The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-03
AN ALL NIGHT CAUCUS.
BUT 1T REFUSED TO NOMINATE a
STATE TICKET.

STATE TICKET.
The Proce edings of the Antf-TllImsn
State Convention Which Was Held IN
Columbia Last week-Ths Hothsadf
Dissppointsd.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept. 26.-The con.
vention ralled to consider the propriety
of nominating ticket to be run in the
general election against the regular De-
mocratic ticket assembled in this city
Yesterday and remained In session un.
til after four o'clock this morning,
when it adjourned without working a
nomination. The delegates to the con-
ventlon had begun to arrive the even
ing before. The morning trains brought
In 8 good crowd, and the midday and
afternoon trains did the rest. Nearly
every man who was here last Monday y
week ago was here again, and good
many others from various counties
were here also. The delegates freely
discussed during the day the advisable
ity of nominating a full State ticket,
and heard all the arguments on both
sides. A canvass Of the delegates
sho we'd that, while thereiwas strong op'
position to the making Of nominations,
there was in the afternoon an uadouDG'
ed majority In favor Of making them. {.
But there seemed to be no certainty
as to what the convention was going
to do. The executive committee met
at 11:3O o'clock at the Hotel Jerome.
The plan of holding caucus or the
chairmen of the various delegations
and the members of the State commit
tee only, was abandoned, 1t being
thought best that the entire matter
should be fully discussed first in a gen.
ersl caucus. The following resolutions
were therefore adopted by the commit
tee:
Resolved, That the call for caucus of
the chairmen of each delegation ana
the Executive Committee at 5 O'CLOCK
o. m, IS hereby rescinded and Instead
thereof that it is hereby resolved that a
caucus of the entire delegations, duly
elected or appointed from each OF the
counties OF the State be present at
caucus to be called to order at p. m.,
and not until the adjournment or tne
said caucus will the convention con-
vene.
Resolved, that there be absolutely no
executions made, as to the admission
into the hall of the House Of Repres
entatiYes, and that only the delegates
duly elected or appointed be admitted
to said caucus.
Resolved, that delegates are request
ed to present themselves In body from
each of their respective counties ana
that list Of each delegation be handed
to the secretary of the Democratic Ex'
ecutive committee so that he can FUR
nish 1t In ample time to the doorkeeper.
Be 1t further resolved, that we earn.
estly request citizens who are interest
ed In the result of this caucus and con-
ventiop, that they be patient and await
the action of the caucus, which ls
necessary to precide the opening OF the
convention.
The delegates all went to the hall Of
tbs House of Representatives at .
o'clock and the caucus began. The
above resolutions had been posted on
the various bulletin boards in the city
and had been published, consequently
there was not such turmoil about the
doors as was witnessed at the previous
convention. The caucus at once took
up the question of making nominations
and arguments began on both sides.
Every possible phase of the situation
and the possible future results was
fully and exhaustively presented, and
there was 8 full, free and untrammelled
exchange Of views from al parties. at
O'clock recess was taken for supper.
At 8 o'clock the caucus was resumed.
There was no indication of vote being
reached until the midnight hour, If
then: All outsiders, consequently de-
cided to try the waiting policy. 1t was
of grave import, and the result of the
deliberations of the caucus was await
ed with the deepest interest by many
Of both political factions and all other
parties. All knew that the IrbY com.
mlttee was here waiting to take imme.
diate action with regard to anything
the convention might do.
A SECRET SOCIETY.
The caucus was practically secret
society. Walter Capers, Douglass Sym.
the main door leading to the hall of the
House Of Representatives as doorkeep-
ers. They had the names of the dele
gates from each county, and before a
man was. admitted the doorkeepers had
to be satisfied that he was the right per-
son. Two policemen were stationed at
the outside of the door. Even the
newspaper reporters In sympathy with
the objects. of the movement were ex-
cluded. When Chairman Carwile called
the caucus to order abou. 5.3C o'clock
there were numerous vacant chairs.
Chesterfield, Sumter and Kershaw
counties had no representatives, and
the cards marking the seats for these
counties stood as the Only representa-
tiYes, Many of Hampton's chairs were
vacant and the same was the case as to
other counties. 1t did not look like
there were more than 225 men in the
hall.
The caucus remained in session for
an hour and half and adjourned until
$50 o'clock when 1t resumed its secret
work, some Of the members stating
that 1t would be hours before the eau.
Gus would be reaey to go into conVen.
tion. About o'clock it was given out
that the caucus would discuss the ques'
ton of nominations for three hours
and then 60 into convention. The
early hours of the caucus were spent in
listening to reports on the outlook in
the various counties. AS a general
rule the reports were rosy. These re-
ports came from members of the exc.
cutive committee in favor of nomina-
tions and who were Butler man.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Register re.
porter was Informed on what he knows
to be excellent authority that the out
look at that hour was against nomina-