Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-17
FUSION WITH POPULISTS
The Pennsylvania Democratic State
Convention ReConYened Thursday.
NEW DELEGATES ARE SLY MEN
Much Opposition to the Pops
Proposition.

Harrisburg, Pa, Sept 10. - The
nemocratic State convention, recon.
voned for tho purpose OF filling va.
cancies on the electoral ticket created
by the withdrawal after the Chicago
convention of about ono third OF thu
electors selected at the Allentown con.
vention April goth, mot in the Opera
House shortly after noon to-day.
At 10. 80 o'clock this morning tho
executive committee Of the State Cen.
trail Committee met and decided to T.
recommend that formal platform be
adopted. The preparation of this was
entrusted to a committee headed by OK. l.
Congressman James Kerr and Howard
Mutchler.
Next the full State Committee met
and discussed the proposition of
fusion with the Populists. The Popu.
lists agreed to support Bryan If they
were given four OF the 80 names on ths
electoral ticket. This was vigorously
opposed by the members of the com. /
mittee from Philadelphia and other
eastern counties on the ground that it
would be unwise to nominate anything
but a straigbtout Democratic ticket
A majority of the committee favored
fusion, but there was M formal action
up to - o'clock, when an adjournment
was taken to allow further conference
with the sub committee OF the Populist
State Committee.
The leaders of the gold element, in.
Guiding ex-State Chairman Robert Z.
Wright. who resigned because he could
not support Bryan; State Chairman
Given OF the Gold Democrats; Colec.
| tor Of the Port John r. Read Of Phila.
| delphia, and Samuel Dickson, also OF
Philadelphia, who was a leading dele.
gate to the indianapolis convention,
met and got into shape their protest
against what they declared TO be tho
revolutionary proceedings of the Silver
| ties. This was entrusted to Robert E,
James of Northampton for presentation
to the convention.
| At II. 80 o'clock the assemblage was
called TO order. Secretary Matt Savage
read the call for the convention. Rel
erence to the Chicago convention was
greeted with cheers. Cant. John B.
Keenan, of Westmoreand. who had been
agreed upon as temporary and perma.
nent chairman, assumed charge of the /
| gavel and the proceedings began. He
made brief speech. during which be
was frequently cheered. The roll Of
delegates was next called Not more
than one-third OF the delegates to the
AllentownC Convention answe redst their
names, the substitutiuns in nearly
every instance being Silver inen.
When Lancaster county was reached
W. Hayes Grier of THAI county chal. |
lenged the right of William b. Given
to name u substitute, saying: BE j.
chairman OF tho State Committee OF
the so-called Jeffersonian Herr Most
Bankers Party. He is here, but has
not the courage to appear as delegate,
and names in his place printer from
his newspaper shop named Guy w
because he is ordered to be one. Ian
caster also cont tests the seat of Dr. ".
b. Thome, who was delegate to the
indianapolis convention. Surely there
is no room here for man who partici.
pated in that convention. Wild
cheering greeted Mr.. Grier's speech
and the chairman announced that the
matter would be decided by the com
mittee on contested seats.
Committees on resolutions and Gre
dentials were announced and the con-
vention at 2. 10 p. III. took recess un'
til 3 o'clock.
FIX Congressman Sowden Of Allen.
town will offer and advocate the
adoption a resolution declaring the
position of National Committeeman
from Pennsylvania vacant. This reso'
luton will be vigorously fought by the
friends of william F. Harrity, but it
is believed that James Kerr. who is
urging the resolution, has enough
votes to secure it's adoption. In the
event of the unseatipg of Mr.. Harrity
it ia understood that National Chair
man Jones will temporarily namo MI
Kerr as tho successor of the former
national chairman.
1t has been agreed to select Matt
Savage of Clearfiold and Dewitt G.
Dewitt OF Bradford az the candidates
for Congressman at largo. Tho Popu'
lists will DO given four Of tho electors
The Democratic State Convention at
Harrisburg Thursday accomplished
fusion with the Populists on Presiden'
tal electors and congressman at large
and endorsed the Chicago platform
and ticket A motion calling for the
resignation of National Committeeman
Hsrrity was defeated by vote Of III
! to III.
D |