Evening journal., 1896-09-17
TO ELECT DELEGATES
To the State Constitutional
Convention at Dover.
STRONG FIGHT AGAINST Mr.. GRAY

AN hi iTOiNl bBllNN NAiiI III IlI
LEWIS c. VANDEGRIFT on THE
TICKET IN THE SENATOR'S
PLACE.
AT the Young Mems Democratic Club
last evening the Wilmington delegates
to the county convention, called to
nominate ten delegates to the Conslitu-
tional Convention, mot for the purpose
of caucussing and sele, Ing the four of
the ten apportioned TO Wilmington
hundred. j. Harvey spruance pre-
sided, and there was every evidence
that the meeting would be harmonious
Some of the delegates Immediately
raised the objection that there was not
full attendance of delegates, ana
this, coupled with difficulty ia arrang-
ing mode of procedure ior making
the nominations led to the conclusion
that all the delegates must be present
before anything binding could be done
After considerable disorder the caucus
adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock tins
morning, the convention meeting at
Turn Hall at 1890 o'clock this morning
There is no doubt that Peter J Ford
would have been selected for a place
on the ticket, but he positively declined
to permit his name TO be used.
Under no circumstance would ] ac-
cept the nomination for delegate to the
Constitutional Convention" ne said to
an Evening Journal reporter to-day.
This is positive and final.
THAT story In the Morning News
about Senator Gray being denounced
at the caucus last night is a lie ont
OF the whole cloth" said Mr. Neafy To
an Evening Journal reporter ,his
morning. His name was never
brought up I'm the meeting 10y me or
any one else. The whole trouble was
caused by the absence of 1--WE of the
twenty-four delegates from this city.
and inability to agree upon q method
proceeding. There was no aght what
ever upon Senator Gray, and n there
was any outside the meeting after #
adjourned IL was confined to a very
few men,"
Milton Hawkins. a former Kent coun-
tlan and free silver delegate, was the
principal opponent against Senator
Gray, and worked hard TO defeat him
this morning.
Shortly before the caucus met this
morning an Evening Journal reporter
found Delegate Hawkins in the centre
OF a small group in front of the Court
House. He was excited, for Clerk of
the Peace Foard, an earnest supporter
of Bryan and Sewal, was calling him
! down for opposing the nomination OF
Senator Gray
Don't you think you are making ,
, big mistake by injecting the currenc,
/ question in the selecting of Ccnstitu
tional Convention delegates?" asked th,
reporter A man down the street JUS
q told me that you were running arounG
, endeaYOring TO have Howell $. Eng
[ land, a silver advocate, substituted fol
! Senator Gray"
"The man who told you that is a
llar," he replied. 81 am not advocating
Howell S. England, but lawyer who
is a sound money man and, nt the
same time, q supporter Of Bryan and
Sewall"
Another man who is delegate
, says that you were responsible for the
failure Of last nights caucus TO do its
/ work" suggested the reporter.
THE man who told you that Is a
, d-d liar!" retorted the excited Mr.
] Hawkins Tell me who II was p
, This the reporter declined to do.
: "There are lots of other brains In
New Castle county, suggested Mr.
Hawkins
YES" replied the reporter, "but they
10 are q different kind of brains"
The group separated and Mr.. Haw-
kns started of for Turn Hall, wher,
4. Patrick Neary and the other Gray mer
: had prepared an elaborate and red-ho
/, reception for him.
= MORE TROUBLE FOR WILMINGTON
The delegates from the various wards
e OF Wilmington reassembled In caucul
at Turn Hall at 1890 o'clock thil
s morning to decide on the candidates
i which they would present TO the con
d vention. j. Harvey Spruance wa
e chairman and Frank J. Niedermaie
= was secretary. Not man was nomi
u mated as the member OF the Constitu
l. tional Convention. This was though
best in order not to precipitate a figh
(. in the caucus. It was finally decide
that two business men and Two prOfes
s sional men should represent Whining
n ton, but It was thought best, and
d was so agreed, that no nomination
D. would be made until the convention
l. assembled, when each delegate shoul
vote as he pleased.
ID The only other district which hel
lie caucus was the Fifth county CON
er missioner district, which comprises S
1t Georges Appoquinimink and Blacl
ct bird hundreds In this district Colun
d, bus Watkins and Franklin Blocksoi
ne were decided upon as the candidate
er When Il was found that the other car
III cuses were to be without result, IL Wa
u determined to open he convention
lg which. by the way, was the most ouie
of Is conducted of any ever seen in Dell
ID ware.
The convention was called 10 ord
er at 12 o'clock by County Chairman wi
til lard Salisbury, with r.. r. Cochra
as secretary. George @. Morton,
ed the Twelfth ward. was made temporal
of chairman and Charles b. Evans w'
in secretary. A motion TO limit the mel
bership of the committees on Perm
nent Organization and Credentials
five, was adopted.
The chair announced the foWoWil
ch Committee on Permanent Organic
n ton: Patrick Neary, George j. Medi