The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-02
THE STATE CONVENTION NoM1-
Mated IT'S TICKET AND AID.
JOURNED.
CHICAGO PLATFORM WAS ENDORSED
william j. Bryan ExtoIIed-
harrity Removal Was Endorsed.
Free Fight Occurred on the
stage mt Morning Session.

heaaing, IA, Aug. 3.-The democratic
S'a.e convention met in this city today
ana nominated Walter f. Ritter of Ly.
coming county for auditor general and NJ
~ brown of Blairsville for state treas
urer. The matter of the selection of tbe
candidates was entirely overshadowed by
the hight TO force the retirement of Will
liam Il. Harrity from the national COM
,}mittee The opponents of Mr.. Harritv
Succeeded in pushing through, by vote
OF 40 to 1874, resolution ndorsng James
M. Guffey for the position.
The morning session of the convention
ended in disgraceful row, during which
some delegates who did not like the way
things were going climbed upon the stage
and exchanged blows.
The democratic state convention to nomi-
nate candidates for auditor general and
state treasurer met in the Academy Of
Music tonight. A conspicuous feature of
the decorations was handsome banner
adorned with the portrait of William ].
Bryan and bearing the inscription: Lib
erty, Justice, Humanity, Equal Rights to
All, Exclusive Privileges to None.'
There were 435 delegates. State Chair
man Garman called the convention to or
der at 1880 p. m, and announced the
temporary organization as agreed upon by
the executive committee
Congressman Ermentrout, temporary
chairman, received round of applause
when he received the gavel from Mr.. Gar
man. A wild scene of enthusiasm fol-
lowed Mr.. Ermentrout's mention of the
name Of William j. Bryan. Delegates
and spectators stood in their chairs and
waved hats and handkerchiefs as they
cheered !be name of their leader.
John T. Lanahan of Wilkesbarre claim
ed several of the delegates from Luzerne
We're not regularly elected, and were not
yentitled to seats. Chairman Ermentrout
grefllsed to recognize Lanahan and declared
the convention adjourned for one hour.
John T. Murphy of Philadelphia, a secrc-
tary, grabbed the gavel from Ermentrout
and attempted to preside. Ermentrout at
tempted to recover the gavel and a free
fight ensued on the stage. The police were
finally elected from the stage and belliger-
ents ordered to their seats. Nobody was
injured in the scrimmage, but much bad
blood was engendered.
The convention took 4 recess at o'clock
for an hour.
w n the convention reasscmbled at
.,:3U o'clock it was announced that the
offending secretary, John II, Murphy of
Philadelphia would be excluded from the
stage. The committee on permanent or
sanizatiOn presented the name of X. w.
Irwin of Washington county for nerma-
nent chairman and recommended the con-
tinuation of the other temporary officers,
with the exception that Mr.. G. W: Iulick
of Northampton replace John L. Murphy
as one of the secretaries.
After an address by Mr.. Irwin the chair
man of the resolutions committee read the
platform adopted by that committee. The
money plank is as follows:
"We, the democrats of Pennsylvania in
convention assembled, heartily re-affirm
and reiterate the principles of the demo
cratic porty expressed in the platform
.douted by the national convention at Chi
cago in 1896. and approved by 6.5OODO
free and independent voters. We are
firmly and unalterably opposed to the sin
ole gold standard which has been the dl-
ract cause of the financial distress that has
followed upon our people since its adop-
tiop. and we are in favor OF compiete
and immediate return to our orlginai
Snecie basis as it existed prior to the de-
monetizatiOn act OF lSl3. D.,
ave congratulate William ]. Bryan,
the. glorious champion of a righteous
ranse. for his mastery leadership in sup
mort of these principles
Charles P. Donnelly of Philadelphia pre-
santed a minority report, striking out Il
4 nlank of the platform commencing the rec
\ pmmendation of James H. Guffey as ma
tional committeeman in place of W. r.
Harrity, and made motion to that ef-
feet. oda. on1
the majority report was sustalned-Z9o 10