The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-25

Jos. l.. Keitt. Senator Strait, j. w. BoWden
and Others. The doors being opened all were
admitted who could be Noucheu Tor by an Al
lance brother.
So you see, Mr.. Editor, that the Alliance in
South Carolina Is not entirely lost TO all sense
of 'uiLy and justice, and are still capable Of
rising To an appreciation Of what is right and
fair, the opinion Of great many OF It's oppo-
nents to the contrary Notwithstanding.
After this little delay the business OF the
caucus WAS regularly entered upon and every
thing progressed smoothly until there came
up for consideration the resolutions relue1Ve
to the nomination OF ex-President Cleveland
by the Chicago Convention.
These resolutions, and especially the last OF
the series offered by Mr.. A. G. Latimer, OF A o.
derson, and which were adopted by the Con-
vention the next day, after being materially
might say, heated discussion, participated In
by u goodly mum her pro and con.
The fact was plainly developed during this
discussion that whatever else OF startling
nature might be done in the Convention The
next day by the Tillmanites. there was one
thing certain, there would be nothing done
savorIng of third partyisn. 1t being now
about two o'clock, and 1t being apparent that
the politicians without holding some addi-
tional sub-caucuses ap adjourn ment was had
until the next morning At ten O'CLOCK.
To one of these sub; caucusses your humole
servant was invited by friend who was In
terested in getting II up, and while cant 20
into particulars as to what we did, Will say
that We took such action as resulted In the de-
feat of certain CLIQUE who Lad copspired 10
break down and destroy the usefulness Of
prominent Allianceman for no other purpose
imam the qualification OF their own selfish
ends.
When the main caucus assemb bled. accord
Ing 10 adjournment, at ~ O'Clock the next
morning IL was soon apparent that the busi-
ness primarily for which the State Conven-
ton OF the Democratic party OF South Caro-
lima was soon TO meet-thnL OF electing dele
gates to the National Con venuon-was VII
tualIy settled, and no time was lost In sug-
gesting the four delegates at large ana the DEL
tricts, whose names were 10 be submitted To
the Convention for ratification.
So much then for the work prellmi-
nary To the assembling Of that Con-
spread comment, and whose independent ut
teIances upon National pollty, verify be-
lieve, marks the beginning OF d new era In
the history OF the great Democratic party OF
Promptly at u o'clock on Wednesday, the
l7lh, the State Convention OF the Democratic
party uf South Carolina was called 10 order
10y the Chairman OF the Executive Commit.
organ zation, which was afterwards made
permanent, was affected by calling Col. W. j.
ralbert 10 the Chair, and the Hon. j. Duncan
Beilnger to act aS Secretary.
a committee on Credentials WAS appointed,
consisting OF one member fur each delegation.
VINO WAS appointed by the Chairman OF the
respective delegations: The writer oelng se-
lected az chairman of the Abbeville delega-
ton by the members thereof. IL gave him
pleasure to appoint ON that committee the on
ly politician among the number, VIZ: MIR. a.
w. Jones.
There was only one con ntesting delegation
that from Rlchland county-and Whine there
were 1T least five TO one on that committee
who were OF the 'rillman faction. they unhes-
itatingly reported in favor of seating the an
ti-Tillman delegates. Another proof OF liber-
alitJ.
moved that the Convention now proceed TO
the election of four delegates TO represent the
State at large IN the Chicago convention,
whereupon, in rapid succession, Governor
Tillman, Senator lrby, President Stokes OF
the Alliance. Col. W. }. TaIbert, Senator Ev-
ans. Of Marlboro. and d. X. Norris, OF Ander.
son, were put in nomination. The latter two
promptly declined.
At this time there was the greatest excite
ment and confusion prevailing all over The
large hall, there being not less than one hun
dred on their feet seconding the omTIatlons
and yelling at The top OF their voices IN their
frantic efforts tu attract the attention OF the
speaker. Finally, above the din was heard
motion that nominations now cease, when
was put and carried, seemingly by unani-
nous vote. Then followed Il motion, even
before the noise and confusion had materially
subsidized, that the four nominees be elected by
reclamation. This also was carried.
Just at this stage was when the trouble be-
gan and where occurred the scene between
k.Ol
Haskell charged the Chairman with acting
in a tyrannical. unfair and outrageous riall-
ner In that he had put motion stopping fur
tner nominations at a time when Il delegate
was on the floor for the purpose of making
a nomination. This the Chair denied, but
Haskell reiteroted his charge and not being
at all choice In The terms in which the same
was made. and marching up In a most dehant
manner TO within u lew feet of the Cha irman,
an if 10 intimidate him, declared that forty
Chuirmeu could not make him take his seal
or be quiet This being Just little more
than The Chairman could good-naluredly
stand, he did, for The time being, lose MS tem'
per and gave the Colonel as good as lie sent
ut least the one seemed TO be rs detHnt IN MS
manner aS the other. but as TO what elther
said was known TO no one, except himself, az
pandemonium reigned supreme, every one ol
course with the exception OF the Ahoeville
delegation) seeming 10 be trying " MAKE as
much noise aS possible. ~
some of our boys were thoroughly disgust.
ed with the undgnitied conduct OF the mem
bers generally, but they beanie somewhat
reconclleo when assured by General hemp
hill That this was one OF the most orderly Con-
ventious that he had ever attended.
When the excitement caused by the spat be-
tween the Chairman and Hmskell was AZ ltS
height Mr. Benet went To Col. Haskell anu
stated that If he would just he quiet Tor y mo
meut he (Bene) thought lie could be OF ser
vice 10 him In the matter, 10 when HaskeiI
abruptly replied that ne didn't Iva want III ahy q,
YOU any way, whether you want II or not,
and catching the attention OF the Chulr,
moved 10 reconsider the vote whereby nomi-
nations were closed, when was put ana car
ried By an overwhelming majority.
This, am satisfied, was not what haskell
and his parry wanted. They wanted 1t TO ap.
pear that the majority had run r0ugh'shou
over the minority, denying them all rights 10
which they were entitled, Simply because
they had the power TO do So
In Justice to Col. Tolbert, the chairman, l
feel IL my duty In this connection to stale
that believe he acted In perfect FAIRNESS, III
all his rulings, toward the minority. anu lnae
while IL may be true that there was some one
on the floor Tor the purpose 0l making lurLner
nominations ut the time when ne put the
motion that nominations cease, 10 not oe
lieve that he was aware oil IL; because was
much nearer 10 the party who II wils clalineu
WAS On the floor for the purpose OF noiuinat'
ing n ticket In opposition To that heaueu py
Gov. Tillman, and am sure tiiat ulu noI
distinguish him or his voice from the nun
time that the motion was made To cease nom
nations. Besides, the chairman coulu nave
had no motive for preventing the oPpOsheo
from minating q ticket II they saw NJ, IN
view of the fact that there WAS no earthly
chance for such Il ticket 10 he elected.
From this time until the proposition was
made TO endorse the administrator oI ooF'
Tiilman, matters progressed WI In iiLlle or uo
friction, but when resolution To that eliect
was Offered by DR.. Pope, the opposition were
nm I'm arms, and knowing that such reSolu-
llon would be Utiesed, they had their forces
well drilled with view 10 defeating ihS
same, and for one hour or more they nhliteu
the advorates of the measure by resort 10
every trick known IN parliamentary t'e
tics. Il,
Finally seeing no doubt that while possibly
they had the advantage IN the matter oi II,e
tricks of the parliumentarlan the otnei SI siuS
had the advantage las Cal Coushh S"'o'