The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-08
CALLS ONLY ONE CONVENTION.
THE STATE COMMITTEE sWAYED
BY THE sILVERIrES.

Nounty Ouces ana General Assem-
bIy-One OF ex-Speaker CrIsp's Lit
tie Schemes Rejected.
Atlanta. Ca, March THE democratic
executive committee Of the state, by a
vote OF p to II, to-day passed resolutions
calling for one state convention to Sc
lect delegates to the national convention,
and also to nominate state house officers.
The committee also. by practically the
same majority. selected the city OF Ma
con as the place for holding the conven-
ton.
The date fixed for holding the conven-
tion is June %.
On June 6 preceding this date, accord
ing to the action of the committee, the
county primaries are to be held for the
election of delegates to the state con-
vention, and for nominating county OFF,
GERS and members of the general assem-
bly,.
The meeting Of the committee. which
was held behind closed doors despite the
declaration Of some of the favored lead
ers that they favored open doors, was
harmonious in the same proportion that
p bears to II.
The two convention members were so
helplessly in the minority that though they
made an earnest protest against such a
departure from time honored. precedent
they did not essay the fight that was ex-
pected. They realized that the cards We're
stacked against them before the commit
tee was called to order, and although the
proceedings of the meeting show an apar-
ent victory for the silverites or the one
convention promoters yet by their refusal
to submit the matter TO the people for rat
incation as suggested by those who IA
vored two conventions the victory is but
a hollow one.
In fact tho silverites acknowledged the
weakness of their cause and utter lack of
real belief of their oft repeated assertions
that the one convention was demanded by
the people, and are left in a very awkward
position by summarily, Vetoing the propo-
sition made by w. II. Fleming himself, a
silver man, but loyal to the party and its
precedents, who offered a resolution pro-
yiding that when the primaries are held in
June TO select delegates to the convention
the voters should also express themselves
in favor of one or two state conventions.
In case the majority should be in favor
of the two conventions, then the conven-
ton of June 25 should be authorized only
vention, after doing which it should ad-
Journ, and a second convention be called
to nominate the state ticket
The rejection of this proposition Is re-
garded as the hight of Inconsistency on
the part Of those who put the one con-
vention plan through upon the pretext
majority of the people of the state.
The impression that the one convention
was originated in the interest of eX-Speak-
er CriSps candidacy for the Senate, that it
was, in fact, launched at a conference of
his friends held in his room at Washing
ton, received "a rather emphatic denial at
the hands of the committee men. Their
refutation OF the report amounted prac-
tically TO a smart rebuke. The effort of
ex-Speaker Crisp to use the commit
tee for the furtherance of his candidacy
a a hnnpDgFanR
his letter TO the committee, in which he
suggested that the voters should be in
strucied 70 express their choice Tor SEN
ator in the June primaries was read, 1t
was about to beNtabled without even re-
celVlng courteous treatment, so keen was
the disapproval Of such an effort to make
use of the party machinery in the interest
of his candidacy, but finally the suggest
ion of one of the more considerate MEM
bers that the chairman be requested 10
acknowledge the receipt of the communi-
cation, and notify ex-Speaker Crisp that
the committee did not deem 1t advisable
to take action upon it was adopted.
This action of the committee could only
be construed as very plain disapproval
of ex-Speaker Crisps plan Of campaign,
and instead of having his candidacy sent
off with boom by the state committee,
as was expected by his managers here,
the committee made puncture in his
boom.
The meeting of the committee brought
to Atlanta many of the leading politi-
clans of the state, probably more of them
than has gotten together to await the
action of the committee in years. They
came in on every train, and the hotels
looked as they do during the meeting
of a state convention
TWenty-eght members of the commit
tee were present in person, and five were
represented by proxy. or the thirty-three
votes, the one, convention people had
twenty-five pledged before the meeting
opened. 1t was very easy to be seen that
there had been wire pulling from away
back. In the election of TWO members
- 90 moi iae Va "a "a a
one conVentionists had caucussed, as they
voted solidly for their man-W. w. Wood
all Of Columbus, as against l.. M. Harris,
who favored the one convention. This
was the first test vote and IL so far set
tied the matter that o. NJ. Porter, the
other new member. was allowed to be
elected without opposition.
In addition to the election of these two
members, Chairman Clay announced the
appointment by himself OF Robert Hodges
of Macon to succeed Marion Harris, re-
signed, from the Sixth district, and OF
w. w. Starr of Savannah to succeed b.
A Denmark from the state at large.
Douglass Glessner of Spalding county
was elected secretary, vice Col. Il. H.
Richardson, deceased.
In the selection of Macon as the place
for holding the convention, the South
Georgia delegates were united. 1t is ex-
pected that good results will follow this
movement. 1t has been years since a
state convention has been held outside Of
Atlanta, and the delegates will find very
different surroundings in the Central City
in Atlanta. This is the natural Mecca of
the politicians and to a greater or less
extent they dominate the conventions,
carrying through their views by hook or
crook Meeting in Macon, much of this
old influence will be evaded, and the ac-
ton taken will therefore probably be freer
from outside influences than would other
wise be the case.
The following is the text Of the reso-
luton calling the convention:
Be II resolved, and il is hereby ordered
by the democratic executive committee
Of Georgia, that a convention of the party
in this state be held on Thursday, the 18th
of June, 1896 for the purpose Of choosing
delegates to the national convention at
Chicago, arranging for the choice of pres
idential electors of the party and for the
further purpose of nominating the party's
candidate for governor and state house
officers, and for such other business as In
the judgment of the convention may be
considered.
1t is further resolved and ordered in
conformity with the action of the last
state democratic convention that the
county primaries for the choice of dele
gates to the state convention herein or
dered be consolidated on one day and this
committee hereby fixes Tuesday the ID
day Of June. as the date on which the
several democratic executive committees
of the state shall call for the election
Of delegates to the state convention
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