Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-17
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION Will Be Held in Chicago on July Z. WON BY A BARE MAJORITY Fear of Wall Street Influences Was Too Heavy
 Load for New York. ST. LOUIS MADE A DEAD GAME FIGHT Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, South Caro- lima and Texas Voted solidly for St.
 Louis From Start to
 Finish.
ST. LOUIS MADE A DEAD GAME FIGHT


 national convention will be held at Chi cago on July z. Such was the decision reached on the twenty-ninth ballot by the national committee today, after a spirited contest, in which Chicago won by bare majority, with St. Louis only two votes behind.
 It was practically fight between the free silver forces on the one hand and the hard money men on the other This state ment cannot be taken as literally correct for several silver men finally voted for Chicago, while other votes were cast for St. Louis by hard money men.
 The St. Louis vote might be called natural, as well as Chicago's, since. 1t came mainly from the southwest and the west. The free silver men, who were bitterly hostile to New York, made St. Louis their rallying point, and through out the entire twenty nine ballots they were loyal to the city of their choice. The splendid showing made by St. Louis sur prised the best posted politicians at the Arlington hotel, as 1t was believed last night and this morning that she could not rally to exceed 15 or IS votes; that she would then drop out of the race and that the fight would narrow down to Chicago and Cincinnati. That she did stay in the race and in the concluding ballots steadi- ly increased her strength shows how ad- mirably her force was disciplined. New YorlGs poor showing did not surprise any one who was familiar with the situation. It was not that the New York campaign was not cleverly managed, for her dele gation neglected no argument that could secure her the support of the committee. It was obvious yesterday afternoon that she could not win, but her representatives pluckily continued the fight in the face of certain defeat.
 It was thought that Cincinnati might be the second choice of a sufficient num- Der of members to secure the prize, but this hope was not realized. At no time during the day was Cincinnati serious competitor and at no time did she secure more than 12 votes. Chicago began with 6 votes, and it was not until the four teenth ballot that she increesed -tf1enT-tU 10. She remained practically at that fig- ure until the twentieth ballot when her strength was increased to 13. Again she stood practically still until the twenty seventh ballot, when her vote of 16 in the preceding ballot was increased to 20. At that time St. Louis, which had begun with 19 had 21 votes. New York had fallen to 8 and Cincinnati to G. It was then manifest that not only had the fight narrowed down to Chicago and St. Louis. but that Chicago's steadily increasing gains Indicated her ultimate victory. This came on the Twenty-ninth ballot, when her vote of 21 in the twenty-eighth ballot was increased by five, thus giving her bare majority and leaving St. Louis . a dangerous second with A, while Gin cinnati was reduced to 1. New York's four votes on this ballot went to Chicago, as did also the one of Cincinnati's.
 The states voting for Chicago on the final ballot were: Connecticut, Della ware. Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky. Maine Maryland. Massachu-
 
 New Hampshire, North Carolina, New York Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota. Tennessee, Yer mont West Virginia, Wisconsin, Alaska, District of Columbia.
 Cincinnati had the one vote of Calvin s. BTice of Ohio.
 St. Louis had thevotes of Alabama, Ar kansas, California. Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas. Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah. Virginia. Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and In- dian territory.
 After the different cities had been put in nomination this afternoon five ballots were taken with the doors closed. It was then apparent, as the changes were inn material, that the contest would be long drawn out, and recess until 8:30 o'clock was agreed upon. The intervening time was utilized by the different cities in an endeavor to effect combinations favor able to themselves. A number of informal conferences were speedily called, but they were in most cases barren of results. Senators Brice and German, for example, had a consultation in Cincinnati's head quarters. German favored New York and Brice, of course, was using his in- fiuence for Cincinnati. Each tried to win the other to the city of his choice without avail and this conference, like many
 
 that the St. Louis contingent were as solid as a rock and that no break could be made in their ranks. Some of the Cincinnati men showed a disposition to ga to Chicago when 1t was demonstrated tint Cincinnati could not win, and simi- of the eastern men, who were supporting New York. On the other hand, New York .could not secure an additional promise nor could Cincinnati. It was then realized that the forces of the two cities, last named would gradually dis integfate, and that St. Louis and Chicago would become the beneficiaries.
 nasty calculation showed that St. Louis. and Chicago would divide about equally on the vote, a circumstance which lent additional interest to the contest. That Chicago finally secured majority was due in part to personal considerations. Certain members of the comnittee were indifferent as to the loca- ton Of the convention. What they want ed particularly was a city where they could be most comfortable. The ques- ton they asked themselves was whether these conditions could be filled more gen. eraily in St. Louis or in Chicago. They decided that Chicago possessed superior advantages in the matter of hotels, and this undoubtedly influenced sufficient number to give the lake city tSe major ity.s It is also asserted that the strong support which the silver men gave to St. Louis created prejudice against that place among certain of the sound money men, who voted for Chicago not because they cared especially for the IT, linois metropolis. but they were deter