The record-union., 1896-06-08
Filley the Leader De Facto of the
Missouri Republicans.
He Says Courtesy and Fairness to
Delegates Demands That Mckinley
Should Not be Nominated on the
First Ballot, But All Should be
Allowed to Record Their Prefer
enceS Before His Nomination is
Declared Unanimous.

ST. LOUIS, June by common con-
| sent the advance guards of the several
| Presidential booms made this a day of
| rest from the arduous tasks imposed by
politics. At the hotels these gentlemen
were "out" to all callers. Hon.
| Chauncey l. F'iley took a party through
| the show part of the city and eventually
| brought them up at the Mosque" as
his Beaumont street residence is known.
If there have been doubts as to the
| leader de facto of Missouri Republicans
| it has been dispelled by the demands fore
| counsel and advice made upon Mr.. Fill
| ley by the prominent Republicans al
ready here. When the claims were made
yesterday by Major McKinley's friends
| that their candidate would be nomi-
mated by acclamation on the first ballot,
Mr.. Fflley promptly objected.
1T is not good politics. said he, "for
| Mckinley to be nominated on the first
| ballot. There is reason for it. No club
should be used. No forcing is needed A
| free. fair fight is the thing. We don't
want any bad blood left. To rule out
every other candidate would be a dis
courteous act, which no friend of Nc
| kinley should countenance. Perhaps
an informal ballot should be provided
| for first, to be followed by formal ball
| lot later. But certainly the roll must
be called through to the end. There will
| be delegates here to discharge their in
| structions for other candidates. 1t
would neither be courtesy nor right to
do anything which would prevent every
delegate from having his vote recorded
and announced by the Chairman before
McKinley's nomination is made unani-
nous"
Mr.. Filley also took occasion to talk
about Mr.. Platt and insisted that the
New York leader would only make an
honorable fight in opposition to McKin-
ley. Apropos of Mr.. F'illey's leadership,
it win be recalled that he defeated the
aspirations of Hon. r. c. Kerens, Mis-
souri's National Committeeman, and
* s'ong -ressman Nathan Frank, to con-
troll the State Convention. Last evening
these two gentlemen left this city to-
gether for Canton, 0. A telegram from
Major Mckinley was the cause of this
trip-a telegram asking Mr.. Kerens to
come for conference. Messrs. Kerens
and Frank arrived in Canton at .
O'Clock this afternoon. They will re-
main until 8 p. m, returning to st.
Louis via Chicago.
(
hint of the object of the conference Just
at this stage of the campaign. but it
prompted much speculation among
those who understand the bitterness of
the local struggle.
Among the arrivals this evening was
| w B. Galtree of Columbus. Ohio who
will decorate the Mckinley headouar-
ters at the Southern Hotel and super
! intend fhp diStrib11tioy Of bod-o-
| ographs and literature. Tomorrow
there will be distributed in this CITY
| 10000 Autographs of Mckinley. and a.
badge will be given out, being a red
ribbon bearing McKinley's picture and
| the words, Patriotism, Protection and
Progress. Our Nations Choice"
The gavel which will be used in call
ing the convention to order was made
| from a piece of the timer in
the building in which Mis-
souri's ordinance of secession was
passed. The gavel is now in the hands,
OF Lee D. Bell of Neosho, Mo. On the
26th Of May he wrote to Chairman
Carter, rendering him the use of the
gavel on opening the convention. Mr..
Carter answered promptly accepting
| the offer. The gavel is the work of
James Moore, an ex-Confederate SOL
der and Republican.
The matter of accommodating the
negro delegates at the hotels has be-
gun to assume troublesome impor-
tance. There are sixty-six of these. in
Guiding contestants. The Business
Mems League, desiring to carry out
every promise made in securing the
convention, felt called upon last night
to issue a general circular, from which
the following is taken: 1--WE ask that
all public places of entertainment ho-
tels clearinghouse and barrooms, at
least for convention week. accord to the
reputable colored men who will come
here representing their section and
their people in the Republican party
such treatment as any reputable and
| respectable person would receive. 1t
is not believed that a great many
would want to accept the privilege, but
it will be very humiliating if one of
them, with their colleagues and friends
or alone, should present himself in any
public place and be refused admittance
or service. 1t is hoped that all will en-
deavor to meet the situation as Justice
and propriety requires
A number of enterprising local ne
groes have rented the old Calumet
Club on Locust and Thirteenth streets
and fitted it up to entertain the col
ored delegates.