Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-06-25
W. HASTINGS EXPLANATION
Why the Republicans Failed to
Elect a Senator.
THEY HAD RUN OUT OF MATERIAL
Delegate Swaln's Antlos in the
Convention.
Frightened a Woman Reporter. who Fear
ed He Wouid Break His Neok-alr. W.
Hastings Perpetrates ~ Senatorial Joke
Witch Col. du Pont Does Not Relish

staf Correspondence o. Gazette and JournaL
st. Louis. Mo-, June 20. -Ihe haste
with which the delegates and politi-
clans left the city plainly demonstrates
the disgust and lack OF interest in the
proceedings Of the Republican National
Convention or Mckinley machine CON
yention, as it has been tittingy styled.
The one object in view was to secure
the nomination of Mckinley, no matter
what the cost might be. No thought
was given to creating harmony in the
party. Fractional fights were considered
purely from Mckinley standpoint.
Questions Of right and Justice were
ignored. The election of the nominee
was placed IN jeopardy by the high
handed methods of the ring.
The first masterstroke was made. when
the machine secured control Of the
National Committee. From the first
meeting every one Of their plans and
schemes were carried out. The method
Of deciding the contests upon a strictly
Mckinley and Anti Mckinley basis
aroused much bitter feeling and dis
sension in the ranks Of the party. 1t
was realization OF the strength of the
Hanna machine and the ignoring of
the claims of all delegations not in
structed for Mckinley, which led
Manley to give up tho fight for Reed.
No attempt whatever was made 10 de-
eide the cases upon their merits.
In the hearing of the Delaware cage
before the committee on credentials
many remarkable statements were
made by both sides. Mr.. Hastings and
Gen. Wilson causing much amusement
Shy several of their bold assertions. A
han n..tt
Hastings explanation of the failure of
the Republicans to elect a United
| States Senator. He said that the party
had put up many candidates during the
struggle, and on the last days they
run out of material and put up Col.
du Pont. 1t was several minutes
before order was restored. Col.
du Pont, who was sitting near the
speaker made an attempt to laugh, but
did not seem to relish the joke.
The factional fight attracted the at
| tention of every politician in st. Louis
and after it was over the delegation
was pointed out as being of special in
terest. 1t was, therefore, an easy task
| for them to secure much notoriety
Mr.. Swain was evidently afraid that
they would be unnoticed, for he made
| a special effort to rise above everyone
on the floor of the convention when the
name of Mckinley was proposed. One
of the women reporters on the Globe
Democrat, in describing the scene,
makes this comment upon Mr.. Swain's
efforts:
How those men carried on when
Mckinley was nominated. or when he
was placed in nomination! They we're
a little tired, as we all we're. when the
tedious count was over. But now they
roared and frIsked. One man nearly
| put me into state of nervous prostra.
tion. lie mounted two chairs and
balancing himself waved two flags, one
in each hand, and danced horn
pipe. A very undienified proceeding,
especially for baldheadcd man from
Delaware. But he was in constant
danger of breaking all his limbs and
damaging his shining head. / believe
my terror at the thought of that man
coming to an untimely end in the
midst of such levity was what gave ma
a headache that | carried home with
me. ~