The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-21

the war In the contest for control of the
democratic national convention. The
national COMMITTEES, at its meeting this
afternoon. decided, by a vote of 2s 70 90, to
candidate, w. c. Owens Of Ken
tuoky, as temporary chairman Of
the conventions The Cleveland people
i'll brook the defeat, and will
carry the contest on TO the floor OF the con-
vention immediately after the convention Is
called TO order unless they abandon
their present intention. This will
develop, though not perfectly, the strength
OF each side in the convention, and will
show the utmost strength OF the opposition
to Mr.. Cleveland. and probably something
IN excess of that strength, as some Cleve-
land states voted for Mr.. Owens. The an
nouncement of the intention TO contest was
made in the national committee immedi-
ately after Mr.. Owens had won on the call
OF the roll between himself and William l..
Wilson, a tariff reform member Of the
ways and means committee from West Vir-
glnia. The fight for control Of the tempor-
ary organization has been going on quietly
since Friday night, little Of what was being
done coming to the surface. Mr.. Waiter
son entered into the fight on behalf Of his
state colleague with vim, and had the
national committee cauvassed before it was
decided by the subcommittee to suggest Mr..
Ovens name. The death Of the late Sena-
tor Barbour OF Virginia left the subcom-
mIttee with only four members, and early
Ia the proceedings it was a tie. This was
shown the first time the subcommittee met
when the Cleveland managers conveyed an
lntlmatlon that Owens was NOT acceptable
to them. An adjournment Sunday was
taken, and it was in this interval that Mr..
WaJterson went to work to seat his young
kentucky friend in the presiding officer
chair. The RESULT OF this canvass convinced
him that Mr.. Ovens was all right aud Mr..
Watterson has not hssitatei to express his
conviction that Mr.. Owens would
be the winner. This morning
the subcommittee met pursuant to
order and at once decided in favor Of Mr..
Owens, and agreed unani nously to report
his name TO the full national COMMITTEES.
Some of the Cleveland mon were in favor
of acquiescence in the decision OF the sub.
committee, but Mr. Ha -rity of Peunsyl-
vanla and Senator Villas said that they
would make fight on him.
MR.. STEVENSON DROPPED.
Mr.. Stevenson was dropped as the man with
whom to oppose Mr.. Owens, and Mr.. Will
son Of w est Vir ginta was taken up as the
strongest man the Cleveland people could
put in opposit on to Mr. Owens. Mr.. Wilson
was selected because he was southern man
and because Of his reputation as a tariff
reformer, as we'll as his parliamentary
ability.
1t was IL o'clock when Chairman Brice
called the national committee to order
After some preliminary business Mr..
Ransom of North Carolins, in behalf of the
subcommittee on temporary organization.
nominated for temporary chairman
William G. Owens of Kentucky This
nomination was seconded by Henry Waiter
son and others Mr.. Holt of Texas
nominated William l.. Wilson of West
Virginia. Hiram Atkinson of Vermont
seconded the nomination, as did several
others. Brief complimentary speeches were
made, setting forth tho merits OF the two
candidates. While these speeches were
going on active conferences were taking
place between the Cleveland men. Ex-
Secretary Whitney abandoned Mr Cleve-
lands headquarters for the time
bsing and hoversd around outside
with Mr.. Harrlty and other com
miJteemen whom he had called out
of the meeting room. Mr.. Villas also came
They would say nothing Of their purposes,
but apparently wanted some assurance from
Mr., Watterson and Senator German. 1t
was said that one thing they were endoavor-
ing to secure was a public declara-
tion from Senator German that he
would not be a candidate. Evidently
the assurances wanted were not
given. lOT MI OWBis' Stl6OUiOu WAS VlROT-
ously opposed, but when the roll was called
it was found that the gentleman had
% votes to 20 for Mr.. Wilson. The vote in
detail by states was as follows:
In favor Of Mr.. Owens-Aabama Arkan-
sas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky. Maine, Mary
land. Mic aigan, Montana, Missouri, Me-
brAska, Nevada. New York, North Caro-
lima, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming,
Arizona niatriot oF COlu ,bia Nau Mavioo
and Utah.
In favor Of Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia
California, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana.
Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey. North
Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania. Rhode
Island. South Dakota. Texas, Vermont,
Washington. West Virginia. Wisconsin,
Alaska and Oklahoma.
Delaware aud s nth Carolina were tens
porarily absent when the roll was called
ami did not vote. After the announcement
was made a motion was entered to make
Mr. Owens selection unanimous, but Mr. Holt
of Texas gave notice that he would present
minority report to the convention. Whether
or not the Cleveland men will make a square
test of strength in the convention and all OF
them support Mr.. Holt on the motion to
adopt the minority report remains to be
seen.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE VOTE.
An analysis of the vote in the committee
shows that it was not a square alignment
Of the opposing forces on the presidential
question. All the states voting for Mr..
Wilson seem to be states in which the
Cleveland sentiment is prepon1era ant, unless
it is Mississippi, but In the list of
Mr.. Owens supporters are to be
found several states of whose devotion to
Mr.. Cleveland's interests there can be no
dQubt. Thus: Michigan, instructed to vote
for him as a unit favored the adoption of
the subcommittee report, as did Massa-
causetts, which, while it did not instruct
for Mr.. Cleveland, because OF a state
custom, warmly comm ended him.
Illinois, which is usually classad for Mr..
Cleveland, voted for Mr.. Owens and so did
instructed Tennessee and rock-ribbed Maine,
which is a Cleveland state, though its COM
mittee member, Mr.. Sewell, is doubtful OF
Mr.. Cleyeland's availability as winner in
New York state.
THE OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
Other business was transacted as fol-
lows: H. Q. Oliver presented the proxy of
J. C. Herndon Of Arizona. Senator George
Gray the proxy of John Fl. Rodney of
Wilmington, DEL; GEORGE A. Mercer was
prssentei in pla o OF John II. Estill Of Sa-
vannah. Ga; F. W. Besne held the proxy
of J. W. Jones of Idaho; 2. J. Dunn, the
proxy of r. P. Ke4ting OF Nevada; Fred
Y. Holman, the proxy Of A. Holtner of Ore
gon; ex-Civii Service Commissioner Hugh
s. Thompson, the proxy of John c. Has
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