The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-03
DEMOCRATS TRUE AND TRIED
STORY OF THE LONG CAUCUS. AND
SHORT CONVENTION.
All OF the Delegates Actuatrd by the Same
Principle but Differing As to P"!icy-A
Majority Favored Nominations but as
Four Counties were not 4. presented
and three Counties and a Number
ofDelegnres Wthdrew-So
Nominations W.ro
Made.

Nominations Nsro
Made.
ICondensed from News and Courier
COLUMBIA, September 26.-The Con-
ventiou which was called to meet last
night did not finish with its work until
after the hour for newspapers to go 10
press and as the reporters were all e6-
eluded from the Convention at last
only fragmentarv reports OF the pro-
ceedings could be gotten out. AS IL
was, the full details OF the caucc',
which really die the work OF last night,
were gotten notwithstanding the e1ort
to suppress the news.
No apology would be necessary TO re-
publish the proceedings, and for the
benefit of those who are Interested the
proceedings of this all-important and
critical Convention are given, not be-
cause they have not yet been gwen IN
full in The News and Courier, but be-
cause they bear repetition. Even at
this time nothing official can be gwen
out with regard to the proceedings OF
the caucus, which really did all the
little that was done, and that was the
adoption of 3 series of resolutions when
may or may not amount to anything.
WHEN DIsINTEGRATIoN BEGUN.
Of course everyone went into the
caucus realizing that the momentous
question was whether nominations
should or should not be made, and after
the delegates in disgust gave up she
hope of making nominations they were
no longer interested in the further pro-
ceedipgs. Everything after that went
10 pieces, indeed, the disintergatlon
began when the Orangeburg, NeWberry
aud Colleton delegations retired from
the hall. If a ph: siclan were to make g
diagnosis of the disease that killed the
Convention it would probably De
located at the disafection and general
decentralization brought about oy the
withdrawal of over score of delegates.
Had only one delegation withdrawn
there is no question but that nomlna-
items would have been made, as even 10
the last majority of the delegates were
in favor Of making nominations out
saw no use going into q battle Win
divided forces, general dissatisfaction
and allround decentralization.
WHY THE CAUCUS WAS PRoLoNGED.
It was expected that there would be
preliminary caucus to map out the
work of the Convention, but it was not
thought that the secret session woulc
last until after 4 O'Clock. There was
no use in the world for it. The
delegates, however, thought that there
was no occasion to have any of the
delegates 60 home dissatisfied. There
was an all-round desire to please every
one, and it was thought that after the
full and free discussion that was had
things would come out all right, out as
it was, the full discussion only tended
to bring about crisis.
NINE HOURS AND NOTHING DONE.
It took the preliminary caucus just
nine hours to decide to do nothing.
Perhaps never before has there been
such q variable convention or caucus
held in the State. One time it looked
very, very blue for those opposed to
nominations, when all of sudden
there came ray of hope for them
which unexpectedly burst out into 8
fun-blown bloom" against nomina-
tions. Then the caucus, to use a
vulgar expression, 'just p=tered out"
That is about what some Of the en-
tbusiastic delegates have to say about
the matter.
ONLY A BIRDsEYE VIEW.
Of course it must be remembered
that all that was seen or heard was
from the view of an outsider. There is,
however, every reason to believe that
the Convention acted as it thought
best after a full discussion, for nine
hours ought certainly TO be considered
enough for deliberative action. There
was what has been called 1.-The fullest
and freest" discussion of all the phases
of the advisability Of making nomina-
tions.
AN EIGNT-MINUTE CONVENTION.
The Convention proper was q
nonentity. 1t did not meet for over
eight minutes, and all that was done
was to adopt series of resolutions that
were introduced by Editor A B. Will
iiams. The Convention did not even
formally organize, but just rushed
through with the formal resolutions.
thanked the officers for their work and
adjourned sine die. They might have
done as much at s o'clock, when the
Convention proper was called to con-
vene. The resolutions adopted, and
which represent the sum total OF what
was done, read as follows:
Resolved, That this Convention &C.
cept the action of the Convention held
here on the 18th Instant in endorsing
the Chicago platform as concession
50 the Democracy Of the State, but
regards the Simultaneous endorsement
of Democratic and Populist platforms,
representing parties and antagonistlc
principles, rs forfeitiDg the allegiance
of all straight Democrats and the
respect Of all honest Populists.
Resolved, That this Convention cor
daily accepts and endorses the Ma
tional Democratic platform and de-
clares its unwavering devotion to the
National Democratic party.
Resolved, That We invite and urge all
Democrats Of the State to organize for
the purposes hereinafter stated.
Resolved, That while this Conven-
ton desires to avoid doing anything
likely to cause Increased strife among
our people We believe that the prlnci-
pies of the Democracy, the safety OF
every interest in the State, and the in-
scinct of self-preservation demand that
hard and earnest fight be made against
proposition to call Constitution
al Convention to create new funda-
mental law involving the rights of
every man in the State without provid-
ing for the. submission of its work to
the people. We tender to the opponents
of this iniquitions. undemocratic,
tyrannical and dangerous proposition
the service Of the organization herein
provided for, and invite them to join
With US in fighting it at the approach
ing general election.
THEY TALK FOR one HOUR.
The delegates were very slow in
getting to order and it was O'Clock
when Gen. Jobuson Hagood took
charge of the caucus. 1t was soon
developed that the caucus was exceed
ingly deliberative. About the first
resolution introduced, so far as could
be heard on tie outside, was one by
Editor Williams, who proposed thai