The San Francisco call., 1895-10-07

selected, there was much uncertainty and
speculation about the future of the gen.
eral committee and some unrest. As will
be remembered, preparations had been
perfected for primary to elect delegates
to the State and municipal conventions
ana members of a new general committee
OF 45O. At the last moment Chairman
Max Pepper announced that Buckley was
In the field, and the upshot of the ensuing
mess was that the general com mittee itself
elected delegates to the conventions and
remained in existence.
The point has been raised that the gen.
eral committee itself has no legal exist
ence, but Its present authority proceeds
from the fact that it was recognized by the
State Central Committee after its term
was up and from its being the de facto
power.
1t was vaguely thought that the munich
pal convention would do something about
the party organization, and it was this
situation and this feeling that brought
forth the Deuprey committee. At the
opening OF the convention the committee
on permanent organization presented its
report, and in it was the following para
graph copied yesterday from the original
report signed by Chairman JameshF Smith
and Secretary Crittenden Thornton:
Your committee recommend ana report that
all resolutions be referred TO the committee on
platform and resolutions without debate, ex-
eept sueh as refer to the plan or organiza-
ton OF the party and the county and general
committee, in respect to which committee
shall be appointed by the chairman of the con-
Vent1on one from each Assembly District and
seven at large, TO which shall be referred such
resolutions.
This was Chairman Deuprey's warrant
for the appointment of the committee.
AS the convention ran its troubled course
OF about two weeks there was much talk
about Buckley and Rainey influences and
many close consultations among the re-
form forces in control of the convention.
1t ls declared by those opposed to the
Deuprey committee that the committee
was plainly intended and understood to be
co-existent and coterminous with the COM
mlttee on resolutions, and that its work
ended with the convention.
AT any rate it was forgotten or neglected
during the convention and was not an
nounced until the closing hour of the con-
vention-after midnight. Mr.. Deuprey
arbitrarily, it is asserted, announced it as a
committee on organization, with full
power to act"
IN accordance with Mr. Deuprey's an
nouncement Secretary Daniel Gavigan,
who yesterday exhibited the minutes, re-
corded:
The following committee, pursuant to reso-
luton of the committee on platform and order
OF business, was appointed by Chairman Deu-
prey TO reorganize the Democratic party ac-
eording to assembly districts with full power
to act.
Peter F. Dunno pricked up his ears and
backed by the fierce A. J. Clunie and sew
eral hundred bowling Democrats fought
the proposition amid an awful uproar for
half al hour. The daily papers next day
all recorded the fact that the matter of the
committee was referred to the general COM
mlttee. This is what the minutes say:
Delegate Dunno called for the names of the
committee appointed by the chair to reorganize
the Democratic party, with full power to act.
On motion of 7. F. Dunno, which was duly
seconded and carried, the whole matter on or
ganiZat1on was referred to the general COM
mittee to be disposed of after the election.
Dunno moved the thanks of the conven-
ton to its officers and the convention ad-
journed sine die.
During the melee the point of no quorum
was raised among host of others. 1t was
impossible to settle it and it was not set
tied by any rollcall. Now some of the
hackers of the Deuprey committee dismiss
the reference to the general committee
with the declaration that there was no
quorum anyway.
That is the interesting situation of the
Deuprey committee and it will be seen that
there is plenty of room for fight if it pro-
ceeds to drastric measures.