The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-17
CHICAGO Gets THE Prize
National Democratic Convention Will
BE Held in That City.
TNENTY-NINE BALLOTS TAKEN
New York Is DOwned by the Free Silver
Forces-St. Louis the Rail ying
Point for White Metal
Enthusiasts.

Forces-St. Louis the Rallying
Point for White Metal
Enthusiasts.
Washington, Jan. l6.-The Demo-
cratic national convention will be held
at Chicago on July Z. Such was the
decision reached on the twenty-ninth
ballot by the national committee this
evening, after spirited contest in
which Chicago won by bare majority
with ST. Louis only two votes behind.
1t was practically a fight between the
free silver forces on the one hand and
the sound money men on the
other. This statement cannot he
taken as literally correct for
several silver men finally voted
for Chicago, while several other votes
were cast for st. Louis by sound money
men. As a matter Of fact. the vote
which Chicago received was. as Mr.
Smalley. of Vermont. expressed it, "a
natural one" inasmuch as 1t was cast
by the states lying within the group
known as the middle west and the east
st. Louis vote might be called equally
natural since it came mainly from the
south and the west. The free silver men
who were bitterly hostile to New York
made st. Louis the rallying point and
throughout the entire twenty mine bal
lots they We're loyal to the city Of their
choice. The splendid showing made by
st. Louis surprised the best posted
politicians at the Arlington hotel, as IL
was believed last night and this morn
ing that she could not exceed Is or IS
votes; that she would then drop out of
the race and that the fight would mar
row down to Chicago and Cincinnati.
Al .,t tn, ha nd In,
the concluding ballots steadily in
creased her strength shows how ad-
mirably her forces were disciplined.
piucky New YOrkors.
New Yorks poor showing did not
surprise any one who was familiar with
the situation. 1t was not that New
York's campaign was not cleverly man
aged, for her delegation neglected no
argument that could secure her the sup
port of the committees. 1t was obvious
yesterday afternoon that she could not
win, but her representatives pluckily
continued the fight i'm the face of GER
tain defeat 1t was thought that Gin
cinnati might be the second choice of a
sufficient number of members to secure
the prize but this hope was not real
ized. At no time during the day was
Cincinnati serious competitor and
at no time did she secure more than II
votes. Chicago began with 6 votes and
it was not until the fourteenth ballot
that she increased them to 10. She re-
mained practically at that figure until
the twentieth ballot, when her strength
was increased to 49,. Again she stood
practically still until the twenty-sev
enth ballot when her vote of 16 In the
preceding ballot was increased to 20.
At that time st. Louis which had begun
xt.itl ~ ad
fallen to 8 and Cincinnati to 6. 1t was
then manifested that not only had the
fight narrowed down to Chicago and st.
Louis, but that Chicago's steadily in
creasing gains indicated her ultimate
victory This came on the twenty
ninth ballot when her vote OF q In the
| twenty-eighth ballot was increased by
! five. thus giving her a bare majority,
and leaving st. Louis a dangerous sec
ond with "a, while Cincinnati was re-
duced to one. New York's four votes
on this ballot went to Chicago, as did
also one of Cincinnati's.
First Ballots Taken.
After the different cities had been
put In nomination this afternoon. five
ballots were taken with closed DOORS
1t was then apparent, as the changes
! We're immaterial, that the contest
would be long drawn out, and a recess
until $50 o'clock was agreed upon. The
| intervening time was utilized by the
different cities in an endeavor to effect
combinations favorable to themselves
| A number of informal conferences were
speedily called. but they were In most
cases barren of results. Senators Brice
and German, for example. had a con-
sultation in Cincinnati's headquarters.
| German favored New York and Brice
| rf inf
Cincinnati. Each tried to win the 9TH
er to the city of his choice without
avail. and this conference. like many
Others came to naught. 1t was found
that the st. Louis contingent were as
solid as rock. and that no break could
be made in their ranks. Some Of the
Cincinnati men showed disposition to
go to Chicago when 1t was demonstrate
ed that Cincinnati could not win and
similar sentiments were expressed by
some Of the eastern men who were sup.
porting New York. On the other hand
New York could not secure an addition
al promise nor could Cincinnati. II
was then realized that the forces Of the
two cities last named would gradually
disintegrate and that st. Louis anG
Chicago would become the beneficaries
A hasty caluculatiOn showed that st
Louis and Chicago would divide about
evenly on the vote, circumstance
which lent additional interest to the
contest.
Personal Considerations.
That Chicago finally secured major.
ity was due in part to personal con
sidorations. Certain members of the
committee were Indifferent as to the 10
cation of the convention. What they
wanted in particular was city wher,
they could be made most comfortable
The question they asked themselve.
was whether these conditions could b,
found more generally in st. Louis o
in Chicago. They decided that Chi
cago possessed superior advantages IL
the matter of hotels and this undoubt
edly influenced a sufficient number t.
give the Lake City the majority. 1t Il
also asserted that the strong supper
which the silver men gave to st. Louis
created prejudice against that plac,
among certain of the sound money mel
who voted for Chicago, not becaus,
they cared especially for the Illinois
metropolis. but because they were de
termined not to join forces with the
free silver opponents.
1t was not until near II o'clock tina
the final and decisive ballot was taken
Some of the New York men at one
packed their grips and returned hom
on the midnight train. A majority o
the convention visitors will leave to
morrow and all of the number will
doubtless take their departure Saturday
GREEN GOODS OUTFIT.