The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-08-19
NAMEDCOXEY FOR GOVERNOR
THE ANTI-FUsION POPULIsTs CAR
RIED THE DAY IN THE OHIO
CONVENTION.
said HANNA HID CORRUPTED THEM
Policemen Were Called to aueIi
INSTRUMENTATION of Charges
Indicate That Republican
Money Was Used.

Columbus, o.. Aug. Illusion was
repudiatcd today among the popullsts oi
Ohio in manner so emphatic as 70 leav,
no chance for controversy regarding the
future policy of the party. The p"pi
list state convention. by an Ovcrwhc!m'
ing majority, severed the alliance made
n wear ago with the democracy on the
free silver issue and nominated full
state ticket headed by Jacob COXcy ol
"commOnwca" fame as the nominee Tor
governor. Turbulent scenes marked the
opening of the convention this morning.
The anti-fusionists had swept every
thing before them, captured the tempo
rary and permanent organizations ana
all the committees, and they were on
their mettle. Nor was the policy adopt
cd by the fusionisis calculated to tenn
per the feeling which had been aroused
among the middle of the road delegates.
The threat of the fusionists to explode
n bomb in the convention was like Haunt
ing a red flag, and when the convention
assembled the delegates were ready for
any surprise that might be sprung.
The report of the committee on rules
and order of business brought out the
promised sensation The report prOvid-
ed that no speech should exceed five min
ntos, regardless of the subject of debate.
Several delegates Immediately joined in
Il protest against this provision, claiming
il was contrary to the fundIncnlal prin-
ciples of the peoples party. and an
amendment was offered to strike out of
the report the obnoxious section.
Finally Peter Witt of Cleveland Sc
cured recognition, and mounting chair
proceeded to dcnOuncc the committee
L Iu
the convention had been bought out by
Mark Hanna. He claimed he had proof
that the delegates had been bribed by the
republicans and wanted an opportunity
to produce it, The matter could not be
presented in five minutes nor discussed
in that time, and he charged that the
committees report was aimed to prevent
il. As Witt waved aloft in his hand
n piece of paper which he claimed was Il
check that had been given to one of the
delegates by AN agent of Mark Hanna,
he launched into bitter invectivc
of the anti-fusionists. charging that all
of them had been corrupted by Hanna
A score of delegates were on their feet
in an instant, crowding around the chair
upon which Witt stood. When one of
the delegates attempted TO pull Witt off
the chair the latter struck at the delegate
and general melee cnsucd, in which
several blows were exchanged and chairs
were raised aloft in threatening man
ner. The police rushed in. and in few
minutes platoon of police reached the
convention hall and the convention pro-
ceeded, after quiet had been restored
with blue coat on guard in each aisle,
The police remained until the convention
took final adjournment.
The anti-fusionists were not in the
least dism0yed by the charges that had
been made against them, and the report
of the committee on rules and order of
business was adopted in its original
form by vote of 40 to 40, which was
the hrst accurate showing of the relative
strength of the two factions.
The convention then effected n pcrma-
nent organization. The temporary chair
man, John Sitz, of Tifiin, and Tcmpo.
rary Secretary A. :. Lighwaltcr of New
fhiIadelphla, being made permanent offi-
GERS. From that time out the fuSonistS,
.hough IN the minority, were very much
IN evidence but their efforts resulted i'm
nothing but to delay the proceedings
Before the morning session closed n rcso-
luton was adopted providing for the an
polntment OF committee to investigate
charges made on the floor of the conynn-
lion that delegates had been corrupted.
Inc iusionists who made the charges op-
claiming that it should be made in omen
convention.
At the afternoon session the following
state ticket was nominated:
FOR Goyernor-.Jacob CoXcy Stark
county.
For Lieutenant Governor Maurice
Whitcomb, TuscarawaS county.
supreme Judgc-D.C. Pomeroy, Frank
lin county.
Attorney Generate, A. Rcyder Wayne
county.
State Trcasurer--E. NJ. Morris, Aug
laiZe county.
The convention remained in session I'M
I'll after u o'clock, awaiting the report of
the investigating committee, but it was not
forthcoming, and the convention adjourn
ed sine die. with the understanding that
the committee would report TO the state
central committee.
Rev. j. NJ. Taylor and Hugo Preyer of
Cleveland, both fusionists, were the prin-
cipal witnesses before the investigation
committee Taylor stated he had heard
the republicans We're spending some mon
ey to assist the anti-fusion popuiists. and
he was determined TO find out the truth
of il.
He said he went to Mai. Charles Dick
and told him the populists were dissatisfied
gcsted that the fusion be broken up. He
referred to Hugo Prcyer as a prominent
populist whose services would he worth
securing. He arranged for conference
later between Major Dick, Prcycr and
himself.
At that conference, he claimed. Major
Dick agreed to pay the expenses of head
quarters, literature. etc. for the anti-fu-
sion papers at the state convention. Major
Dick asked them if they needed any money
for expenses and Preyer said he did nor
know.
Taylor accepted S25 and railroad
ticket. Preyer stated to the committee
that he had Taylor write to Dick for
money to pay his expenses and had receiiv-
ed n check for $50. signed by Charles
Dick, and drawn on the Ohio National
bank at Washington. ID. c., which was
submitted in evidence.
The Democrat Elected.
indianapolis, Aug. 1.-THE majority of
Griffith, democrat. over Leer, republican,