Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-02
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS.
MORE THAN ONE CONTEST BEFORE
THEIR STATE CONVENTION.
Tho Strength and the Probable Dsmaods
Of tho Alliance Eiement-An
Ia Not Lovely.
fB, TELEGRAPH to the pIspa,ch.l

fBy telegraph TO the Dispstch.I
TANPA, FLA. Juno 1.-The Democratic State
Convention Ia session here to-day viii D. the
scene Of the hottest fight in the political history
Of Florida. Nearly all the delegates were nero
last night, and csucusiug began then In earnest.
The two greatest contests are over the guberna-
torial nomination and the seating OF ono or the
other Of two contesting delegations from Duvai
county, the victory OF one or the other mean
ing the nomination or defeat Of Judge Mitchell,
who is IN the lead foe Governor.
TIE ALLIANCE ELEMENT.
An unexpected turn was given &c affairs last
night. Alliance matters have been very quiet
for year past, but the order suddenly came TO
the front last night In caucus oil the Atiiance
delegates TO the convention, numbering over
100. Nearly half OF them insist that the con-
yention shall endorse the 0cala demands and
the st. Louis platform. and n hot fight has thus
been precipitated. II the Alliance delegates
can agree upon n policy they can control the
convention. since they hold tho balance OF power
between the two factions of the party.
This action OF the Alliance makes the fight
triangular one.
THE FIGHT rRIASGrLAR.
Mitchell will probably go before the conven-
tion with 100 votes ont OF 4fo, md he h persist
ent in asking the nomination only under the
tgo-thirds rule, but his followers are divided ON
that matter. Al IL O'Clock this morning there
was rumor that MitchelIs friends would decline
20 present bic name on account OF his personal
opposition o the majority rule.
NOVEL CONVENTION HALL
Tho wigwam in which the convention IL sitting
IL unique affair IL IL au opeu-alr structure on
the Fort Brooke reservation with only n roof. IN
tho centre OF the chairmans platform ~ an iuh-
mense fOrked oak. whose branches aiioru re-
treat in case there Is too much excitement. The
pillars Of the building are covered WIN pai-
metto, and entwined with streamers and iiags.
The wigwam is 125 by 100 feet. and outside oi
IL there is plenty OF room Tor the hundreds Oh
I" boomers" now IN tho city.
THE ALLIANCE DEMOCRATS.
Over 100 Alliance members attended the cru-
Gus last night. and many more arrived to-day.
A prominent member Of tue order s,id az ii
o'clock to-day that the strength oil the Alliance
In tho convention viii be nearly 200, ana ~ the
least calculation I75. The convention will un-
doubtedly make some concession 20 them IN the
matter of the Ocala demands.
/ THE CALL TO ORDER.
The convention was called to order at noon by
& NJ. Sparkman. chairman of the First District
Committee. At the conclusion Of the roli-call.
whIch included only one set Of delegates from
the contesting counties, n resolution 10 exclude
all contestIng delegations until alter acton on
the report of the Credentials committee was de-
clared out OF order by tho Chair. An appeal was
taken.
Then the debate on the appeal lasted an hour
and a half and was hot Throughout. TO sustain
the Chair meant the exclusion OF only one set OF
Duyal-county delegates. 10 Oyerrule hlm meant
tho exclusion Of both till tho right 10 the seats
could be decided by tho convention. There were
dozens Of speakers.
Aty o'clock a vote was taken and the chairman
was sustained by vote ~ 237 To 158. On this
roll-call toe regular delegation from Duyal WAS
permitted to vote.
FIRST BLOOD FOR TUE NIreGRLlIrLs.
After this John II. McKeerie, of Jac2s0n coun-
ty was made temporary chairman-a triumph
| for the Mitchell men aud sei-bsc' temporari-
lv at least 10 the contestng Can De ,gaion irom
Duval county. AT 2.oo inc cohfclllOu au-
iourned till Il. III.
ADJOURNMENT TILL TODAY
AtsPM the convention reassembled and
| fully 1000 people coDgregated outside OF tae
| wigwam to hear the proceedings, which promised
| 10 be extremely exciting. All were di5appoin'-
| ed. The Credentials committee announced tha'
| IL was not ready To report and the convention
| adjourned till 9 A. NJ. thursday
| POSITION OF TIE ALIIASCr.
| As regards the position OF The Alliance In this
| convention, a prominent mentor OF the order
/ said tonight: "Nhen We l1J Alliance dele
| yatas insist on an endorsement OF the Ocaa
demands aud the 81. Louis platform It must not
| necessarily be understood TO mean lhird-pariS
| movement or a demand Tor Third party. Ibe
| Third party at St. LOlis merely took up the
Ocals demands OF 1890 ana adopted them, Just
Il
party is ~ liberty 10 do.
The Alliance as an organization In Florida ha'
no particular man 10 name for any position be
! fore tho conyentiOn. Its members expect 70 b'
| recocnized as Democrats by tho Democrat
uarty II fit IL TO receive recognition IN ms con
| yention such recognition Is expected 10 COM
voluntarily from the Democratic party oreanizi
WHAT WILL Bs DEMANDED.
"All Alliance mon are essentially Ihird-part.
fO-yiL III the other lOilt.
cal parties OF the country refuse its demands o
| 10 make equitable concessions the Alliance VII
| be forced 20 appeal TO tho country IN its own DC
| half. The salient features Of the Ocaia platioru
| viii be presented 70 this convention Tor endorse
| nnent and IL the Democratic party, IN conVen
| tion assembled does not make a iust concession
| there will undoubtedly be Third party u
| Florida and the Alliance Will welcome H. some
| MANNERS. of course, will soyer their connectict
| with the order ana vote with their OLD party, on
| the Alliance as a body will 20 WITH TIE ihir'
party II it cannot elsewhere gain It's demands
AcREDiTABLE SPOKESMAN.
This man was In the Alliance caucus las
| night ho IL one Of the most prominent au'
| most trusted Alliance men In the stare shd a
| such ia a crediiable spokesman for the order
| lie estimates the strength OF the Alliance ia th
| convention at from 175 70 22O. lie says ina
| last nights caucus was upwards oi iOO strohs
| and concludes that the Alliance Will De aule =
dictate tho policy Of too convention II It sees nt
Third-Party Fioridisns.
| Oc,IA. FLA, June 1.-The Peoples party me
| her, I'M state convention to-day with yer
light attendance. Aside from the appointnen
| OF two or three committees nothing was done !
| the way Of business. Tho convention ls AZ
| parently awaiting the action Of the stale Del,,
cratic Convention Ia the matter of adopting th
| st. Louis platform.
| What We Owe.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., June Tho DEBT stat'
ment Tor May shows d decrease Ia the cash pa