Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-08
KELLY JOINS SULLIVAN,
The First Surprise in the Re-
publican Convention.
A Detailed Account Of the Pro-
ceedings Yesterday.
q. A. R. Men Deliberately Given the
Cold Shoulder.
ward Captures the County Clerkship.
Lopez for Authorizations Bray
for Recorder-Tax Collec-
tor Nominated.

The managers of the Republican
county convention, in session at Turn
verein hall, yesterday determined that
the divine blessing was an unnecessary
form to 60 through in opening the day.
labor of the gathering. 1t had been
deemed proper by some Of the God
fearing delegates that it would be an
excellent idea to invoke the divine
blessing after Chairman Murphey had
secured order yesterday morning. This
is customary in all the national conven-
tions Of the Democratic and Republican
parties, and it would have been emil
nently appropriate for some one to have
asked Almighty God to put His spirit in
the convention that has been meeting
at Turnverein hall, and to implore Him
that His blessings might rest upon each
individual member comprising it.
Anyway, one Of the prominent officers
of the convention considered it to be
the right and proper thing, and he ac-
cordingly invited the Rev. J. w. Camp
bell, pastor Of the First Methodist Epis-
copal church of this city to open the
convention with prayer. Rev. Mr..
Campbell accepted the invitation, and
yesterday morning he made his way to
Turnverein hall. He was met by the
gentleman who had invited him to come,
and was escorted to the platform. The
convention had not yet been called to
order, and so the gentleman introduced
Rev. Campbell to number of the
delegates.
The fact became generally noised
about the hall that the convention was
to be opened with prayer. Then some
of the leaders of the ring held confer
ence. They were fearful whether or not
it would be policy to open Republican
convention in Los Angeles county by q
duplication to the Almighty that He
might impart some of His wisdom and
His spirit to the delegates and their
work. 1t was finally decided that it
would be unwise. The argument was,
the idea might get out among the de-
feated ballot box suffers that this was
q convention "of long hairs" and that a
heavy vote would be lost thereby.
So, in great haste, the gentlemen who
had invited the Rev. Mr.. Campbell to
honor the convention with his presence
and to make prayer, was summoned.
He was told that it would never do for
the convention to be opened by prayer.
It would create the impression that the
church element ran the convention, and
this must not be. He was told to in
form the Rev. Mr.. Campbell that he
would not be called upon to ask the
Divine blessing upon the convention.
The gentleman protested, but in vain.
So, in shame and modification, he in
formed the Rev. Mr.. Campbell what had
been decided upon. A prayer was not
needed at Republican convention in
this county. The reverend gentleman
listened quietly, but said nothing. In a
few minutes he arose and left the hall.
This is, indeed, one of the most re-
markable incidents that has ever charac-
terized convention of any party in this
county. Never before has q protest been
made against prayer being offered to
the Almighty, for fear it would offend
the tender sensibilities of a few delicate
ly constituted repeaters, ballot-box stuf-
fers and ward bosses. The managers
and manipulators, relying upon the over.
whelming Republican majority that has
existed in this county, are willing to run
things without the divine aid. They
are, indeed, an II am holier than thou
set.
A representative of the HERALD en-
deavored to interview Chairman Muir
phey last evening, about the circum
stances surrounding the refusal OF the
of kH
the Rev. Mr.. Campbell to open the ses'
sion yesterday morning with prayer
Mr.. Murphey stated that as far as he wat
concerned he was perfectly willing that
it should have been done and he thought
that it was appropriate. Further thar
this he declined to speak. All endeav-
ors to draw him out proved fruitless
He absolutely refused to talk.
"Who were the parties who objected
to the convention being opened by
prayer?"
II decline to answer"
SIT is fact, then, that prayer was
not considered necessary adjunct to 9
Republican convention in this county? p
IT decline to answer any of you
questions, sir" was the only response
that could be obtained.
II desire to say only this" added Mr.
Murphey. "Mr. Campbell is Christian
gentleman for whom have the highest
personal esteem and regard"
Rev. Mr.. Campbell was interviewed
last evening, at his home. He wal
asked to tell the full facts in regard tt
the matter of the slight put upon him
and he did go. He said:
1T was just about 8:45 q. M. that Mr.
Murphey, the chairman of the conven
tion, came to me, and very politely
and asked me to open the convention
with prayer, at 10 o'clock. He aaid ht
had seen q publication containing some o
my sermon on political reform, and q
this was reform convention, it wa
right that it should be opened will
prayer. He invited me to offer the in
vocation. He told me to come at ono
to the platform when entered the hall
so, in company with another gentleman
Iwent to Turnverein hall. We encoun
tered Mr.. Murphey on the floor in from
of the platform. As soon a
he saw US, he came over an
after few remarks said that after leav
ing me he had consulted with a numbe
of the other members of the conver
tion; and they had come to the conclu
sion that the convention had better nc
be opened by prayer. He seemed to b
laboring under much embarrassment i
the matter, and / Immediately relieve
him by saying: Very we'll, Mr.. Mu
phey, itWill make no difference to mi
whatever.
ssAbout noon prominent Republica