Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-30
THE STATE CONVENTION.

The Republican State convention me'
In the Harrisburg Opera House, last
Thursday, was in session for several
hours, and the results are an admirable
platform both on protection ano
money. the nomination oi
Galusha A. Grow and Samuel A. Daven-
port for Congressman at large
the selection of eight delegates
at large to the National Convention, one
of whom Gov Hastings is expected to
make the speech nominating Quay for
President at the st. Louis convention, al
% alternates at large, and list OF cleo
tors, one of whom is Mr.. Abrams OF
Butler.
Mr.. QUAY and his friends had arranged
everything the day and night before.
The convention met at 10 A. NJ. MIR.
Leach called it to order, H. K.
Boyer was temporary chairman, the COM
mittees were appointed, and the conven-
ton adjourned for dinner.
After dinner Messers Magee and Finn
made a fight for their delegates in the
9Th Legislative district of Allegheny Co.,
but were defeated as it was expected they
would be; the report of the Committee
In Permanent Organization named Audi
tor General Mylin for Permanent Chair
man. and he was elected and escorted to
the chair, and, like Boyer made speech
lauding Quay; and General Bingham read
he platform as adopted by the committee
on Platform.
As General Bingham finished, w. L..
Schaeffer, of Delaware, Immediately Of
fered the resolution providing for popu-
lar vote on the election of United States
Senators as a minority report OF the
Committee on Resolutions.
Mr.. Schaffer took the platform on be-
half of his resolutions and made a strong
speech of ten minutes in which he reiter-
ated the arguments presented in conf
mittee, but iu greater detail. He argued
Its adoption as the only available way in
which the people of the State could ex-
press directly their choice for Senator.
A. ]. Colburn, Jr., of Lackawanna,
spoke against the minority report. He
presented no arguments other than
those offered in the debate in committee,
but confined himself to an elaboration of
the declaration that it was an unwar-
rantab1e interference with the rights and
prerogatives of local Republican and dis
trict organizations.
General Harry Bingham made speech
against the report in a similar strain and
then vote was taken on which the yeas
and nays were called. One of the strik
ing features of this part of the proceeding
was the number of delegates who lodged
the vote. The result of the roll call was
ayes II, nays 1856.
The Philadelphia delegates voted solid
1y against the resolution, and SO did dele
gates from Chester, Dauphin. Lancaster,
Luzcrne, Montgomery, Northampton.
Northumberland, Schuylkill and York.
1t was at this point that the most ex-
citing events of the day transpired.
They began when Congressman John B..
Robinson rose in his place at the head
of the Delaware County delegation and
offered the resolution, which had been
defeated in committee, indorsing Hon.
William Mckinley, of Ohio, as Pennsyl-
vania's second choice as follows:-
Resolved, in the event of the retire
ment of the Pennsylvania candidate for
President indorsed this day, Hon. Mat
thew Stanley Quay, after all honorable
means have been exhausted to promote
his nomination, the delegates-at-large
from this State are hereby instructed to
vote for and support the candidacy of
that Napoleon of prosperity, Hon. Will
liam Mckinley, of Ohio"
In an instant political pandemonium
reigned. Wild cheering on the part of
the Mckinley men on the floor and in
the galleries was answered by cries of
"Quay, Quay" and boots and groans
from the friends of Senator Quay, Con-
gresham Robinson remained standing in
his place endeavoring to be heard still
further, while the turmoil, surged around
him on every side.
1t subsidized an instant, and then Sila.
W. Petit, of Philadelphia, who sat in the
front row nearest the stage, sprang to
his feet and moved that the resolution be
laid on the table. Just as quickly w. +.
Stewart, of Philadelphia, was on his feet
and moved that the motion to lay on the
table be in turn laid on the table.
II. K. Boyer. who had remained on the
stage as a parliamentary expert when
General Mylin became permanent chair
man, was urging the latter that the
Stewart motion was unparliamentary-
when the cheers of the Mckinley men
and the answering shouts and groans oi
the friends of Senator Quay began again
and drowned everything.
AT this point Congressman Robinson
again took the floor and endeavored to
be heard. He was recognized at last or
point of order Mr. Robinson's poin
Of order was made as follows:-
''It is a peculiar parliamentary pro
ceeding when the specially selected ant
great particular apostle of reform il
Philadelphia referring to Mr.. Petit
comes here and attempts to shut dowi
fair dssoussion-" here Mr.. Robinson
further remarks were drowned in ont
great burst of groans, cheers cat call:
and cries of Quay Quayr'
Every attempt on his part to proceed
was drowned by the turmoil until at las
he marched down the aisle with one lon
forefnger pointed at the president anC
his voice growing with suppressed excite
ment and anger he exclaimed
want you to know, Mr., President
that I have rights in this convention
which propose to maintain"
In the midst of the racket and noise ex
Speaker Boyer in low tone excitedl
urged Jere B. Rex to begin the roll call
He began, but between the incessar
pounding of the chairman's gayel, I'll
uproar in the convention and the yells {
"Quay, Quay" Mckinley, he's Ii
stuff" the attempt was vain.