Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-19
FIGHTING FOR SUPREMACY
Platt and Brookfeld Factions Have Merry
Time in New York.
SQUAD OF POLICEMAN TAKE A HAND
Two Conventions Held Mt the Same
Time I'm the Same Hnii-Platt
Faction Assert They Have
Majority.

NEW fOhh, March 1S.-1n all the con-
gressional districts OF this city, with the ex-.
ception of the Sixteenth, the republicans to-
night held conventions for the purpose OF
selecting delegates and alternates to the ma.
| tional republican convention. Two delegates,
and two alternates were chosen by the rep
| resentatives OF the various assembly dis.
tricts, comprising the several congressional
districts. Turbulence and confusion were
the chief characteristics of the Twelfth and
Fifteenth districts. wild scene OF riot
and disorder marked the opening proceedings
of the Fifteenth congressional district con-
venticn at Renwick hall. Over 1000 ex-.
cited men cheered, hooted and yelled at each
other, while Police Inspector Cartwright,
Captain Dean, four police sergeants and 100.
roundsmen and patrolmen vainly endeavored
to restore something like a semblance Of
order.
The fight was between the Platt and.
Brookfeld factions. The candidates for ma
tonal delegates ON the Platt side were Ex-
else Commissioner Joseph Murphy and David
F'riedsall and the alternates were Jeffer-
son A. Simonds and George 10. Morey. The,
Brookfeld faction had for candidates General
c. Fl. Collins and Robert ]. Wright and the,
alternates George s. Sutton and Elias Good
man. This afternoon General Collins called
on President Roosevelt of the Police board
and notified him there might be trouble at
the convention and that the presence of the
police would be required to preserve order.
II was because of this information that In
spector Cartwright was directed to have,
100 officers at the convention.
Inc Brookfeld faction played sharp
trick on their opponents by quietly inviting
all the delegates known to be friendly to-
the Coils and Wright ticket to be on hand
In the hall at s o'clock, when lunch would
be served. After the lunch the delegates
fnA 70 4.
to be on hand early to vote. The Plat dele
gates did not begin to arrive until after
O'clock and they were obliged to show their
credentials at the entrance downstairs.
PANDEMoNIUM BROKE LOOSE.
Although the total number of delegates
elected TO the convention was only 594 there
were over 1000 men in the hall at O'Clock,
when w. r. Spooner jumped ON chair and
nominated e. S. Clnch temporary chair.
man Spooner is Brookfeld man, and the.
Platt men at once set up howl of disap-.
proval. Pandemonium broke loose, and
every one in the hall made a rush for the
platform, and one faction yelled defiance
at the other. Inspector Cartwright ordered
the crowd back, but 1t was no use and the
police had to form line and drive the dele
gates, and those who were not delegates
away from the platform Meanwhile Mr.
Clnch had seized a gavel and was pounding
for order. Ex-Assemblyman Otto Irving
/. Wise shouted that the proceedings vera
Irregular, and that Mr.. Clinch had no right
to preside as temporary chairman. Tho
proper person to call the convention to orderI
was Isaac III. Newman, who had been dele
gated by the state committee to do SO.
Inspector Cartwright cleared passage and
Mr.. Newman ascended the platform and
stood beside Mr.. Clinch. He called the meet
ing to order, while Mr. Clinch on behalf OF
the SBrookfeld faction continued to pound
the table. Mr.. Newman called upon James
Degnan to act as temporary chairman. Mr..
Degnan had hard fight to reach the plat
form, but finally managed to get there with
the assistance Of the police and 100 or more
Patt men. Degnan had gavel and the
two chalrmen banged away for dear life,
while the crowd continued to cheer shout
and yell as If they had all gone mad Finally
the men in the front began to climb on the
platform over the reporters tables. Inspector
Cartwright ordered another charge by the
police and the crowd was driven back.
The Plattites had prepared their plan of
campaign, and were determined to run the
convention and the other side was equally
determined to manage things their own
way. The result was that there were really
two conventions held at the same time. Sew
eral times Inspector Cartwright threatened
to clear the hall, and at one time he was
about to send out a call for 100 more po-
licemen, but he did not do so. Mr.. Murphy,
for the Brookfield end of the meeting, made
pretense of calling the roll and Mr.. Degnan,
for the Platt faction, did the came thing.
Neither one OF them could be heard ten feet
y,
gates know on which side of the platform to
hand up their credentials however Frank
Raymond was chosen chairman of the cowr
mttee on credentials for the Brookfield ped
pie and John McConnaughy was selected
chairman of the Plat side Otto /. Wise
called for three cheers for Levi p. Morton
and three were given with a Will, even the
joining.
TWO CONVENTIONS AT ONCE.
The noise and racket increased when both
sides made their temporary officers perma-
nent. Ex-Assemblyman Wise nominated
Commissioner Murray and Mr. Frledsall as
delegates to the national convention. and
Mr. Henry G. Robinson nominated Com
Wright, and Mr.. Spooner nomi-
mated General Coils for the Brookfeld fac
tion. Mr.. Frank Raymond moved that the
roll be called, and as the name Of each dele
gate was mentioned, he rose and decfkted
his vote. The Plattites had their ballot box
and Chairman Degnan announced they would
Platt faction claim their ticltat 10
elected by a two-thirds vote of the entire
delegation. 1t is not likely that the vote
will be known until tomorrow. The delegates
were still voting at midnight
1T Is the first time that two separate con-
ventions have been held from the same plat
form, and at the same time, In the history
Of politics In this city, and 1t will have to be
determined which faction is entitled to have
their delegates seated at ST. Louis. General
any of the other candidates, but Mr.. Rob-
Inson, in his nominating speeches, said Gen.
eral Coils and Commissioner Wright were
In favor OF Levi 2. Morton, and would be at
the convention, so long as his name was be-
fore the convention, but should his name be
they would go for Mckinley.
In the Murray Hill Lyceum( where the
Twelfth district convention was held, 1t fire.
quently looked as II the presence OF a squad
Of policemen was the only thing that pre-
vented a scene OF. personal encounters be-
tween the opposing factions fayoring Nor
ton and Mckinley as presidential cand-
iates. in spite OF the claims OF Cornelius
NJ Bliss and Colonel Cruger the anti-ma-
chine banner bearers. that they had their
well in hand, they were defeated,
but only after a stubborn fight Even then
hey would not accept defeat. and under
the leadership OF George Bliss, their CO.
horts got together and held an opposition
and elected their own delegates.
In consequence of this action there will
De contest before the national conven-
lion. Amid more or less hooting, cheering
and cat calling, the Platt men carried ths
with a high hand. the chair
man being directed 10 cast one vote for the
Platt candidates for delegates and alter
mates. Howard Carroll and Thurlow Weed
Tln rnae ware nanad deleRates IN tha naS