The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-05-18

Delegate From the Second.
from the Reconnaissance Special Core
spondent
FRESNO, May 1.-THE great battle for
the craftsmanship OF the Democratic State
Convention was fought at the Barton
Opera House this afternoon, and was won
by Barney Murphy of Santa Clara. The
contest was settled on the first ballot, bnt
that ballot was the occasion for anxiety in
many a Democratic breast.
Yesterday, even Murphy's most ardent
supporters conceded that Ostrom of Yuba
had good majority in the convention,
and that Murphy could not win. But
late last night, ant to-day, up to the time
when the convention met, Murphy and
his cohorts went in for a final desperate
effort to beat Ostrom, and to-day's roll
call showed only too well that they sue
ceeded. They broke into several of Os
trom's strongest delegations, aad disor-
ganized them. They resorted to oratory,
V hisperings, wine, and other methods of
persuasion, in order to pull Ostrom's
friends away from him, and by noon to-
day, after. noses had been counted, it was
known that they had won the day.
But even tEen Ostrom and his friends
were game. and did not quit until the last
delegates name on the roll had been
called Naturally they feel considerably
depressed at being defeated, after having
victory virtually IN the palm OF their
hands. They are making the best OF it,
however, and declare that they will not
endeavor TO revenge themselves by tying
up the convention on propositions the
Murphy people wish to avoid.
Ostrom's friends still believe they are
strong enough to force an Endorsement Of
Cleveland and pledged delegation to
Chicago. The anti-Cieyeland side, how
ever, are quite confident that they have
enough votes TO defeat this proposition,
too.
FINE BODY OF MEN.
1t was a hard fight, and while both
sides refrained from bitterness. still the
contest was conducted with logged de-
termination on both sides that has seldom
been witnessed.
This convention is generally admitted
to comprise as fine body of men as has
convened for political purposes in the
State for many a year. As was the case
with the recent Republican Convention,
the interior delegates ale particularly
bright men.
The proceedings started off brisk from
the beginning. The convention is noisy
one, and among the delegates are in
Vulnerable orators, some of them very
good ones.
BRILLIANT SCENE.
Barton Opera-house presented brill
liant scene when the convention was
ready for business this afternoon. The
delegates were seated by delegations on
the lower floor, through the dress circle
and parquet Banners bearing the names
OF the respective counties distinguished
the various delegations from one another.
The two galleries, the private boxes and
a portion of the stage were given UP to
spectators, and goodly number of these
were ladies.
The theater'S auditorium seats COM
fortably over l,500 people, and about
sixty were on the stage. The theater is
one of the handSomest i'll the State. 1t is
lighted by electricity, and has all the
latest improvements. The only fault that
could be found with it for convention
purposes was that delegates occupying
rear seats could not be seen easily from
the stage on account of the shadow of the
gallery above. The entire 1900 incan-
descents in the place We're turned on, and
the effect was pretty.
HAMMOND OPENS PROCEEDINGS.
AS was previously announced in the
RECORD UNION, Chairman Russell j.
Wilson of the State Central Committee
was not present to call the convention to
order, and that duty fell upon General X.
i. Hammond.
Dick as The General is called by his
friends, opened the ball with vigor, and it
was apparent from the applause that
greeted his patriotic references to Demo-
cratic principles that the delegates had
brought their lungs with them.
Before proceeding TO business Mr.
Hammond presented to the delegates
Mayor Cole of Fresno, who on behalf of
the city welcomed the guests in brief
speech. The visitors showed their appre-
citation of k'resno's hospitality by cheer
ing the city's executive to the echo.
NOMINATING SPEECHES.
Mr.. Hammond got the convention to
work Immediately, and when he called
for nominations for temporary Chair
man, both Jackson Hatch Of Santa Clara
and Ed Leake of olo called for the floor.
Mr. Hammond recognized Mr.. Lake first.
and the latter mounted the stage.
In nominating Senator OSsrom of Yuba
for the Guardianship, the speaker re-
ferred to him as That modest, unas
Stunning, honest old farmer, Dan OStrOm y
and there was wild burst of applause
and cheering from OStrom's friends.
When he mentioned CleyelandS name.
however. the delegates acted like insane
people. cheering at the top OF their voices
and waving hats and handkerchiefs
wildly.
Mr.. leake declared that Ostrom was an
out-and-out Cleveland oman, and wanted
1t so understood. Ali attempts TO tack
side issues upon him should be spurned,
he declared
The speech was the best one heard dur
ing the day.
Then MIR. Hatch was given show to
euloglze Barney Murphy OF Santa Clara.
Mr.. Hatch took pains TO declare repeat
edly that Mr.. Murphy was not an anti
cleveland man. and he hoped none OF the
delegates would vote against him on
that score.
Mr.. Hatch intimated that the conven-
ton should go slow about pledging its
delegates TO Chicago, and they needed a
conservative man like Murphy in the
chair.
The seconding speeches were made by
Horace jackson and John O'Brien OF
san francisco and c. c. Wright of Stan
islaus for Murphy, and Thomas +. Barry
of San Francisco and William Harris of
san befnardlno Tor Ostrom. All paid
eloquent tributes TO the reSpectiya caIl6i-
date, and reiterated their principles.
Harris made the hit of the sneecb-
makers when he described the breezes OF
san Bernardlno as being like unto n
maiden's first sigh of love" The dele
gates and spectators guyed him good
naturedly.
II became evident that there was qoinu
to be no emo ofspeech- making. bnt the
spectators had apparently come 10 hear
some oratory, and encouraged the speak
ers. When the last of the secondinr
speeches was made, Judge Archer of Los
Angeles and Stephen NJ. White from the
same place arose at the same time and