The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-17
ST. LOUIS FIRST SESSION.
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION BE-
GINS ITS WORK.


10 Nominate Morton for Second
PIRce-A Gold Standard Plank In
the Platform Appears TO Be a Ger
tninty.
st. Louis, June 16.-The first days ses-
sion OF the national republican conven-
tion, which opened shortly after noon to-
day in the hall erected for that purpose by
the patriotic citizens of St. Louis, was un-
relieved by a single incident to lift the in
terror proceedings above the level of the
fiat and uninteresting monotony which
characterized the exterior of the building
There was an immense assemblage, a
great waving of fans in a torrid heat; an
hour or. so Of prepared oratory. the de-
liverance Of which failed TO reach more
than one-fifth of the vast auditorium; and
a prompt adjournment to await reports
of the committees on credentials and plat
form.
Other committees were, Of course, ap-
pointed, but these two were the only ones
upon which public interest centered.
The credentials committee early made
manifest a purpose TO pass most of the
night in a discussion Of the Delaware
and Texas cases, which were specifically
referred to their adjudication by the ma
the delegates-at-large had been exclud-
ed, the national committee being un-
willing to decide between the contending
factions. In the Delaware case, Senator
Thurston's open denunciation of Mr.. Ad-
dicks complicated matters. In the Texas
contest was involved the legitimacy of
the new lily white movement, which is
perpexing the republican organizations
Of 80
tee in setting apart three hours ana a
half tonight for the consideration Of
these cases is taken as an indication that
it will conhne its attention to matters
specifically referred to and let the other
contests stand as settled by the national
committee.
Prophesying is a risky profession in
connection with a great body which mas
already undergone so many lightning
changes as have come over the course
of this convention, but this seems TO
be the programme. Ihat is to say, 10
decide the Delaware and Texas cases
and the few disputed district cases IN
New York, California and some other
states which have been in terms referred
to the credentials committee by the ma
tional committee, and then by a sweep
ing omnibus resolution to adopt the tenn
porary roll.eall as the permanent one in
Such a plan, if adopted, will, of course,
elicit strong opposition from dissatisfied
have spokesmen on the floor of the con-
veuton, they will probably have to air
their grievances on the outside.
The platform committee conducted its
labOrs behind closed doors, and did not
perm. the privileged representatives of
the Southern Associated Press to listen
to jts deliberations, which, undoubtedly,
were vastly more interesting than any
thing said before the credentials COM
Aside from the work of these commit
tees the curious movement started to
force Levi p. Morton into the position Of
tail to the Mckinley kite before his name
has even been lat before the convention
for the higher office to which his state
has nominated him, engrosses attention.
The fac in this matter, carefully veri-
fled, seem 70 be about as follows Ger
tain New York republicans mot, however,
Mr.. PlatO have repeatedly visited Mr..
Hanna's headquarters to-day to solicit
that geiltleman's cooperation in bringing
about the nomination of Gov Morton.
Mr.. Hanna, in turn, questioned these
gentlemen as to their knowledge of Gov.
Morton intentions. He referred them to
the governors telegram to Mr.. Depew on
Saturday last, in which he stated with
out qualification that he would not take
the second place on the ticket.
In ihese circumstances Mr.. Hanna
these gentlemen had Dr believing
that Gov. Morton had so suddenly shifted
his position. To these inquiries an equal
ly frank reply was made They had no
assurances from GOV Morton that he
would accept, but they We're so satisfied
were given to him, that they felt no hest
fancy in securing his nomination, know
ing that he would not run counter to the
conventions wishes.
Mr.. Hanna thereupon informed his Wis
itors that he was taking no hand IN
the contest for the vice presidency. He
. was here, he said, to nominate Mr.. Nc
Kinley as President In this view OF the
case he did not think ii advisable to
embarrass his candidate $ chances by tax
ing part in the contest over the second
place. He did not hesitate to say, now
ever that so far as his individual pref
erence was concerned it inclined to Mr..
Hobart of New Jersey.
Ii was openly stated this evening that
Mr. Platt was in receipt of a dispatch
from Gov Morton, which says, in effect,
that so far as the vice presidency was
concerned, he was in the hends of his
friends, but in which he failed to declare
in SO many words what action he would
take If the convention should nominate
him Information reached the southern
Associated Press this evening that some
of Mr. Morton's friends, who have been
working up an interest in his behat to-
day, cabled Mrs. Morton, who Is in Eu-
rope, TO use her influence with the goyel-
nor to take the second place. her reply,
received at a late hour this afternoon,
contained an emphatic negative, the sub
stance of the dispatch being that she
wished him TO have the first place or none.
The New York Mckinley men, with
view to forestalling any faVorable 2ction
that the convention might take respecting
Mr.. Morton and the vice presidency, drew
up a paper this afternoon which was being
circulated tonight for signatures. 1t
does not mention Gov. Morton by name,
but protests against the factional quar- ar
rels of New York being carried into the
convention and condemns the unwisdom
of selecting the vice president from New
York.
But an apparent quietus was apparently
put upon all this gossip to-nlght by
Chauncey NJ. Depew, who, as Gov. Nor
tons sponsor, would have been placed IN
a most embarrassing position if he had
been called upon to waste his eloquent pc
riods in placing Mr.. Morton in nomination
for one high Office, while the governor 5
alleged friends were actively pushing him
for another office Of lesser dignity Mr.. De-
pew telegraphed Gov. Morton stating that
It had been asserted that he had rescinded
his telegram of declination and was now
wiling to accept second place and asking
him if this was so. To this Mr. Depew re-
ceived the following explicit reply:
"Rhineclife, n. Y, June 16.-Hon. Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew Southern hotel, St. Louis.
Telegram received. Stories circulated are
unfounded. Have rescinded nothing.
L. p. Morton
As a commentary upon this dispatch
Mr.. Depew repeated the remark ne made
to a reporter for the Southern Associated