Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-16
THE FIGHT is ON
National Democratic Committee Try
ing to Settle 1t.
CHIChGGS CHANCES ARE THE BEST
Scenes and Incidents Previous to
the Final Settlement
B q SINESS TRANS CTED

B USINESS TRANS ACTED
morning had even a more decided Chicago
trge than ever, and II was easy to per-
ceive that the other western candidates
were rather down in the mouth, although
they made brave bluff at being cheerful.
New York, too, was not as confident as
heretofore, but pretended to be, with char
acterlsuc courage. 1t was said that the
Chicago contingent, which arrived yester-
day, was armed with authority to enter
into table stakes game for the conven-
ton against all the other cities and was
fortified with sufficient capital to raise any,
body else entirely out Of the pasture The
visitors were also equipped with the right
10 promise the committee full control Of
the convention. with sole power to appoint
all the various doorkeepers and other as
sistants, and to have absolute charge of
| the tickets of admission. As these consid-
eratons were the only ones which leading
committeeman desired to be satisfied upon
II was said that the selection of the windy
balloting began.
another declaration was made however
that the Chicago men had not been em-
powered to make any such sweeping bid
lor the convention, and had telegraphed
Tor instructions how to act IL was know n
that many OF the subscribers to the Chi
cago convention fund had put down their
names as part of a purely business propo-
| sltion, which embraced their donating n
certain sum and receiving in return a GER
tam number of tickets, which they propos-
ed to dispose of to the best advantage. 1t
was therefore represented that these men
would withdraw their promises IL their SUBJ
scrlptions were to mean the mere bringing
| OF the convention TO their city without per-
sonai Profit to themselves.
Before the committee met Chairman Har-
rlty was asked how the convention looked
1T looks like Chicago now" he said, but
don't think any one can make an intelli-
gent representation"
Big Democrats Poyv-WovSfne.
There was an animated crowd in the rooms
of the committee this morning previous to
the meeting downstairs Senator German
and Chairman Harrity had a long consulta-
ton, and while they were engaged Jimmy
Oliver Of Paradise Park, with his Inevitable
cigar and white tie. came briskly i'm and
| Introduced Perry Belmont to everybody in
the ante-room- Col Dick Bright was there
\ Hugh Wallace Of Washington, who has
hopes OF one day pulling his state into the
democratic column. Clark Howell of the
Atlanta Constitution, and who represents
Georgia on the committee, was warmly
greeted. and Senator Mills sat on a settee
and told how he had never attended but
one convention in his own state and that
was the one that nominated him for Com
gresham at large twenty-five years ago.
1t was learned that southern member
would present a resolution to change the
representation in the national convention,
so that for each democratic Senator and
Representative there should be two dele
gates and for each republican Senator and
Representative one; but it was said that the
proposition would not get more than ten
votes.
Tn An I,sss shn Ia
When the committee went into session
! everybody wished the strain would soon be
over except the "kunnels," and the ina
| jahs,'' and the "jedges," who have de-
| serted the downtown hotels for the past
three days and sought the open bars. which
serve as magnets in the various headquar-
| ters at the Arlington. The coming of the
committee has been a great occasion for
| this gentry. They wear their shiny beavers
with a rakish air again, and they carry out
the late Jay Gould's idea about Erie. That
famous financier was wont to remark that
when he was in Cattaraugus he was for
Cattaraugus; when he was in Putnam he
was for Putnam but he was for Erie first,
last and all the time. The fraternity of de-
cayed gentility and titles follow this sys-
TEN with a difference. When they are I'm
New York's room Gotham is the only place
half fit to hold a convention in; when they
cross the corridor and enter the headQuar-
tiers of the Missourians they expatiate upon
June and the superiority 1t possesses In
point of location, and the magnificent ac-
commodations. of the exposition building,
but they are for the buffet and the bottled
cheer 1t contains every minute of each
hour. Sometimes they climb upstairs and
sample the supply that Cincinnati keeps on
hand, but not often. New York and St.
Louis have their rooms and their buffets
on a dead level and in close iuxtaposition,
and steps are wearisome, anyhow.
The Ananias Club, which meets nightly
i'm the writing room Of the Arlington, how
ever will be glad when the crowd leaves.
There was so much noise and confusion
last night and the night before that the
club had to adjourn without settling the
Venezuelan question or giving more than
cursory consideration to the smashing OF
the gold syndicate, and the members are
consequently very much put out.
Vanity and It's Sequel.
The committee met at ii O'Clock sharp
and just as the call of states mad been con-
cluded announcement was made by Chair
man Harrity that a photographer desired
to take a picture Of the distinguished AS
semblage. There was an immediate relax
alton Of brows and softening of features.
A coat was buttoned here and tie ar
ranged there and the democratic national
committee made itself lcok as individually
prepossessing as possible, and smiled at the
mysterious orifice of the camera. The pho
tographer arranged everything TO his salts
faction and stepped back. There was a
binding glare and the next instant there
was a chorus Of sneezing and coughing as
a dense cloud OF smoke swept through the
apartment. Another photograph taken
when the vapor cleared would have de-
picted a mighty miserable looking set OF
men, and If some wise delegation had in
serted its buffet into the banqueting hall at
that moment its city would have won the
convention in a slow walk.
Transaction of business.
The business was then proceeded with in
accordance with the program published in
Yesterdays Star. The committee organized
with its regular officers, and the matter Of
appointing sergeant-at-arms for the ma
tional convention was referred TO the ex-
ecutive committee. AS Col Richard l.
Bright has declined to serve again in this
capacity, and has thrown his powerful in
fluence I'm favor of Mr.. Bernard w. Layton,
il may be considered as already settled
that Mr.. Layton will be selected, but ii
VIII be some time yet before definite action
is taken. The committee appointed 10 con-
slider the Collins resolution, which provided
for the holding of the next convention with
closed doors, reported adversely upon IL,
and the report was adopted.