The morning call., 1894-09-20
'OT A FAIR TEST OF STRENGTH.

A turn was given last night to the tide of
events in the Democratic municipal con-
ventjou. The hitherto unruf1ed surface
was broken up into whitecaps. and it be-
gan to look as f smooth sailing was over
and stormy season was at hand.
The first two sessions were so calm that
the members began to think that the con-
vention was going TO be an innovation in
Democratic politics; that it would he an
orderly body, and that unless the Buckley
influence was injected into the proceedings
il would get through its work without any
of the tempestuOus scenes that character
lied so many of the conventions of the
party.
The report which the committee on or
ganization and order of business worked
so industriousy upon all day yesterday
contained what proved to be a most un-
popular recommendation and it aroused a
tumult of dissent. The friction was all
the greater as Chairman Deuprey was
fully in sympathy with the report, and
his leaning was evident on a number of
occasions, which fact wrought the obiec-
tors to state Of impatience that made
them anything but traciable.
In addition the chairman's manner was
aggressive, and at times intolerant of the
wishes of the delegates. He talked a great
deal about the sergeants-at-arms, and Gre
ated the impression that he thought be
could run the convention to suit himself.
IF this convention is not more orderly
these proceedings will be brought to a close
right here" he declared, and the Demo-
Gratis. each one Of whom thought that he
was large part of the convention. did not
like that method of insisting upon quieter
manner OF proceedings.
The hall was packed as usual. and the
audience IN the rear of the delegates was
so noisy that without the charmed circles
where the delegates sat nothing could be
heard, though the chairman and speakers |
brought into use their most strident tones. !
The part of the report to which general
opposition arose was that which provided
as part of he order of business that the
Board of Supervisors and Board of School
Directors should be nominated by a COM
mittee Of twenty-five.
AS soon as it became known in the after
noon that the committee had decided TO
incorporate such a provision in its report
it was said that the Rainey element would .
oppose it, and make it a test of strength in
the convention. AS the nominating COM
mttee would have been named by the
chairman, it was evident that if the Kainey
crowd hoped to get control OF the boards
they would have to defeat the committee
plan, for nothing could be hoped from a
committee of the creation of Mr.. Deuprey.
So for several hours the approaching con-
test was looked upon as a factionaI issue.
the result of which would be to show
which side was in the ascendancy. But
that was not realized.
The Rainey men of course opposed the
proposition, but the opposition assumed
such overwhelming proportions that it be-
came apparent, both from its numerical
strength aud the well-known attitude of
the men who spoke on that side, that no
lines were observed.
One of the delegates expressed the real
reason of the defeat Of the report, which
was many cASCleu dIl6E a TOiicdIi. Wlen
he said: This matter appeals to every
man on the floor who has friend who IL
a candidate for Supervisor. l have had
fifty men tell me that they wanted to go
on the ticket as nominee for one of those
positions"
Those men have friends in the conven-
ton who do not propose TO surrender the
naming of the candidates to any commit
tee. Why should they? They reason that
the convention is the com potent authority,
and they as delegates have some right t.
say who these candidates shall be. Each
one of them would be abandoning all hope
of getting his friend nominated If ne
should vote to place the matter in the
hands of other men, unless he happened
TO know that the committee would de-
termine uoon the man he wanted. So il
was very unpopular measure, and it has
met with the fate that might have been
anticipated.
The debate was brought on by Andy
Cluuie. who moved an amendment to the
report. Henry Ach seconded the amend
ment. and as both of these are said to be
sympathizers with the Rainey men the
latter had some right 10 look upon the out
come as a victory. But even such men as
Ed Lanigan confessed that the vote had no
significance. They said that the conven-
ton would find that Raney had considera-
BILE strength, however, and it was sufficient
to enable him to get some of the most i'm
portant Offices
II developed yesterday that he was work
ing very hard to capture the Board of
Supervisors and the privilege of debating
to the members Of the Legislature to be
chosen by the convention. 1t was, of
course understood that Rainey was acting
as Buckley's Lieutenant. The ex-boss had
been scared away from the city by threats
of criminal prosecution for some OF the
h. - g L.