The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-16
DAILY, SO A YEAR
CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEk 81 A 4EAS
FLoRIDA'S FRACTIONAL FIGHT.
STRIPPING TALKS or THE BOLT OBJ
THE GUNBYITEs.

Led by Eagnn Had Clean Cut
Majority of Both the UncOntested
aud Contested DeIegatiOns-The
Minority Report OF the Boilers Al
legged to Have Been written by an
Outside Lawyer Before the Conn
mittee Wet.
Jacksonville. Fla. March 15.-In view OF
the fact that an article published in tho
New York Advertiser from one f. J. Sey-
mour who visited Florida in the interest
OF Gov. Morton's candidacy. has created
some comment, "A representative of the
Southern Associated Press called on Hon.
J. N. Stripping. who is one Of the leaders
of the Mckinley forces here. and asked
him II the article had come TO his no.
tice.
Mr. Stripping has been n prominent and
conspicuous figure in Florida politics for
years. having served In both branches OF
the state legislature. was a candidate
for congress in the Second district in 1880.
and served four years as United States
attorney Of the Northern district Of Flor
ida under President Harrison. He is a
lawyer Of decided ability. has a large prac-
tice and has the confidence of his party
and the people generally. In response to
the reporters inquiry, Mr.. STRIPPING said;
MY attention was called TO the article re-
ferred TO for the first time this morning.
and for gross misrepresentation and alb
solute falsehoods i have not seen anything
that equalled it. The true history Of the
Tallahassee convention and the bolt led
by chandler and Gunby has not, so far.
as am aware, been correctly stated. The
facts are simple and few. The repubIf-
can state central committee on jan IS
last called state convention to meet at
"On the morning Of March the state
central committee convened I'm Tallahas-
see pursuant to its last adjournment for
the purpose Of passing upon the creden-
tals OF those who claimed "A right to par
ucipate In the temporary organization OF
the convention This was in accordance
with custom which has always prevailed
IN this state, and which / believe prevarfs
IN all other states. with the exception of
Iour or hVe, every member of the state
central committee, which consisted or
iofty-iour members, was present, includ-
ing Mr.; Chandler. Mr.. Gunby, Mr.. ChubD
and others, VINO We're the leaders of the
subsequent bolt and the absent mem-
befs were represented by proxy
The central committee, a majority OF
which was claimed by the Gunby fac
ton, agreed upon those who were en-
titled 70 participate In the temporary or
kanlzatlon unanimously there was not a
dissenting voice. Both factions went in
10 the convention cOnceding that those,
S mnose names appeared on the roll as pre-
pueu Dy the state central committee had
a right 70 seats In the convention
For temporary chairman Chandler was
nominated by the Gunby faction and Lee
by the Eagan faction. The seats OF both
candidates, as a matter of fact were
contested. Lee was elected by a vote OF
l5V 10 3d. Ihis vote tested the strength OF
the two factions in the convention and
Lee was then unanimously elected on mo-
ton OF Chandler. committee on creden-
tlals was then appointed from uncontested
counties. After fair and patient investi-
CATION, this committee sustained the ac-
tion OF the state central committee, a ma
" hi oh Il hatsr Fsaar
longed TO the Gunbyites According to
their claims there was not a dissenting
voice In the committee on credentials and
the report of the committee was agreed
TO by every member.
After this report was presented to the
convention, within a very few minutes
atter II mad been prepared, there was
read before the convention an elaborate
minority report signed by one member of
the committee on credentials, who had al
ready agreed 10 the majority report This
minority report was prepared outside by
lawyer who did not hear the evidence
before the committee had concluded it's
deiberations. II was openly charged in
the convention that the members of the
committee who permitted the use of his
name to this minority. report, did not
write. and had not read 1t before IL was
presented These charges were denied
The Morton faction moved the adoption
OF TINS FAKE minority report as a. whole,
which In every instance recommended
the seating of the Morton delegates. Our
friends moved as a substitute the adop-
tloH u tnt majority report Dy counties.
IT was understood that no delegation
would be allowed to vote upon its own
case.
when at last the convention was about
70 proceed to vote on the substitute the
Morton faction, headed by Gunby and
Chandler. walked out Of the convention
with seventy delegates. OF those who bolt
ed their seats ntty-One were uncOntested
OF those who remained in the seats sew
enty-nine were uncontested. Thus it will
be seen that in any aspect of the case the
Eagan or Mckinley faction had a clear
working majority.
Immediately after the departure of the
boilers, tho roll was called and $50 dele
gates answered to their names. The con-
vention then proceeded with it's BUSH
ness to a nal termination Messrs
Chandler and Gunby, with the boilers
went OF and held another convention.
THE difference between the Eaganftex
and the Gunbyites is that the former are
openly advocating the nomination of Maj.
Mckinney, while the latter are in favor
Of the man who may get the nomination.
The only man In that faction who has
committed himself Is Mr.. Gunby He
says he Is a Morton man. The others are
divided up between Reed, Quay Allison
Cullom and Mckinley, their idea being
that whoever may get the nomination.
they will have pull and be able to control
federal patronage.
This Gunby faction is composed largely
of a class of republicans who have here
tofore voted the democratic ticket on all
state elections and have then con1Dlained
not vote national ticket because their
votes would be counted out by the identi-
cal democrats for whom they voted to hold
state offices.
THAT these people do not represent the
true sentiment Of the republicans of Flor
ida or of any considerable element of the
party. is too patent to require any further
demonstration"