St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-19
RIOT AND DISORDER AT THE RE-
PUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL
CONVENTIONS.
100 POLICEMEN ON HAND.
GATES FROM THE MEETING
PLACE.
CONFUSION REIGNED SUPREME.
st. Louis Convention VIII He Called
Upon TO Decide Who Was Really
Elected.


congressional districts of this city, with
licans held conventions today for the
purpose of selecting delegates and al
ternates to the st. Louis convention.
Turbulence and confusion were the
chief characteristics in the Twelfth and
Fifteenth districts. In the Murray Hill
Lyceum, where the Twelfth district
convention was held, it frequently
looked as if only the presence of a
squad of policemen prevented a scene
of personal encounter between the op-
posing factions favoring Morton and
Mckinley. In spite Of the claims of
Cornelius n. Bliss and Col. Cruger, the
anti-machine banner bearers, they were
defeated, but only after a stubborn
fight Even then they would not ac-
cept defeat, and under the leadership
of George Bliss their cohorts got to-
gether and held an opposition conven-
tion and elected their own delegates.
In consequence of this action, there
will be a contest before the national
body.
The trouble began when James L.
Stewart called the convention to Or
temporary chairman. George Bliss was
on his feet in an instant, nominating
Charles Peabody in opposition. With
out paying the least attention to Mr..
Bliss, Stewart put the question, and
Hoag was declared elected. For ten
minutes thereafter confusion reigned
supreme. Mr.. Bliss denounced Stew
arts procedure In unmeasured terms
but only those Immediately around him
could hear a word he said. He finally
retired to the balcony above the main
hall and he was followed, it seemed
by at least half OF those in the con-
vention. Then he returned alone to
the main hall. The roll call was then
proceeded with amidst more or less
hooting, cheering and cat-cailing, but
it was finally completed. A commit
tee on credentials was then appointed,
and the chairman was directed to cast
one vote for Howard Carroll and Thur
low Reed Barnes, delegates.
The opposition held it's election in the
gallery, with the following result made
known by George Bliss: Delegates:
Cornelius n. Bliss and Col. S. H. r.
Cruger. Mr.. Bliss said later: 1--WE
shall certainly make a contest at the
nauonal convention.
A scene Of riot and disorder marked
the opening Of the Fifteenth district
convention at Renwick hall. Over 1000
excited men cheered, hooted and yelled
at each other, while Police Inspector
Cartwright Capt. Dean, four sergeants
and one hundred patrolnen Vainly en-
deaVored to restore order. The fight
was between the Plat and Brookfield
factions. The candidates for national
delegates on the Platt side were Joseph
Murray and David Friedsall. The
Brookfield faction had for candidates
Gen. c. H. Coils and Robert j. Wright.
All the delegates known to be friend
~ to the Coils and Wright ticket were
asked to be on hand in the hall at 5
o'clock. The Platt delegates did not
begin to arrive until after o'clock, and
they were obliged to show their Gre
dentials al the entrance down stairs.
At o'clock W. r. Spooner jumped
on chair and nominated E. S. Clinch
as temporary chairman. Spooner is a
Brookfield man, and the Platt men at
once set up a howl. Inspector Cart
wright ordered the crowd back, but it
was no use. Mr.. Clinch seized gavel
and was pounding for order. Otto Wise
shouted that the proceedings were ir-
regular and that Mr.. Clinch had no
right to preside as Temporary chairman.
The proper person to call the conven-
ton to order was Isaac H. Newman.
Inspector Cartwright cleared passage
and Mr.. Newman ascended the plat
form. He called upon James Degnan
to act as temporary chairman. Mr..
Degnan had a hard fight to reach the
platform, but he finally managed to get
there with the assistance Of the police.
Degnan had gavel, and the two tenn
pcrary chairmen banged away for dear
life. Several times Inspector Cart
wright threatened to clear the hail. and
at one time he was about to send out
cali for 100 more policemen. Mr.. Muir
ply, for the Broelfield end Of the meet
ing, made pretense Of calling the
roll. and Degnan for the Platt faction
did the same thing. Frank Raymond
was chosen chairman Of the committee
on credentials for the Brookheld people,
and John McConaughy was selected
chairman by the Platt side. The racket
increased when both sides made their
temporary officers permanent.
Frank Raymond moved that the roll
be called. The Plattites had their bal
lot box. and Chairman Degnan an
nounced that they would vote by bal
lot. Out of the 594 delegates the Platt
faction claim that the opposition tick
ct would be elected by two-thirds
vote of the entire delegation. It Is not
likely that the vote will be known until
tomorrow. The delegates were still
voting at midnight.
Gen. Coils and Commissioner Wright
are in favor of Levi p. Morton and will
be at the convention, but should his
name be Withdrawn they will go for
the Hon. William Mckinley.
There was also a split in the Thlr-
teenth district, two sets Of delegates
being elected. Morton delegates were
elected in all other districts. In the
Thirteenth district, the Platt faction
elected John Weber and Alexander Ma
son as delegates and the Brookfield
people elected Anson G. McCook and
William BroolxfiHld