Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-10-02

Wiser councils prevailed. Mr.. Williams,
who was In the convention. acted the part
OF peacemaker and the critical period OF the
proceedings was Iassed without an
more or less disorder during the
rest OF the day. but 1t did not assume
such proportions rs 1t had at this particular
time.
The fight came for control Of the state
organization, the composition OF which Is
somewhat peculiar. 1t consists OF 10
members, one from each one OF the 40
senatorial districts in the state and 20 men,
beers elected at large by the state conven-
ton, The custom has been for the state
committee, the night before the con-
yention, to nominate committee OF
delegates whose duty 1t Is to name the
twenty members ut large OF the state COM
mittee, who are then elected by the conven-
ton. Monday night 1t was evident that
there would be fight in the convention un-
less the state committee selected to nominate
the members at large for the coming year
chose committee which would be salts
factory to Mr.. Williams. for he was deter
mined to get rid OF the old leaders In the
state organization. The state committee re-
fused to give way to MIR. Williams and select
ed nominating committee with which he was
not satisfied. That happened at 2 o'clock
on Tuesday morning. but from that minute
everybody knew there would be trouble In
the convention later. The only doubt was
as to how serious it would be. The Massa-
chusetts Democratic club, an organization
which IS fully In sympathy with MIR. VIII
liams, met early in the morning and voted
to present to the convention substitute list
OF committee to name members
at large Of the state committee. The
trouble came comparatively early in
the work Of the convention. The routine COM
mittees had been appointed and refused to
Yield the noor and there they stood in line,
the chairman, Mr.F Fitzgerald and Mr.. Hayes,
oil talking at the same time and all
unheard because the 600 people in the
hall were Yelling shouting and ours
ing at tn, tops OF their voices The
chairman beckoned to u policeman, who
came on the platform. He was instructed
to make the congressman sit down or re-
move him from the hall. The officer up
preached Mr. Fitzgerald and the delegates
moment. Then Mr.. Williams took q hand
In the affair. The conservative minds ad-
vised GOODNESS and an thing worse was avert
cd. After time. during which the
chairman broke his gavel, and after
many serious parl amentary difficulties,
the chairman declared the substitute COM
mittee proposed by Col. Drinkwater adopt
ed by the convention. The telers announced
the vote 1873 to l66. Congressman FitzXer-
aid, DR. Coughlin and others doubted the
vote and asked for q call OF the roll, but the
chair would not recognize them, and
motion to take recess for 45 minutes was
declared carried. The excitement was in
tense, but the delegates slowly cooled down
and left the hall. The upshot of the proceed
ings was that John H.Sullivan, John F. Fitz-
gerald, Nat G. Robinson. Joseph j. Cor
bett and Robert Cox of Boston, John W.
Coughln OF Fail River, Frank H. Pope OF
Leominster, Andrew Athy OF Worcester,
Michael Connors OF Holyoke and Charles 7.
Ashley Of New Bedford. members at large
Of the state committee this year (nearly II
not quite all OF whom we're chosen at the
Faneuil hall convention last Year,, were
left of the list In the report Of the committee
which had been appointed on motion OF
Colonel Drinkwater. In their places were
put JameslE. Hayes and VIM. 3. McNary OF
Boston, Charles ID. Lewis OF birmingham,
John H. Mack OF North Adams, Charles P.
McNabb Of Waltham. James Il. DOnahOe OF
Lawrence, Daniel +. Rourke Of Worcester,
Thomas J. Donovan of Salem, John H.
Ponce OF Cambridge, William H. Baker OF
Brookline and Charles c. Payne OF Hyannis.
Nj. Williams now has at least 20 members
Of the state committee who are In full
sympathy with him, and there is no doubt
that the state organization will be domt-
mated entirely by the candidate for COVER
nor. That is the victory won by Mr.. Will
liams In the late convention. That tho
course taken by Mr.. Williams and his follow
ers offended and alienated the old linera
cannot be doubted. Whether they will ever
become reconciled cannot be determined
now. At any rate Mr.. Williams Is In the
saddle.