The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-17
IT ISA BITTER FIGHT.
The Democrats at Fresno in
Battle Array.
CLEVELAND OR HILL THE ISSUE,
And the Struggle for the Craftsmanship
Hinges Upon 1t.
0STROH LEADS MURPHY FOR THE HONOR
San Francisco Will Cast the Deciding T0te.
The Railroad Question AlSo Plays
an Important Part.
OSTRON LEADS MURPHY FOR THE H0Y0R
Special TO THE MoRNISe CALL

FRESNO, May Everything here Is in
state of mix. The fight is probably the
most complicated that has ever come up In
a Democratic convention in this State, and
all sorts Of issues are cutting their figure in
the contest.
The railroad, Cleveland, AIN, and all
sorts of fanciful notions are being injected
into the struggle, and the result Is that no
one is willing 20 give any great odds on the
outcome.
As it looks now. however. Ostrom has all
the best OF it, and his friends claim that he
viii come under tho wire when the bell taps
q sure winner. They also claim the earth,
and are even going so far as to assert that
Murphy must get out Of the fight. This, of
course, is partisan talk that must be taken
with a generous grain Of allowance, but
they are backing up their statements with
figures that at FIRST blush seem nvincible
On the other hand Mr. Murphy and his
friends are more conservative and, it is IN
necessary TO say, less confident. When
asked about the situation they shlug their
shoulders in the most approved Santa Clara
fashion and say that it is all right so far as
they can see. Just how far they can see
they refuse 70 say, but they are willy aud as
q consequence as discreet as a railroad
lobbyist.
As the fight draws nearer it is easy to see
that the lines are being more closely drawn
between the men who favor instTucting for
Cleveland aud those who are for an IN
pledged delegation. The former are for
Ostrom and the latter, 10 a man, are for,
well, Palmer, Gray, BOies. Hill. Whitney or
anybody else, so long ss they stand show
TO win and dish cut the sp0ils with generous
hand.
That is the battle in nutshell, and even
Murphy himself, who Is one OF the most
kindly and amiable of gentlemen, refuses
to declare himself in a decided way. lie
has been impoTtuned 10 come out fatf0oted.
but in bis easy-g0ng fashion he insists
upon the proposition that he Is IN the
hands OF his friends and is willing 10 abide
by whatever they saT.
This is just what is hurting him most.
His personality is all right, and be has hun
dTeds of personal friends from every section
Of the State, but in a struggle Of this kind
the man is lost sight Of and only results are
looked 20. WheTe the shoe plncles u Mr..
MuTpby's ease is on the Cleveland Issue.
Il is safe TO say that of the delegates here
now, nine-tenths, at the least calculation,
are for the great defeated, and the disDosl-
tiOn Il strong TO pledge the delegates. In
fact It is generally conceded that whoever
is chairman the representatives sent to Chi
cago Will go pledged, bat the 0strom men
say most emphatieally that they are in favor
Of such action first, last and all the time.
MuTpby's followers are less emphatic,
but when questioned swell out with an air
of the greatest self-impOrtance and sc0f at
the idea Of being told how to vote. They
ring in the old argument that they are men
Of honor and high standing, and as such
should be left TO do as they may see be st
when they reach Chicago. The delegates
from the interior are not so credulOus as to
give them their implicit trust and if the
voice of the country is as potent as il has
been in the pasi, the men who go from Cali
fOrnia will be told to stand up for CieVe-