The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-06
Lively Struggle by Michigan Repub.
licans to Select a Candidate
for Governor.
SIX WISCONSIN CANDIDATES
FIRST BALLOT FOR GOVERNOR TO
BE TAKEN THIS MORNING.
w. ID. Hoard Declares No Deal Has
Been Entered Into to Make Him
United States Senator.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Aug. 5.-Not for
a dozen years has Republican State con-
vention in Michigan been attended with so
much excitement and enthusiasm ard noise
as the one now in session. The town is
full of candidate boomers and not a quarter
of them can get into the hall. At the rap
of the chairman's gavel the hall contained
a sweltering, perspiring mass of five thou
sand people. The chief interest attaches
to the contest for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation. II. r. Pingree, Mayor of Detroit
originator of the Pingree potato scheme
for utilizing vacant city lots for the poor.
the foe of corporations and the enemy of
the machine, has for the second time made
determined onslaught it's governor
ship. Opposing him are Colonel A. t.
Bliss, of Saginaw; ex-Congressman James
ODonnell, of Jackson; A o. Wheeler. Of
Manistee, and d. d. Akin. Arrayed against
Pingree also is the influence of the State
Republican machine. The machine candi-
date is said TO be Bliss, although this is
denied. The situation at the opening of
the convention is involved in the greatest
doubt. Pingree has undoubtedly the lead
but will lack majority on the first bal
lot. Close after him is Bliss, who is conf
dent of winning. ID. NJ. Ferry, chairman of
the State central committee, called the con-
vetion to order at IL o'clock. Rev John
l.. Jackson made the opening speech and
Victor Nj. Gore, of Benton Harbor, was
made temporary chairman. A lively fight
is the prospect over the delegation from
st. Clair county. The regular county con-
vention was captured by Bliss, but the
Pingree element bolted and sent a central
delegation. Although Michigan is supposed
to be strong silver State ii is expected
that the st. Louis platform will be en-
phaticaily indorsed. The temporary chair
man, Victor Gore, said: I'VE are convened
in year fraught with irreconcilable politi-
cal issues. 1t has gone forth that the Re-
publcanism of Michigan is tinctured with
heretlcal weakness and spirit or coward
~ compromise. 1t is ours to place the brand
OF utter condemnation upon this base per-
version of our faith. The country knows
that the voice of Michigan is the voice of
her Republican platforms. We have the
Inspiration of noble example. The ST.
Louis platform Is the most COURAGEOUS
commanding. the most far-seeing political
from skin to core, and there is no man
Sc NJ 70 carry 1t to its glorious triumph
as the incomparable Mckinley
AIR. Gore commended in detail the ma
tlonal platform, and devoted the bulk of
MS ADDRESS to an argument for the gold
standard principle as therein enunciated
he pointed 10 France as an example of
the futility of endeavoring to maintain a.
stated ratio between gold and silver. and
SAID that Germany's proud boast was that
demanded gold. The history of the at
tempt or legislation to set up its unafded
mats against the DEGREES of commerce was
tne history OF impotence and uniform
failure. The gold standard had been the
most potent and persistent factor in the
growth OF England's commerce.
I'm this age of expansion" said he ..the
second best win not answer. By natural raj
eEoiution, gold sits as a queen of COM
merce. The deeply-grounded preference of
s,od ane business world for gold is superior TO
yive the blizzard of free-silver coina ge
Such violent act by this Nation alone
but would inevitably drive every gold dol
lar In the United States to seek winter
quarters, there TO remain so long as de-
unspeakable havoc upon wages and savings.
credits and contracts. trade and industry -
The ST. Clair contest was forced upon the
convention Immediately at the close of Mr.
Cores speech by motion of Detroit dele
gate that pending decision by the COM
mittee on credentials the Pingree delega-
ton be admitted TO the floor of the con-
vention. This aroused a storm The mat
ter was argued with much heat amid
mingled cheers and Kisses. A plea for har-
temporarily admitted to the floor but with
out voice in the proceedings.
At 2:30 the committee on credentials was
sull trying TO settle the st. Clair county
fight and asked for further time A motion
TO adjourn until evening was lost. the
Pingree men insisting that the St. Clair
contest shall be brought into convention at
once in the shape of majority and minority
reports. After listening to short speeches
by Congressman S. W. Mccall. of Massa-
chusetts; Congressman Smith, of this city:
ex-senator Patton, also of this city, and
ex-Mayor G.. ]. Diekem, of Holland CITY.
the motion to adjourn until 7:30 was re-
declared II carried to the disgust of the
Pingree men ard the galleries, it being
claimed that 1t was clearly lost.
AT 7:30 o'clock the committee on creden-
tials was still unable to agree on the St
Clair contest and the convention decided to
receive the report on all other counties and
allow the committee until O'clock 10 con-
slider the st. Clair matter and allow thirty
minutes TO each side of the ST. Clair fight
to present its claims.
Ex-Lfeutenant Governor j. ". Giddings
OF Cadillac. was made permanent chairman
and the Hon. Burt Parker. of Monroe.
committee on resolutions was adopted with
out debate or amendment. The platform
indorses the nominees and declarations of
the Republican national convention de-
nounces the Democratic platform as Pan
dering to mob violence and anarchy -
heartily supports the Republican money
plank and declares strongly for protection
convention proceeded with the placing in
nomination of candidates for Governor
were finished at 10 o'clock and the conven-
tion then spent an hour listening TO ma
jority and minority reports. with argu-
ments thereon. on the st. Clair contest
the former favoring Bliss and the latter
the Pingree delegation. Then a substitute
for both reports was offered. 1t proposed
TO seat both delegations with the twenty
two votes of the county divided equally
between them.
On a long turbulent roll-call the SUBJ
stitute was adopted The chair ruled that
a substitute had the same effect as an
amendment. that the main question was
in order and ordered another roll call. This
was disputed and at midnight the wrangle
over the parliamentary point continued.
The Pingree men declare they will force
a vote on Governor before adjourning but
the Bliss men say they would try to adj
journ as soon the St Clair matter was
settled.
Being asked to reverse his ruling Chair
man Giddings admitted that he was not
sure of his ground and would like TO con-
slider the matter until morning. Thereupon
a motion TO adjourn until o'clock car
ried. the Pingree men voting yes.