Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-15
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
The Convention Adjourns Sine Dic.--
No Nomination.

tSluay SfOulGSs 4bO 5SCIOudiy uSSdu
to call tine roll for the 476;h ballot.
The result showed that there was no
serious intention on the part of the
delegates of nominating anybody at
that time, and after the 5O0th ballot
had been taken Mr.. G. Hatley Norton,
chairman of the Bendheim delegation,
arose and said the convention had
reached the high-water mark. He al
luded to the fact that harmony should
characterize all democratic gatherings,
and that he WIS a democrat first, last
and always. He was talking to dem
ocratic convention which had gathered
in the interest of harmony for the pur-
pose of nominating candidate for the
Legislature. Four honorable and up
right men had been placed before the
convention, and surely from this quar-
tette one could be chosen to be the
standard bearer of the party. There
had been too much dissension already.
Such discussions were to be deplored.
They started in local gatherings and,
like mountain streams, small at first,
grew in volume until they became
mighty torrents. The convention was
facing common enemy, and it was the
sacred duty of every delegate to stand
up for the principles of democracy. He
could not understand why it had been
necessary to castso many votes without
making nomination. In order that
some agreement could be reached he
moved q recess, as nomination must
be made before the delegates left OF the
fight would go on forever. He moved
that an adjournment be taken until s
o'clock. The motion was carried and
the crowd once more surged to the
street, all expressing the hope that the
nights session would bring these mo.
notonous proceedings to close.
At the appointed hour the hall was
packed to overlooking with an impair
tial audience. All sorts of theories
had been advanced regarding likely
combinations, but all prophecies failed
and the audience was doomed to disap
pointment once more. The 501st bal
lot showed some sparring, but it was
manifest there was still no intention
on the part of the delegates of making
nomination. The Barley delegation,
who had tenaciously nursed their vote,
to the surprise of many cast 500 for
MAY, but before the vote could be an
nounced reconsidered their action and
the audience was again disappointed.
Subsequent balloting was unimportant
until the 526th vote was taken, when
May ran up to 1857. 1t was still ap-
parent that nothing sincere was intend
ed, as the next bollot brought all down
to the same standing they showed
when they entered the hall Saturday.
The 560th ballot precipitated the
widest scene. The Barley delegation,
whose names were called first, voted
solidly for their champion, but the
Beudheim men cast their $50
votes for Lipscomb. The lat
ter delegation voted for their can
didate. running him up to $40.
The May vote had to be cast and there
was breathless suspense. The chair
man of this delegation hesitated a few
seconds and finally announced 481 for
Lipscomb, which gave him 1927. The
yells which followed were deafening.
Hats were held aloof on sticks and the
widest demonstration epsued, many in
the hall being sure nomination had
been made. But it was false alarm.
Mr.. Norton, of the Bendheim forces,
had been on his feet all the time wait
ing for recognition and some Of the Bar
ley men were damaging that Mr.. Norton
be recognized, and before the chairman
could officially announce the result Mr..
Norton stated that the vote he repre-
sented had been changed from Lips
comb to Bendheim. Mr.. Vincent and
DR.. Cox, of the May delegation, also
arose and protested against their votes
being cast for Lipscomb. The disap-
pointmept of the crowd was great and
evoked jeers from different parts of the
hall, but the knowing ones had expect
ed nothing else.
At this juncture it seemed as the u ID
the convention had reached its ne plus
ultra of obdurateness, and that the time
for temporary halt had arrived, and
when the seth ballot had been reach
ed Mr.. Norton moved an adjournment
for one hour, and the motion prevailed.
During the hours recess many left
the hall, but many others remained,
hoping to see the matter settled. There
we're mapy.conferences, even some of
the candidates putting their heads to-
gether, but it was apparent to the
knowing ones that nothing was to be
determined that night. All sorts of
rumors were in circulation. One was
that compromise man had been decid-
ed on, but this, too, was soon dis
proved. Indeed, it was openly stated
that the candidates had agreed !
among themselves that this should |
not be. Matters went 80 far that
one candidate proposed to put the
names of all in hat and draw for one,
but this, it was said, would be too
much of an outrage upon the voters.
By this time it was openly said that
some of the candidates did not want a |
domination made. but preferred all
open race before the people. This re-
port was generally accepted. At 10
o'clock Chairman Simpson again called
The meeting to order and directed the
secretary to call the roll for the 56Sth
ballot. Before vote could be taken,
however, Mr.. Norton, from the Bend
helm delegation, moved an adjourn
nent till II o'clock this morning. This
vas opposed by the May and Lipscomh
delegates, but on the call for division
he Bendheim and Barley men voted
.ye and the Lipscomb and May men
voted no, so an adjournment was had
ill this morning.
By eleven o'clock this morning an
crowd had gathered in the
,all. In order to kill time, some in
he gallery exercised their vocal pow
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