New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-01
HARRITY'S FOES TRIUMPH.
A RIOT IN THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMO
CRATIC CONVENTION.
BLOWS STRUCK on THE STAGE AND THE POLICE
NATION " COMMITTEEMAN But HAIR

CALLED IN--JAMEs NJ. GUFFEY CHOSEN FOR
NATION VI COMMITTEEMAN. But HAIR
RITY WILL NOT YIELD WITH
OUT ANOTHER FIGHT
Reading. Penn. Aug. 31.-The Democratic
State Convention mot In this city to-day and
nominated Walter r. Ritter OF Lycoming Coun-
ty. for Auditor General. and NJ f. Brown. OF
Barsvile. for State Treasurer. The selection
of candidates was entirely overshadowed. how
ever. by the fight to force the retirement Of
William F. Harrty from the National Commit
tee The opponents OF Mr. Harrlty succeeded in
pushing through. by a vote of 800 to 13i. reso-
luton indorsing James NJ. Guffey for his place.
Mr. Harrity's friends contend that the State
Convention has no power TO declare his seat in
the National Committee vacant and that he VIII
not surrender without fight.
The morning session Of the convention ended
with a disgraceful row, in whtSh some delegates
who did not like the way things were going
climbed on the stage and exchanged blows.
large detachment Of policemen was on hahd III
the afternoon, and everything was quiet
State Chairman Garman called the convention
to order at 1890 p M and announced the tenn
porary Organ:za ;ion as agreed upon by the EX-
ecutive Committee. Congressman ErmenUou''
the temporary charntcn received round OF APP
plause when he took the gavel from Ny. Gar
man. A wild scene Of enthusiasm followed MI
Ermentrout's mention Of the name OF Wiii!aln j.
Bryan Delegates and spectators stood or thoH
chairs and waved hats and handkeTchieis as 'hey
cheered the name of their leader.
The rolical was long and tedious. owing to the
number OF sutst,tutions After tie calling Of
tie roll, John r. L.nrohan. Of Wikcsbarre
charged that severa, of the delegates from
1.uzerna we've no, regularly elected and were not
entitled 10 seats Chairman Ermentrout refused
20 recogniz. Lcnahan, and declared the con-
yention adjourned for an hour John t. Mur-
phy Of Philadelphia, q secretary, seized the
gave! from Erncntrort and attempted To pre-
side Ermentrout tried to recover the gaVe', ana
a free fight cnsued on the stage. The ponce
were called In to quell the riot Murphy was
finally elected from the stage and the beii>ser-
ents ordered 70 take their seats. NOBODY was
injured In the affray brt much bad blood was
engendered The convention took recess a;
o'clock for al hour.
When tn. convention reassembled at 80
O'Clock the force of policemen in the ha'I had
been reinforced and there were other ev'dences
OF preparation to prevent repetition Oh t'e
disgracefu scene thai brought the morning SEES
sion TO q close. Chairman Ermentrout an
nounced that the offending secretary. John I.
the stag, The Committee on Permanent Or
ganizat;on reported the name Of X. W. irwin. OF
Washington for permanent chairman. end
recommended the continuation Of the other tenn
porarv officers with the exception that C. w
Zuck. OF Northampton replace John r. Muir
pby as one of the secretaries. At the close OK
Mr. Twins address James Kerr, Of Clearfled
chairman of the Resolutions Committee. read the
platform which is II part as follows:
We the Democracy OF Pennsy.vania. in conven-
ton assembled. heartily reaflirm ana ro;e:ate nc
I se plstform adopcd ~ the Haons cOnyen;op a,
GhicaSSo in l ana rG pfe en- and un4cra6y
opposed to the single gold standard wnich mas 'GG2
followed upon our people since its adoption ard we
arc in favor OF a complete and immediate return %
n Tlct iziion act Il sa wc cors:auIa,s VII
lar, 7 iSrvan tho glorious champion Of a righteous
cause, for his mastery leadership in support oi
State Central Committee of James NJ GufeX;; OF
Pittsburg. who so LOYALTY supported me non w ~
National committeeman from Pennsylvania on the
National Democrats commIieeie ,,,,o rr,ss,.od
a minority report striking out the plank OF the
platform commencing the selection OF James NJ
William F. Harrity. He pleaded with the dele,
gates to conflnc their work TO state issues ana
not attempt to create factio1al division ny
offering an insult TO Mr. HarrIty and his iriehdS
NJ McOues,ion Of Butler County. defended
the Dlank He said that the true Democracy
~ the state should not retain in a place OF honor
man who had no; been true 10 Ds ,1
principles or in accord with the candidates ara
platform. ., % ~,
The roll was then called on the motion or Mr..
Donnelly to strike the Guffey plank out OF tne
nlstforn, The result, OF the vote sustained the
majority report by 900 to l3i. The Phil2delrhia
delegation stood II to % in favor OF Mr. HaIri,y.
Nomination Of candidates was the next oroer
~ business with the result given above the
convention then adjourned