The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-15

testants, taking the position that the dis
reimbursement of 90 per cent OF tn 10
South Carolina Republicans depended
upon the action Of the committee. The
state, he said, was enthusiastic for pro-
lection and while this contest was not
one of Presidential preference yet favor
able decision for his side would bring
thu state into line with Republican Ken
lucky. Ex-Congressman Thompson Of
Ohio, general counsel for all the Contes-
tants OF Mckinley preferences, submitted
the facts in the case of the opposing dele
CATION which include Robert Smalls, the
well-known oolored leader, and Eugene
Webster, for years at the head OF the
dominant Republican faction in the
state. In his own behalf. Robert Smalls
made bitter attack upon his opponents.
The Lilly Whites, he stated, had no stand
ing in the state; they had no excuse for
existing ana they were entitled to neith
er the recognition nor the respect of the
republicans OF the nation. In the city of
Charleston, where Col. Melton had said
2500 white men will be ready to join the
Lily White party, the facts were, Mr..
Smalls said, that perhaps that number
or mon or more were willing to Join not
so much the Republican party as any
party that would help them down" Till
man and his dispensary law, and
GIVE THEM FREE RUM
in their cities and homes.
National Committeeman &c. NJ Bray
ton, also one of the contestants spoke
in his dual capacity. He was repeatedly
Interrupted by Senator Thurston, who
at one point asked whether the Lilly
Whites had not adopted the 'club" or
black and white club System.
Col. Brayton replied in the affirma-
tive and Senator Thurston rejoined that
Hneisher the Republican party nor the
Republican convention would ever tole-
rate system of organization that did
not permit every man to take part in all
the preliminary proceedings"
what about the League of Republi-
can clubs of which you have been presi-
dent?" retorted Col. Brayton.
50 haE's another matter" replied the
Senator. and laugh went around the
room.
The rival delegations having with
drawn, Mr.. Long of Florida promptly
moved the seating OF the Webster Smalls
delegation.
Col. Settle, proxy for Mr.. Cowle of
North Carolina, proposed as substitute
the senting OF the Brayton Melton quar-
tette. The roll was called amid oonsid-
cradle excitement. 1t resulted in the re-
jeotlon of the substitute to q. This
was the first blood for the
ANTI-LILY WHITES,
but when the motion to seat the Webster
Smalls delegates was about to be put.
Mr.. Fessenden of Connecticut moved
that the Delaware precedent be followed
and that both sides be excluded from
the temporary roll. Delegate Catron of
New Mexico moved that each delegation
be seated with half vote each. The
proposition to seat both delegations was
defeated, 16 to 80. The question then re-
Cured Oh Mr.. Fessenden's motion to ex-
clude both delegations and refer the issue
to the national convention.
Another roll call was demanded. Again
the Lilly Whites encountered defeat, IA
to "a. The minority gave up the fight
and the Webster Smalls delegation was
seated on viva voce vote, with about
10 nays. This vote takes out of the con-
yention total of 16 delegates who are
noted in Hanna's hand book of contes-
tants as having Heed preferences.
AT lao p. m. recess was taken.
, The selection of tho temporary officers
of the convention had been the special
order for Q p. M, but it was considerably
after that time before the committee got
together again. They then got down to
business Immediately. The committee
laid on the table request from ex-Secre-
tary Thompson of Indiana. asking
postponement of action on the temporary
craftsmanship until his arrival this eve
ming.
On motion of Mr.. DeYoung of Califor-
mia. seconded by Mr.. Kerens of Missouri,
Mr.. Fairbanks Of Indianapolis was
unanimously selected as temporary chair
man OF the national Republican conven-
ton.
Col. G. w. johnson of Minnesota, who
was secretary of the national convention
of 1882 at Minneapolis, was unanimously
chosen secretary of this convention. w.
g. Riley of Kentucky was made first rs
1fc I'll rf
Washington, second assistant secretary,
and A. B. Humphrey of New York.
secretary of the Republican league, third
assistant secretary For chaplain. Rabbi
Samuel Sale of St. Louis was unani-
mously selected. The following were
j. H. Stone. Washington; E. H. Wilson,
Missouri; John r. Malloy, Columbus,
Ohio; r. S. Hatcher, Indiana; ]. R.
Benson, New York Tho selection O.
officers being complete the committee
resumed consideration of the contested
cases. All the Webster or regular Re-
publican delegates from the several dis
triots in South Carolina were seated. All
were for Mckinley.
THE TEXAS CONTESTS
were next taken up and o number of
white and negro Republicans from that
state were ushered into the room. AS
outlined by Chairman Carter, the con-
test was three oornered one, there be-
ing three delegations at large of four
members each claiming recognition to-
gether with contests in each of the
twelve congressional districts, several
having two sets of contestants. OF the
rival delegations at large, one headed
by John Grant, was instructed for Me-
Kinley. The second, headed by Nelson
Quincy, colored, is devided between ALI
son and Reed, and the third, headed by
H. Il. McGregor, had it's preferences Civ
en- as two for Allison, one for Reed and
one for Mckinley. McGregor, whose
party was previously known as the
Regulars, the 'Reformers' and Lilly
Whites opened the debate. John Grant,
state chairman of what he also claimed
to be the regular organizationn ohsract-
erized the MoGregorites as political band
its and their party as myth. There
was buzz of surprise when Col. Grant
declared that the charges of fraud and
corruption against the Texas delegation
to the Minneapolis convention of 1899
were part of his case and that the facts
would be found in atfidavits which he
threw OH the chairman's table. No ques-