The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-01-10
RIOT0US CONVENTION.
Associated Press Report of the Oklshoma
city Tiasco

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CITY Fissco
Following is the Associated,Press re
port OF the Oklahoma City statehood
convention as sent to the world
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla. Jan. Q After
one OF the most intensely exciting
conventions ever held in the Territory,
the statehood convention adjourned,
at s:l5 last evening, having accom-
plished nothing. Its closing minutes
were full of indescribable confusion,
delegates acting like maniacs and all
trying TO see who could make the most
noise. 1t was a disgrace To the terri
tory. and Is likely To have the effect
OF retarding statehood until another
congress at least.
The convention was the largest,
most representative and important had
in the Territory, and great good was
expected from its deliberations. Two
factions, almost equal in strength,
struggled for supremacy, one desiring
single statehood and the other favor
ing any sort OF relief Congress might
grant. The latter faction capturcu
the organization by electing Il. L.
llensley, OF El Reno. chairman, after
most tumultuous scene, lasting al
most an hour. the enraged delegates
getting on chairs and bowling and
SHAKING their fists at each other aud
at he chairman. Finally quiet was
restored 10y the chair appointing Dick
Pluu>ett, a noted pugilist, of Perry,
as sergeant-at-arms, with six assist
ants. plunkett gave them to under
4 L.. 1. 4 -. Il
and the convention quieted down.
The delegates which composed the
two great factions i'm the convention,
the single and double staters, spent
the forenoon in separate caucus, each
schemiug for control of the conven-
tion
At 1890 o'clock the delegates filed
into the hall and the leaders OF each
faction said there was nothing like
unity Of action to he expected on any
proposition. Frank Thompson of
Pawnee county called the convention
to order aud it was opened with
PRAYER by the Rev. Mr.. llawlev. lm-
mediately after the prayer for peace
and harmony the fight began. w 4.
Walker of oklahoma city, single
| .sater,' and Frank NJ. Thompson Of
! pdwnee county. double slater
stood side by side on the edge of the
stage fronting the delegates and each
! began To talk
At once the delegates mounted
| chairs. each faction yelling for its
! side. Amid the clamor f. f. IlcnsleY,
double slater and FLYNN bill
man, was nominated for chairman,
ard. so soon as his name was mem
| toned, he jumped To the stage and,
undaunted 10y the howling crowd in
! front, began to talk in fog horn
voice.
For five minutes he talked against
the clamor Gradually his loud tones
drowned out the noise and one dele
gate after another Subsided aud
listened to his speech.
Then the question ol selecting the
committee on credentials arose. The
double staters' wanted committee
OF five The single staters" wanted
a committee of one from each county
delegaiion The committee on ere
deutials was To decide the rights Of
the cuntestug delegations TO sit in
the convention.
Chairman lIenslcv declared carried
the motion toappoint five on the COM
mittre On credentials. Those OPP
posed yelled an appeal from the de-
cision uf the chair. From o'clock
till 40 the delegates, 300 OF them,
howled Then PatricIS Nagle of King
fisher mounted the stage and the del
egates quieted down TO listen TO him.
lie pleaded for peace and harmony
and moved that the committee on
credentials be composed of one from
each delegation.
This was carried, and then there
was lively quarrel over the recogni
tion Of the delegates from the Chicka.
saw nation.
The delegates from the Chickasaw
nation were recognized and the com
mittee en- credentials retired.
The committee on credentials was
3 to report at . o'clock, but when that
hour arrived they were not ready, anc
"A motion to al journ sine die was de
- ciareI carried by the chair Ther
pandemouium reigned for half an
. hour, and was finally quicted by Sher
III Deford turning out the lights ant
ordering them out.
Later the champions of singh
statehood held a caucus and decided
that the adjournment of the state
hood convention was illegal ant
unparliamentary. Their parliament
ary advisers told them that ;
convention presided over by tempo
rary organization could not ad jour-
: sine die.
ON the strength of this advice tn,
! single statehood delegates will assem-
I bile to-day and pass resolution favor
: ing single statehood As many OK th'
, opposing delegates have gone hom
. ignorant OF The plans Of the singh
e statehood men, the latter can cOnyen
= in convention and do what they pleas
e with practically no opposition.