The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14

y
eight minutes to President Edward Lau-
terbach of the County Committee to de-
scribe how the roll of the convention was
made up. Closing the entire case Mr.
Wise insisted that unchallenged delegates
were in attendance and voted. He quoted
a letter from ex-Secretary Tracy support
ing the legality of the surroundings of the
Bliss assem- bl&ge.
On taking his seat Mr.. Wise bonn barded
Quigg with technical questions growing
out of the irregularity of his convention.
Just as Mr.. Sutherland resumed his seat
Mr.. Wise created surprise by stating that
while Messrs. Bliss and Kruger were
abundantly satisfied with the justice of
their proposition they would be satisfied
wlth-and in fact asked as matter of
courtesy-that they be made joint dele
gates and be placed on the temporary roll
with half vote each. This was greeted
with ironical cries of "OhP
AT 1910 A. NJ. the committee went into
secret session. A moment later both sides
agreed to dispense with debate. Mr.. Suth-
erland moved the seating of Messrs. Car
roll and Barnes and Mr.. Wilson Del.)
made similar motion for Messrs. Bliss
and Kruger. at 1920 the roll was called
ana resulted in a refusal to seat Bliss and
Kruger (anti-Platt men).
Secretary Burke, in response to re-
quest, proceeded to verify the rollcall.
Meanwhile, two votes were changed, and
the final result as announced was ayes y,
noes 25.
Mr.. Hahn moved that both delegates be
seated with half vote each. Coffee and
sandwiches were brought at 12:40 A. N.
Debate was inaugurated and the COM
mittee settled down for siege. Notwith-
standing the lateness of the hour, crowds
besieged the doors of the banqueting hall,
and in the rotunda and lobbies upstairs
and down the interest and excitement was
intense.
Mr.. Hahn's motion to give each delegate
a half vote was carried-ayes q, noes %.
Mr.. Sutherland then gave up all other
contests in the Thirteenth and Fifteenth
districts and proposed that the contestees
and contestants in each be seated with a
half vote. This was defeated, anu roll
call was demanded.
The committee voted ayes to 80 noes
on the question of seating the other double
delegations, with half vote each.
At 1 40 A. M. the committee took up the
contest in the Thirteenth New York Dis
trict, where William Brookfield and Gen
eral Arson McCook (McKinley), claimed
to be the regular delegates, and were chal-
lenged by John Reisenmeher and Alex
ander T. Mason (Mortonites).
The case was opened with a detailed
statement by General McCook, who
claimed that the convention that nomi-
mated him consisted of 169 delegates and
that the selection was by reclamation.
Congressman Quigg followed in behalf of
the Morton delegates, and those who, in
Mr.. Hanna's handbook, have second
preference indicated as Reed" He also
gave his version of the split in the district
and presented papers to show that the
convention which nominated McCook and
Brookfield was composed of but 1873 out of
the 335 elected.
After Mr.. Lauter bach had supplemented
the presentation of Mr.. Quigg, the COM
mittee went into secret session, and Mr..
Sutherland of New York admitted that
General McCook and Mr.. Brookfield had
made out their case, and consequently
NOV that they be seated. Mr.. Fessenden
seconded the motion, and the anti Platt
delegates were placed on the roll by a
unanimous vote.
At 2:30 A. NJ. the Fifteenth District con-
tese was called for hearing.
Before the case was gone into, Mr..
Yerkes of Kentucky complained that Mr..
Lauterbach had been grossly insulted
while leaving the room in way which,
under other circumstances, would have
justified a forcible retaliation, and he
asked that all strangers be excluded. SEN
ator Carter ordered the sergeant-at-arms
to enforce the rule.
Subsequently it was stated that Mr..
Egan of New York was the offender, and
Mr.. Sutherland demanded to know if he
was still in the room. General Coils,
who said he knew him by sight, vouched
that he was not present, and the chairman
gave orders that the offender should not
again be allowed to enter.
In the Fifteenth District contest case
those claiming to be the sitting delegates
were General 7. ii. Coils and Robert ].
Wright (McKinley) and the contestants
Joseph Murray and David Friedson
(Morton).
Counsellor Spooner of New York opened
the case of the Coils delegation and Con-
gresham Quigg replied, charging that the
employees of the Department OF Public
Works, of which General Coils is Commits
sioner, took possession of the convention,
excluded many of the regular delegates
and ran the convention, with the aid OF
the police, to suit themselves.
In closing for the Plat delegates Mr..
Lauterbach asked the committee to do his
party justice and it would do justice to the
Republican party.
lie had been told it would be useless for
him to appear with the badge which he
wore (pointing to the Morton insignia),
but he did not believe it.
In the convention next Tuesday he
would not be recreant to his trust. He
would be true to the Governor of
New York, but on Wednesday night
he and his great organization would
take off their coats and work for the nom
inee of the convention, and if they were
given fair play they would return fair
play in November. Loud applause.
Mr.. Spooner reviewed the entire case for
General Coils, and the contestants re-
+irad AT 900 NJ the rom mi ttee AGAIN