Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-21
4 SENATOR JEERED.
VI. A. II IRRIS LIT MILIATED ~ POP
ILISr CONVENTION.
He MADE A PLEA FOR FUSION
LEiVENwoRTH COUNTY POPS nivI:
\ HIGH OLD TIME.
Reject Il Democratic oEcr Ia Fuse,
Make ono Nomination and Then
$50 Home TO Vote as We
D-n PIeuSe- Demo-
cratic Convention.

Leavenworth, Kas Sept. 20.-(speciaLl
The Populisis of Leayenworth county had
Il wild time to-day. They rejected fusion,
humiliated United States Senator Harris
refused to iRdorse Governor Leedys ad-
miIistr4tior and finally broke their con-
vention up in a row without placing d
ticket in the field. They did all THIS N
the face OF a small army OF state, penn
tentiary and police officials. Among me
officials who were present and iabored Tor
fusion and to have the convention agree 10
a ticket put Up by a Democratic ring IN
this city were Emitted States Senator Har-
ris, Mr.. McShane, member of the state
board Of charities; General Sears, Warden
Lands, of the state penitentiary, with his
deputy and about fifteen guards; the met
ropolitau police commissioners and over
half the patrolmen. All this array of Off
cials could not herd the animals, and they
stampeded repeatedly.
The fun opened early with fight over
the election of a temporary chairman. The
fusionists won by a trick in calling the
roll. Matt Edmond was made chairman
and Tom Gallagher secretary. A commit
tee on credentials was appointed that de-
voted an hour to hearing the friends OF
the delegates elected by Democrats and the
police and those who ran separate prima-
ing the contest before the, committee.
report was made giving each side haif
vote.
Senator Harris moved for a conference
committee TO meet the Democrats to bring
about fusion. which carried without oppo-
sition. and he was made chairman. Dur,
ing the afternoon this committee reported
that an agreement had been reached al
lowing the Democrats sheriff, treasurer,
register OF deeds and county clerk. all the
big offices, and giving the uneNpired term
of state senator, coroner and surveyor 10
The Populists.
When these three little sops were offered
TO the Pops 1t made them wild and they
vented their wrath on Senator Harris, the
chairman of the committee, who brought
in the report He attempted TO speak In
favor of the report. but was jeered at and
finally made 10 sit down on 4 point OF
order raised by eX-Police Judge Peter Car
q roll; Senator Harris was deeply wounded
at the treatment accorded him, and plainly
showed his humiliation.
A stormy time followed the taking of SEN
= atcr Harris off the floor and afte~ several
motions were disposed. of, his friends OBJ
ltained permission for him to address the
convention. Senator Harris spoke with
deep feeling. begging the delegates to ac-
cept the fusion report. He closed in Il
dramatic manner, crying. Unite and nc
cept fusion. for there never has been such
time under heaven when the republic
was in such danger.
Notwithstanding the fact that the sena-
tor considered the danger to the republic
greater than at any time during the war.
former Populist friends refused to accept
his plea, and they rejected it on a roll call
nearly to ].
A fusionist then moved that the commit
tee return to the Democrats and demand
either sheriff or treasurer. Senator Har-
ris and his committee went TO the Demo-
cratic convention and found that nomina-
tions had been made Tor both OF these
places and that the request of the Fopu-
lists would not be acceded to. When this
report was submitted by Senator Harris
further efforts at fusion We're dropped
Resolutions were adopted reaftrming the
Ocala and Omaha platforms, but nothing
said about free silver or in the way of
iTdorsing the state administration. Mich
ael Stanton offered series of resolutions
ccndemning Governor Leedys admnistra-
ton and the Democratic police board of
the city posing as Populists. and accusing
them of corruption. The resolutions also
accused Governor Leedy and the Popuist
legislature of dishonesty and of selling out
70 corporations. gamblers, etc The read
ing of these resolutions caused a commo-
tion. and some of the officials from the
taken. amid much confusion: and good
majority seemed TO favor adopting them.
The chairman of the convention, Leedy
ofceseeker. said he was in doubt as to the
result of the vote, and arbitrarily refused
TO have a roll call of the convention.
BY this time the convention was in n tur-
mol. and when nominations for state sen.
ator were called for a fusionist placed Ber
Oldfeld straishtout,. before the conven-
- ton, as Il joke. Jim Stone, Il Democrat
was nominated. and the anti-fusionists. ir
order TO play back at the defeated fusion
lists voted for him. Stone was nominated
when a delegate arose and said: Il move
that we now adjourn without making any
further nominations, and go home anC
vote We d-n please.
The friends of Senator Harris and the
original fusonistS opposed the adjourn
ment but it carried by a large vote. ant
the convention broke up without accom-
plishing anything except to show that tbs
PopulistS of LeaVenworth county arr
against fusion and will not be bossed by
state officials or the little Democratic rins
in this city.
The PopuIist state committee has II,
power TO nominate candidates for the othe
places on tpe TICKET and the nomina IGaf
cause the convention broke up in confusion
without the proper officers filling out paper
certifying TO il.
Ii is more than probable that the straigh
PopulistS Will nominate full ticket by pc
tition. and TINT Chluncey Flora, who wa
: cheatrd out of the primary delegates h,
ring Democrats VII run Independently an
be ndorsed by them.
The Leavenworth county. Democrats hell
their annual convention in Grand Arm,
halt They were shut oft Of the court hous
by the populsts getting into the Old Grim
inal court room first. James Starns wa
chairman of the convention. and Marti
Howard secretary. The convention was
tame one and the ring ticket went through
.ts predicted by The Journal. without
hreak Peter Livcrhardy was nominate
for. sheriff. ole Chaplin for treasurer, lie
Neil4:ilis for county clerk. Frank ODor
nell was nominated for county commission
pr and with all the ring backing he ha
i hard time IN defeating y. Herrig, &c,
man, who tied him on the first vote.
When the news was brought 10 the cor
vention that the Populists refused to az
crpt the dog bait that was offered theI
H. the conference committee, and that the
ad.fIraNaaa either Sheriff OF treasurer. n;
Democrats declined TO grant auythin
further. In fact, both Of these nomination
had been made and the candidates woul
IN withdrawn. The three places reiectc
bE the PIpullSts were lS!t vacant, and III
rfls tn
them.
'Tre only time any interest was awakene
ill the convention WAS on the motion
Hon Thoulns p. 1Senion TO suppress
resolution rcaf1irming the Chicago pla
form Mr.. FenlCn's motion did not pr,
~sii. but there was good following
The convention in favor of IT. MIR FeulC
afterward offered these amendments TO
rnsarirn,ess platform that had been =
ported by the committee, and they WEI
,:Resolved. That looking back TO Il
proceedings of the legislature Of last Wi
flr with shame and disgust, We dsmaT
that that body shall not be called, togeth
aGain TO further inilict the state by i
yeuality and irIlbeciiity.
''EesolvSd That every principle Of hon
rule dear to every citizen, demands Il
repeal of the Metropolitan police sySter
iha iiuancial Interests OF the taxpayer
we'll as the good government Of our citi
by tire people thereof. demand this 7
FORM
The new county committee was orSa
tied after the convention by electing
Neila chairman, and Stance Myers seer
t2ry.
National Bank Bulletin.