Mr.. Shepherd was overwhelmingly elected.
THE SPLIT.
Just as the result was b cling announced
ex Senator Mattock jumped on a chair and
declared that the minority had been bull
dozed. The chair, he said, violated all par
lamentary law and custom, and be
asked all those who favored the cleo
ton OF Mr.. Lane for temporary chairman
to signify by saying aye. The Clark dele
gates and spectators all chimed in and q
mighty shout went up from 5000 threats
and Mr.. Mattock declared Mr.. Lane elected.
In an instant a Clark banner waved aud
n fuyhf IA h. az
form to secure half Of IL.
LOOKED LIKE RIOT.
THE scene which then ensued is In
describable. Men in angry passion were
surging, rushing and pulling at tables and
chairs. and all the time yelling and cursinR
Several fights were going on In the audi
ence and pistols and dangerous-looking
knives we're fourished. For several min tes
1t looked as though bloody scene of carnage
would be enacted. Reporters were jostled
about and In the melee had all they could
do to look out for their notes and memo
randa. One Of them had gained a seat Of
advantage and in the mad stampede he
was hurled thirty feet on the heads of the
| crowd below. At last a semblance Of order
was made out of chaos. As though
by agreement the murderous pistols and
knives we're put back in pockets and each
| side took half OF the platform and hall,
Shepherd presiding over the HoRg conven-
| ton and Lane over the Clark legion. Both
sides soon got down TO business and began
the work of organization by appointing the
usual committees, when an adjournment
was taken until tomorrow morning
Caucuses were held by both
factions tonight to map out
their future policy. Since the
adjournment the Clark leaders have
cooled off somewhat, and several of the
delegates refuse to act with the boilers.