Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-02
THE STATE CONVENTION.

THE STATE CONNENIlON.
Wednesday last was great day for
the hotel men of Harrisburg their
houses were full, and delegates and oin-
ers coming in late had to secure rooms
outside. and buy tickets OF admission 10
the dining rooms.
The crowd in the lobby or Office OF
the Lochie! was both immense ana
curious. 1t was How are you. Colo
mel !" and ''Howde do. Senator. all day.
All the tall, lean fellows were Colonels'
and all the fat fellows some OF them
apparently just off the bottle) were Sen
ators. Merrick of Tioga Is the hand
soonest fat boy we have seen for long
time.
That evening the State Committee
met in a room in the hotel; Elkln ap-
pointed a. subcommittee headed by w
Fl. Andrews to hear and settle the CON
tests: they decided everything in favor
of the Quay people, and Martin and his
Philadelphia delegates refused to enter
the convention.
The delegates and others assembled
in the Opera House next day at 1O a
M That is, the doors were opened at
that time but it was towards IL before
everybody was seated, and Elkin called
the convention to order. Bois Penrose
and his band of Philadelphia angels
occupied the front seats facing the
stage to the right; and Messrs Magee
and Finn and the Allegheny delegation
the front seats to the left. The Pltts-
burg delegation was a much more sub
stanrial looking crowd than the Phila-
delpbians. The other delegates, about
360 in all. occupied nearly all the seats
ON the first floor of the house, which IS
not large one.
Elkin was made Temporary Chair
man and. made quite a speech, and then
the roll was called Messrs McClung
and Leslie of our delegation answered
to their names, but AL Butler did not
get there in time, and Newton Black
went in in his place
Chairman Elkin announced his list OF
temporary officers, and then Senator
Pensose offered resolution that all res
olutions be referred to the Committee on
Platform without debate, which was
adopted.
VIM. Shortridge of Centre claimed
that he had the floor before the Penrose
resolution had passed and he had a res
olution to offer A motion was made to
reconsider the vote by which the Pen
rose resolution was carried, but before
it was put the convention heard Short
ridges resolution read. 1t was as fol
lows:
Resolved. That the convention un-
eouivocally endorses the action OF Gov
Hastings in vetoing the bills passed Dy
the late Legislature, commonly caiiee
the Becker bill, the mercantile tax bill
and Simon bill, and the illegal and dis
honest appropriations for sundry legls
lative investigating committees, sac
appropriations bearing upon their race
the stamp of unvarnished fraud upon ta1
payers of this Commonwealth.
Resolved, That we strongly condemn
the action of the Legislature for pass
ing these dishonest measures and Tor lg
noring or making farce Of the various
reform measures urged and promised b,
the last two State Conventions.
The motion to reconsider the Pen
rose resolution was defeated and th'
Shortridge resolution sent to commit
tee A number of other resolution
were sent to the same committee, III
cluding one condemning the civil ser
vice law. and one relating to our iner
chant marine. When the anti-civil ser
vice resolution was read the convention
cheered loudly.
Newton Black offered preamble AM
resolution setting forth that civil SCI
vice as now established is but ney
transplanting of the civil service sys
tenn Of monarchial governments of tn
Old World to our shores, giving thos
in the employ of the Government lif
tenure office, which is un- American, an
demanding change in the civil servic
in accordance with Republican govern
ment, limiting the tenure of Office t
four years, with privilege of reappoint
-ment, ETC., the equal distribution OF az
pointmeRts. all subject to such restriC
tions as will secure efficient service.
Mr.. Black also offered a reso1utio
urging the representatives of Pennsy
vania in Congress to revive and supper
the policy adopted by our forefathers G
imposing discriminating dutyin favo
of all goods brought from foreign couI
tries in American vessels, owne
by American citizens, thereby extend
ing to our shipping interests the sam
policy of protection against cheap fol
eign capital and labor that has built u
our manufacturing industries and mad
us one of the greatest manufacturin
nations of the world.
Both resolutions were sent to commi
tee.
After the formation of the Commi
tee on Platform had been decided ol
two Lycoming delegates got into
squabble over who should be the men
ber, and the Chair decided that eac
should be admitted with half vote.
A Committee on Credentials was al
nouced with Senator Andrews as chai
man,
The convention then took recess fl
an hour
At 80 p NJ the convention W;
again called to order; the Committee {
Permanent Organization reported, naI
ing Senator McCarrell of Harrisbur
Permanent Chairman or President, wit
a long list Of Vice Presidents, Secret
ries, etc, all Of which was adopted.
Mr. McCarrell was escorted to Il
stage, and made rousing speech, som
thing like Elkins, praising everybod
foi everything; then he said that nom
nations for State Treasurer were ne:
in order, and young Robbins of Green
burg mounted the stage. and after ma
ing good speech nominated James
Beacon of Westmoreland county. Al
dy Robertson of Pittsburg nominate
John w. Crawford, in a few short bl
witty remarks; vote was taken whic
tailed Beacon 31G, Crawford 40,-an
Beacon was declared the nominee
The next thing was Auditor Genera
three or four delegates nominated NJ