The San Francisco call., 1896-06-12

that committee in preparing the tempor-
airy roll OF the convention.
The temporary organization was eff
fected and, pending the debate on mo-
ton to adopt the report OF the committee
on credentials, and be ore any ruling mad
been made by the chair or any action
taken by the convention, Gumby and his
associates, with about one-fourth of the
delegates of the convention, bolted and
held a meeting in another hall, which had
been previously engaged for that purpose,
the bolt having been deliberately contem-
plated long before the State Convention
net.
In that boiling convention the contest
ing delegates claimed to have been elected.
Colonel Gumby of Tampa, i'll behalf of
himself and his associates, took the posi-
ton that the bolt was forced by the arbi-
trary proceedings of officers of the conven-
ton, inspired by Committeeman Long,
and submitted affidavts from a majority
of the members of the State Central Com
mittee certifying that the Gumby delega-
ton was entitled to be placed on the roll
as regular. Charges of fraud and misuse
OF proxies were also made in abundance.
Ex-C Congressman Thompson presented
the case of the Long delegates and then
David Martin of Philadelphia moved the
seating of the Long delegation. Suther-
land of New York demanded rollcall,
but declined to vote.
All the votes cast were in the affirma-
tive. Colonel Long and his associates
were placed on the roll and Governor Nor
ton was deprived of four delegates at a
swoop. The defeated faction will carry
the case to the committee on credentials
selected by the National Convention.
Inasmuch as the contest in the Second
Florida District hinged upon the facts pre-
sented in the one just decided, it was
abandoned and Dennis Egan and Isaac l..
Purcell (colored), McKinleyites, were
placed on the roll, to the exclusion of
Archibald and Robinson (Mortonites).
The First District case, in which the ques-
tion was the regularity of delegation
elected by a convention held in place
other than that designated by the State
Committee, was presented and argued
with more feeling pro and con on the part
OF the committeeman than had marked
any previous hearing and by the close vote
of % to 20, M. s. White and J.N. McCoombs,
supporters of Gov. Morton, were placed
on the roll over E. G.. Weeks and Arm
strong Pardee (colored), McKinleyites.
The result was received with the first ap-
p1ause of the day.
When this case had been disposed of the
belated papers in the Ninth Georgia Dis
trict contest were ready for presentation.
1t was disposed of in short order; Andrew
]. Spence and James B. Carton, instructed
for Mckinley, being placed on the roll
over Thomas M. Blodgett and w. A.
Smith, instructed for Reed. The vote was
unanimous.
The Georgia roll having been amended
and completed, the difficulties in Mis-
sissippi were the subject of ventilation,
and the committe-roOm and annexes filled
up rapidly. First in order was the contest
between the rival delegations at large.
Those claiming to be the regular delegates
were: James Hill (colored), John s. Bur-
ton, Albert NJ. Lea and E. H. Hampton
(colored). All these had Mckinley prefer
ences, as did also the contestants, John r.
Church (colored), William E. Mollison, M.
A. Montgomery and F. w. Collins.
Ex-Congressman Thompson, for the
Mckinley managers, presented the case of
the delegation claiming to be regular.
The controversy was shown to be the out
come of the old quarrel between the Hill
and Lynch elements, both being headed
by colored men. These two factions of
the Republican party in Mississippi sepa-
rated in the convention of 1892, but after
ward harmonized, Hill having a majority
of ten in the consolidated State committee.
That committee called the State Con-
vention early in 1896. 1t was arranged
that delegates to the State Convention