The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-30
BOSS BUCKS HARD BATTLE.
HE HAD To GIVE PLEDGER ONE OF
THE FOUR DELEGATES.

Prof. WriEht of Savannah Thrown
over in Favor of PIedger's Law
Partner-Wright's Friends Hold a
Meeting and select n COntestIng
Delegation 40 Go to -. Louis-The
Convention In Wild Disorder
From start TO Finish.
Atlanta. Ca. April 9.-Prof. r. r.
Wright Of Savannah was the snag upon
which the republican state convention
came TO grief to-day.
on account of Juggling between Boss
Buck and Col. Bill Pledger, leaders OF the
Mckinley ami anti-AcKinley forces, re-
spectively. by which Wright was erased
from the slate of delegates-at-large 90
the national convention. there was split
in the ranks and TWO delegations will CON
sequently be sent to 81. Louis.
While Prof Wright got the marble
heart" in the deal between Buck and
Pledger. he and his supporters from Chat
ham county viii undoubtedly have a good
chance TO play for even when it comes 10
getting recognition at the hahds OF the
St Louis convention.
Col Buck, 10 paraphrase a familiar eX-
preston. out-bucked himself. He counted
of Mckinley delegates by five to one, do
ing as he dictated in the smallest detail,
hut there was rebellion rampant in the
air. and for once the easy bass" when
IL was too late to get back the line again.
found that he could not run the whole
band wagon.
Prof Wright Of Savannah was slated
at the caucus last night, and in fact, had
been accorded all along place on the
ticket as delegate-at-large. He is good
McKinleyite, and his side being largely
in the majority, 1t was fully expected that
a solid delegation would be passed up to-
uay for the ONO man. ,--
Col Buck and Col Bill Pledger, however,
got together this morning before the mee L
Ing Of the convention ana rearfahseu mat
tiers TO suit themselves. 49,. 1,....
Fledger, as the agent for the Platt-Quay-
Clarkson combination in Georgia, mas
besn yyaging A bitter warfare on Boss
Buck and Mckinley. lie nad pIOush
m TO the convention contestng delesa-
lions from many OF the couhtles Oh -, aI i
state, and threatened TO hold a separate
convention to-day unless some concession
was made TO his side. -
So when he ana Boss BUCK sOl 10
gether this morning, although the Nc
kinley delegates were host 70 manu-
ful of the opposition, Prof. Wrlgnt OF ga
vannah, Mckinleyite, was traded OH Ior
l. c. johnson of Atlanta, Johnson being
Pledger's law partner, and for any one
except the Ohio man.
In consideration of this deal, Pledger
withdrew his threats of a contestlng del-
egauon, and figureatively speaking, ne
and Boss Buck went smiling 10 the CON
Vention hall together, arm IN arm. Iney
said nothing about the trade 70 their Ioi-
lowers, however, until II developed IN the
proceedings, when 1t brought down such
a storm of holwing protest from the uh-
compromising Mckinney brethren anu
followers of Prof. Wright, that Buck ana
Pledger were both swept on the Doh
seat, while the convention was reorgan-
lied, and a new ticket elected.
The convention started on with sem
sation that threatened to cause a riot.
Not placing the most implicit confidence
in Pledger, though he had bargained with
him for harmony Boss Buck, in order 10
assure the control of the Mckinley dele
gates, had on the quiet issued tickets or
admission to the floor to mis- tOllQWers,
and when the crowd began TO gather az
the capitol this morning they found the
entrance to the hall locked and well guard
ed by Col. Buck and a squad OF his heneh-
men. Those who held his tickets of ac-
mission, and there were none but Mckin-
leyites among them, were allowed TO
pass, but those who did not, and these
were the followers of Pledger. who were
on hand TO contest for seats, were turned
away. Col. Buck was not able TO hold the
entrance for a great while, however,
though he fought hard. The Reed crowd
soon caught on the scheme, and mass
ing themselves made rush for the en-
trance that carried the easy boss" and
his body guards off their feet.
After this IL was a free-for-all fight to
get into the hall, and by the time Col.
Buck called the convention to order, an
hour behind time, the patriots of the
grand old party were packed on every
inch of floor space and hanging on two
deep around the walls and windows.
Col Buck showed his fine Italian hand
at the first deal. He announced that the
state committee had passed upon the Gre
dentials of the delegates and prepared the
roll, thus relieving the convention of this
arduous task. There was some murmur-
ing, but the great majority of the con-
Vention did not know that the state COM
mite had no business to settle the con-
tests for them, and ii went.
Then the uproar began. Nothing ap-
preaching it was ever before seen, even
at a gathering of the patriots of the grand
old party of Georgia. For two hours a
locomotive whistle could hardly have been
heard above the din. Delegates climbed
over the heads of each other, and a dozen
at a time mounted the topmost hight Of
the speakers desk trying to make them
selves heard, while others who wanted
10 get up, kept pulling them down by
the legs and by the tails of Their coats.
The signal for the outbreak was when
Bin Pledger placed Col. Buck in nominal
ton for chairman of the convention. Prof
Wright of Savannah, who was still ignor-
ant that he had been sold out, managed to
get in a second to the nomination before
the cyclone was fully developed. Pledger