The San Francisco call., 1896-06-28
NJ NAB AND RAINEY
SAVED THE DAY,
A Municipal Convention
Coup Failed by Three
Votes.
M'NAB NEARLY DOWNED
The Junta Campaign Committee
Wrestles With a Remark
able Scheme.
"DECPNCY" AND DEMOCRACY"
A Brilliant Plan to Make the General
Committee the Municipal
Convention.
"DECPNCY" AND DEMOCRACY


man Sullivan, from utter rout in the
Junta.
By this ombination in meeting of the
Junta's campaign committee remarkable
political coup, by which the Junta General
Committee of 450 with the addition OF 150
Buckleyites was to be declared the mu-
nicipal nominating convention, was de-
feated by three votes.
The situation, as it developed, showed
that in the campaign commit ee at least
twelve of the twenty are ready to dump
McNab and Sullivan, but they can't get to-
gether to do it.
The sch me that was suddenly sprung
that night was the most wonderful of all
the wonderful schemes which this pic
turesque political aggregation has yielded.
1t illustrates vividly the condition of this
''anti- boss organization which McNab has
led into the wilderness, carrying the ban
ner of 'decency." 1t shows how
thorou ghly the Junta is racked with dis
sensions and boss-ridden.
The scheme was Matched mainly by
Samuel Braunhart, Port Warden, and
Dr. w. j. Gavigan. Gavigan has split
away from Lanigan. has no use for Nc
Nab and occupies an independent posi-
ion. Braunhart has long been scorned
md reviled by McNab and Sullivan.
Braunhart, Gavigan and others in the
ganization constitute an element opposed
10 both the Rainey-Daggett-L Lanigan COM
, bnation, which now has secured major
ity of the General Committee, and to Nc
Nab, who with Sullivan and Hassett runs
things without much consultation with
others.
This element wants to beat out Sam
Rainey, but it is also 'leery" o. that reor-
ganization scheme which McNab has up
his sleeve and about which he says, "Sh-
sh r. and wait! waltz They know that
McNab's scheme is to get the State exccu-
tive committee which Frank Gould is to
appoint soon to appoint a committee of
fifty at his suggestion to reorganize the
party into his hands.
1t was also known that the Rainey pro-.
cramme is TO force soon meeting of the
General Committee to abolish the present
campaign committee and from these
premises it was figured out that If the
present campaign committee could ap-
| point the municipal convention to meet
| in September the wo rk would be done and
the thing settled before Rainey got the
committee abolished.
The easiest way to create convention
was to appoint the whole General Com
mittee and overcome Raineys small
majority by adding $50 more. For
these preventative Buckleyites would
be largely selected, and this, it was
| figured out, would sufficiently weaken
the Buckley side.
large majority OF the campaign COM
mittee was secured for this day or two
ago, but it reached McNab's ears. When
he and Chairman Sullivan got over the
Mysteries they pulled down enough TO de-
feat it. Braunhart and Gavigan knew that
they had eight votes sure. hoped for one
or two more and that some OF the opposi-
tion would not attend. But McNab saw
that every member was on hand.
McNabs only hope lay with the Rainey
ties, and just before the meeting he easily
arranged that the four Rainey and Lani-
gan votes should go against the scheme.
Routine business was disposed of, and
then r. l.. Mann, the member from the
Thirty-fourth District, rose to offer reso-
luton. At McNab's prompting James
Butter moved 10 adjourn, and Chairman
Sullivan recognized Butler to choke off
what he knew was coming. An adjourn
ment was declared and then Braunhart
rose in wrath with an eloquent protest.
Then followed half hours wrangle in
executive session, during which the pro-
ceedings were rather hot and informal
The resolution was not formally offered,
but the subject was discussed.
McNab eloquently urged that the thing
was premature. Braunhart swore that it
was the only way to keep the works out of
Ralney's claws, and that if Rainey did
succeed in abolishing the campaign COM
mlttee the convention would be already
created.
He threw in some intimations that the
committee was not, in fact, composed OF
MeNab's dummies.
DR.. Gavigan and R. L. Mann joined in
supporting the proposition, and M. G.
Hassett helped McNab oppose it. There
were exchanges of tart com pliments, and
finally the meeting broke up without
vote being taken on the proposition or the
resolution read. Braunhart and others
said that another meeting would be held
soon and the resolution adopted.
The proposition illustrates the extent to
which McNab had absolute sovereignty
vested in the campaign committee, which
he expected to be able to control. The
language OF the constitution vesting this
power is quoted In the resolution, which
was as follows:
stitutlon provides that "The campaign com
mittee shall be intrusted with the care and
proper management OF ell preliminary CAM
paign work and shall determine and establish
the same for the best interests of the Demo-
cratic party; and whereas, the Lest in
terests OF the Democratic party now
demand fhaf the campaign commit
lish as preliminary to successful cam
paign the mum Der of delegates to comprise the
convention to be held for the purpose of nomi-
mating municipal and legislative officers; also
to provide for the selection of such delegates
and to fix the time for their meeting in con-
vention; therefore, and by virtue of the afore-
said constitutional power vested in the cam
paign committee, be it
Reso!0ed, That the number of the member
ship OF the nominating convention be and 1t
is hereby fixed at 600 delegates;
RESOLVED, That all the eligible members of
the General Committee be and they are hereby
declared members of and appointed delegates
to said nominating convention
RESOLVED, That the campaign committee
designate and appoint 100 delegates at large
to such nominating convention
ResotUed, That said nominating convention
shall assem- BILE on Monday evening, September
Ia, 1896, at 80 P. NJ.
ReSolUed, That any member of the General
Committee who Is not eligible to a seat in the
convention by reason of holding public Office
be and is hereby authorized 10 appoint suit
able man to act as delegate in his place.
The eight general anti-boss votes ready
to adopt this resolution were the
following: Secretary ]. f. McGovern,