The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-09-27
THEY SPLIT
INTO FACTIONS
Massachusetts, Democracy Badly De-
mOraliled BY Free
Silver.
COL. GEORGE FRED WILLIAMS
Has the Distinguished Honor Of Head
ing the Numerous Separate Tickets
Eventually Nominated. Includ-
ing the Populist.

Boston, Sept. 26.--As unique and pic
turesque as have been a score OF nota-
Bile political contests in this city, none
approached that which today wrought
up the entire community to its widest
pitch Of excitement: and never has
there been such an anomalous result as
was shown at the close Of the day
when three conventions held In differ
ent sections Of the city named the
same man for the head Of the ticket,
and that man was George Frederick
Williams for governor. The factionaI
fight in the ranks of the hitherto unit
ed Massachusetts Democracy can be
traced back TO the Chicago convention
last July. when. in the struggle be-
tween gold and silver Geo. Fred VII
liams and few others boldly left the
majority Of the Massachusetts delega-
tiOn and voted for the free and un-
limited coinage OF silver. Since that
time the rift in the lutte has gradually
become wider and bittereF, and the
charges Of traitors and "wouid-be
dictators." have been used freely. The
climax came last evening, when in the
big Bryan rally at Music Hall, Mr.. VII
liams acused the leaders Of wanting to
control the state convention and re-
quested all those who were in favor Of
his nomination to stay all night in their
seats. 50 that no move might be made
which would deprive them Of the
chance OF fulfilling their program
which had been marked out by the sil-
yer leaders. Thus 900 Of his followers
obeyed to the letter and throughout
the night the vigil was kept.
Every kind OF ingenuity was tried to
make the men vacate the han. The
police were called upon to clear the
hall. but the men in the silver move
ment were successful in preventing this
and as result the doors were kept
locked until $40 this afternoon.
Last night and early today thousands
Of men, scores Of whom were delegates
from out Of town. assembled around
Music Hall expecting the doors to be
opened any moment and that a COM
promise might ensue. Overtures were
made by members Of the state com
mittee. but were rejected by the men
in possession of the hall, who were
fearful of treachery. The men out
side then organized in Hamilton Place.
in response to a suggestion Of Hon.
Timothy W. coakley. the locked in
leader of the silver men, and and what
ever business was transacted In the
hall was indorsed by the outside meet
ing The state committee then went
to Fanuel Hall. where a convention
was held and the national candidate
chicago platform were both indorsed
and Hon. Geo. Fred Williams was
nominated for gubernatorial honors.
This action was protested by a number
of the gold standard Democrats, who
withdrew in body and placed a ticket
favorable to Palmer an Buckner in the
field on nomination papers
In Wesleyan Hall the state conven-
tion of the Populists party was held,
and Immediately they heard that VIII
liams had been nominated as a tree
silver candidate for governor, they fol-
lowed suit and placed him at the head
of their ticket also.
After the adjournment of the main
convention the gold standard wind of
the party decided to place in the field,
on nomination papers. a ticket favora-
bic to the nominee and platform Of the
convention held in Indianapolis early
this month. This ticket as fixed by
the state committee of Massachusetts,
includes Democratic electors and state
officers, the latter being governor, Geo.
Frederick Williams, Of Prime: Lieut.
Governor, James Mcconnell; seereta-
ry, Waldo, Linden; treasurer. Horace
H. Toby; auditor C. c. Spellman; at
torney general. Harry F. Hurlburt.