The record-union., 1896-01-17
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Chicago Won 1t After an Unusually
Stubborn Fight.
But Plucky st. Louis Held Her Own
Up to the 29th Ballot.
For While the Struggle Was Be-
tween the Free Silver and Hard
Money Advocates, the Former
Favoring st. Louis-New York and
Cincinnati Stayed in the Fight, but
Neither Had Any show to Win.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The Demo
cratic National Convention will be held
at Chicago on July 7th.
Such was the decision reached on the
twenty ninth ballot by the National
Committee tonight, after spirited
contest, in which Chicago won by
bare majority, with st. Louis only two
votes behind.
1t was practically fight between the
free silver forces on one hand, and the
sound money men on the other. This
statement cannot be taken as literally
correct, for several silver men finally
voted for Chicago, while several other
votes were cast for St. Louis by sound
money men. AS a matter of fact, the
vote which Chicago received was, as
Mr. Smalley of Vermont expressed it,,
"a natural one," inasmuch as it was
cast by the States lying within the
group known as the Middle, West and
East ST. Louis vote might also be
called equally central, since it came
rtainly from the Southwest and the
West.
The free silver men, who were bitterly
hostile to New York, made st. Louis
their rallying point, and throughout the
entire twenty-nine ballots they were
loyal to the city of their choice.
The splendid showing made by ST.
Louis surprised the best posted poll
ticians at the Arlington Hotel, as it was
believed last night and this morning
that she could not rally to exceed fifteen
or eighteen votes, and that the fight
would narrow down to Chicago and Gin
cinnati That she did stay in the race,
and in the concluding ballots steadily
increased her strength, shows how ad-
mirably her forces were disciplined
New York's poor showing did not sur
prise anyone familiar with the situa-
tion 1t was not that New York's cam
paign was not cleverly managed, for
her delegation neglected no argument
that could secure her the support of the
committee. 1t was obvious yesterday
that she could not win, but her repre-
sentatives pluckily continued the fight
in the face of certain defeat.
1t was thought that Cincinnati might
be the second choice of a sufficient num-
ber 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 Sc
/
| began with six votes, and it was not un-
til the fourteenth ballot that she in
creased them to ten. She remained
practically at that figure until the nine
teenth ballot, when her strength was in
creased to thirteen.
Again she stood practically still until
| the twenty seventh ballot, when her
vote of 16 in the preceding ballot was
| T
which had begun with 10, had q votes,
New York had fallen to 3, and Cincin-
natl to 6. 1t was manifest that the fight
had not only narrowed down to Chi
| cago and st. Louis, but that Chicago's
gains indicated her ultimate victory.
| This came on the twenty ninth bal
blot, when her vote of 21 in the twenty
Feighth ballot was increased by 5, thus
| giving her a, bare majority, and leaving
| st. Louis a dangerous second with "a,
while Cincinnati was reduced to /. New
| York's four votes on this ballot went to
| Chicago, as did also one Of Cincinnatfs.
! AS the different cities had been put in
nomination five ballots were taken with
closed doors. 1t was then apparent, as
the changes were immaterial, that the
contest would be long drawn out, and a
/
upon. The intervening time was util-
| ized by the different cities in an en-
! deavor to effect combinations favorable
| 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 Cincinnatfs headquar-
/ far
Rrice. of course, used his influence for
/ Cincinnati Each tried to win the other
to the city of his choice, but without
avail, and this conference, like many
others. came to naught 1t was found
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
disposition to go to Chicago when it
was demonstrated that Cincinnati
could not win, and a similar sentiment
was expressed by some of the Eastern
men whe Were supporting New York.
On the other hand, New York could not
secure additional promise nor could Gin
cinnati.
1t was then realized that the forces of
the last two cities named would grad
ualiy disintegrate, and Chicago and
| ST. Louis become the beneficiaries. A
hasty consultation showed that st.
/ .oliis and Chicago would divide about
| evenly on the vote, a circumstance
which lent additional interest to the
contest That Chicago finally secured
a majority, was due in part to personal
considerations.
Certain members were Indifferent to
the location of the convention. What
they " anted in particular was city
where they could be made comfortable.
The question they asked themselves wa
whether these conditions could be found
/ in st. Louis or in Chicago more gener-
ally. They decided that Chicago pos
sessed superior advantages in the mat
| ter of hotels, and this undoubtedly in
! fluerced a sufficient number to give the
Lake City the majority.
1t was not until nearly II o'clock, that
| the final ballot was taken. Some OF
| the New York men at once packed their
grips and returned home on the mid
night train. A majority Of the conven-
| ton visitors viii leave tomorrow and
| all of the number will doubtless take
their departure Saturday.
THE SPEECHES.
At 8 o'clock the banquet-room of the
! Arlington Hotel was thrown open to
all who had cards of admission, and the
place was filled. At $3.50 o'clock Chair
man Harrity raped for order and di-
rected the roll of the States to be called,