Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-26
JUDGE WILLIAM BRECkNER
A Strong Hardin Man, Named for Temporary
 Chairman.
SENATOR JOE BLACKBURN TURNED DOWN
The Fight on Resolutions Prom ises to Be Long and
 Hard One.

Louisville, Ky, June 25.-At noon to- day John D. Carroll chairman of the state central committee, called to order what will probably prove the most in- teresting democratic convention ever held in Kentucky.
 There is a big free silver contingent in the state led by Senator Blackburn, but in this convention the gold advocates are largely in the majority and the platform will undoubtedly indorse that adopted by the national convention in Chicago in 1892. This is not, strictly speaking, q gold monometallism platform but it is unequiVocally against the free coinage of silver at 16 to l, and the silver men of Kentucky will not be satisfied with less than this.
 The Clay men this morning are claim ing increased strength during the night and the Hardin men are not so sanguine, but It IS still lar from settled who will be the gubernatorial nominee.
 Besides a governor this convention will select a lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, treasurer superintendent sof public instruction, attorneys general, aud itor, register of land deeds and com missioner of agriculture.
 It will take at least two days to finish the work, and probably three or four.
 The organization of the committee on resolutions, which is composed of one man from each of the eleven districts and two at large to be appointed by the chairman, shows a majority of gold men In the committee of eleven already chosen. Seven are gold advocates and four are for free silver. As the chairman Will appoint the other two, and as he is almost sure to be a gold man, the com mittee will stand nine for gold and four for silver.
 The committee is as follows: First district, Gus Coulter. silver Second, w. T. Ellis, silver; Third, John Rhea silver; Fourth, E. D. Walker, silver; Fifth, J. M Atherton, gold; Sixth, R. H. Elliston, gold; Seventh, Arthur Yeager. gold; Eighth, James B. McCreary, gold; Ninth John F. Hager, gold; Tenth, John Slayer gold; Eleventh, George Stone gold.
 Joe c. Blackburn was beaten by twenty votes in the Seveneth district by Arthur Yeager, a gold man.
 Nominations for the temporary chair man being in order, Judge William Breckner and EX-Congressman W. J. Stone of Lyon county were nominated for permanent chairman. The voting was watched with much interest, as the vote was a test vote Breckner being Hardin man and Stone the choice of Clay men.
 Judge Breckner received 44SA votes on the first ballot against 32O15 votes re- ceived by Stone. In taking his place as chairman, he said
 q do not take the result of this bal lot as a compliment to myself. The gen tlemen l have seen fit to represent in this convention have won the fight. We have met here at time when the rela- tion of prosperity is vindtcatng the dem ocratic party. Everything is happening just as the democrats said it would. Let us act in harmony. l heard a man say once; Why cannot the democrats act in harmony as the republicans do?'
 We are not built that way. The re- nlID1iP1n pOnVaOfinn " dictated hu boss. We have no collars about our necks We are not afraid to face our record"
 J. K. Schrader, William Cromwell and James b. Stone were elected secretaries of the convention. The list of commit tees were then sent to the clerks desk after which the chairman announced the members at large of the committee on resolutions as Judge William Lindsay and K. D. Clardy. Mr. Lindsay is Q strong gold advocate, while MT. Clardy is a free silver admirer, but has not yet determined whether he wants a 16 to ratio. The convention then took re- cess until o'clock tonight
 Senator Joe Blackburn is being some what criticised for trying to get in on the committee on resolutions after he had been beaten for the place in his own district-the Seventh. When the clerk called out the Second district the chair man announced that Blackburn had re- ceiVed the proxy of w. T. Ellis. who was regularly chosen by the delegation. The Second is a free silver district and readily consented to the arrangement that the eloquent senator might have chance to use his oratory to some advantage in championing the cause of the white metal. Chairman Breckner did not see it that way, however, and sent word that he could not for a moment entertain such a proposition, as Blackburn was not resident of the Second district.
 Music hall was packed to overfioWlng when Chairman Breckner called the con vention to order this evening. A bril- liant assemblage filled the boxes and the greater part of the stage, many la dies present wearing evening dress.
 The convention began in a hubbub over resolution offered by Arthur W. Mace of Louisville, declaring it un- American to discriminate against any man or woman because of their religious preferences.
 The chair referred the resolution to the committee on resolutions. Several of the anti-American Protective associa- ton delegates insisted on having the res olution put to the convention but in- stead one was put and passed that all resolutions go to the committee for con sideration.
 A dozen delegates were on their feet at once shouting for recognition. and each wished to push different motion For awhile the chairman lost all con trol of the assemblage and for an hour it seemed that it would be impossible to maintain order.
 J. P. Helm, chairman of the committee on permanent organization, reconn- mended as permanent chairman Con- gressman J. s. Berry; James F. Stone for permanent secretary, and Edward McGrath for sergeant-at-arms. These officers were chosen.
 In assuming the craftsmanship MT Berry said "The republicans have been endeavoring to persuade the people that all the hard times were caused by the