The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-01
A TRUE VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT
POPOCRACY REPUDIATED BY GOV.
CHARLES II. O'FERRALL.
President Low, of Columbia College,
for Mayor of Greater New York.

READING, Pa, Aug. s1.-The Democratic
state convention met in this city to-day
and nominated Walter Z. Ritter, of Ly-
coming county, for auditor general and M.
f.. Brown, of Blairsville, for STATE treasurer.
| The matter of the selection of candidates
was entirely overshadowed by the fight to
| force the retirement of William Il. Harrity
from the national committee. The opponents
| of Mr.. Harrity succeeded in pushing
through, by vote of 200 to 1874, a resolution
ndorsing James s. Guffy for his position.
| Mr.. Harrity's friends contend that the state
convention has no power to declare his seat
| in the national committee vacant, and that
he will not surrender without a fight. The
morning session Of the convention ended
with disgraceful row, during which some
delegates who did not like the way things
were going climbed upon the stage and ex-
changed blows. A large detachment of po-
lieemen was on hand in the afternoon and
| everything was serene.
| A conspicuous feature of the decorations
in the Academy OF Music, where the con-
vention was held, was a handsome banner
adorned with portrait OF William ]. Bryan
and bearing the inscription: Liberty, JUS
tice, Humanity Equal Rights to All; spe-
cial Privileges to None" There were 435
delegates. State Chairman Garman called
the convention to order at 1880 O'Clock and
announced the temporary organization as
| agreed on by the executive committee. Con-
gresham Ermentrout, temporary chair
man, received round of applause when he
received the gavel from Mr.. Garman, and
proceeded to deliver speechs "a wild ASsnE
of enthusiasm followed the speakers mem
ton of the name of William j. Bryan. Dele
gates and spectators stood in their chairs
and waved hats and handkerchiefs as they
cheered the name of their leader
| John T.. Lenahan, of Wilkesbarre, claimed
several of the delegates from Luzerne were
not regularly elected and were not entitled
to seats. Chairman Ermentrout refused to
recognize Lenahan and declared the con-
vention adjourned for an hour. John Z.
Murphy, of Philadelphia, secretary, grabbed
! the gavel from Ermentrout and attempted
to preside. Ermentrout tried to recover the
| gavel and free fight ensued on the stage.
The police were called in to quell the riot.
| Murphy was finally elected from the stage
and the belligerents ordered to take their
seats. Nobody injured in the scrim-
mage but much bad blood was engendereu.
The convention took a recess at clock
| for an hour.
| When the convention reaSSeuDleQ at 90
o'clock the force Of policemen in the hall
had been reinforced and there were other
evidences Of preparations to prevent repe-
titon Of the disgraceful scene that brought
the morning session to a close. Chairman
Ermentrout announced that the offending
secretary, John T. Murphy, OF Philadelphia,
would be excluded from the stage.
The committee on permanent organiza-
ton reported the name Of r. w. Irwin, OF
| Washington, for permanent chairman and
recommended the continuation of the other
temporary officers. with the exception that
C. w. zuliok, of Northampton, replace John
Il. Murphy as one Of the secretaries Mr..
Irwin, after apctheosizing w. J. Bryan and
his cause, closed in these words: They
tell US, however. that prosperity has come;
that dollar wheat means the death Of the
| silver question. They forget that we had
dollar wheat in 1891 and the Homestead
strike in 1892 They have given us a tariff
bill which was justly characterized by a
distinguished senator as the most infamous
tariff law ever placed upon the statute book
In any country. Every line OF it was writ
ten in the interest of the trusts that con-
| tributed the money TO make McKfnleys
election possible 1t has been FOLLOWED by
strikes and lockouts, the reduction Of wages
and an increase in the cost Of all the
| necessaries of life. They tell us prosperity
has come; and yet in the bituminous coal
| fields of this country 10000 men are idle
because of their refusal TO accept starva-
| ton wages. Let us take courage from the
past and grid our armor for the coming
conflict: and so sure as the victory of 1892
followed the defeat Of 1885, so sure will the
| defeat Of 1895 be followed by glorious VIC
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Twins address
James Kerr, of Clearheld, chairman Of the
| resolutions committee. read the platform
adopted by that committee. The money
plank is as follows:
I'VE, the Democrats Of Pennsylvania, I'm
/ convention assembled, heartily reaffirm and
reiterate the principles OF the Democratic
party expressed IN the platform adopted by
the national convention at Chicago in 1896
ana apprOved by 900 free and indie
pendent voters. We are firmly and unal-
terablv opposed to the single gold standard
which has been the direct cause of the
financial distress that has followed upon
our people since its adoption and we are
in favor OF a complete and immediate re-
turn to our original specie basis as IL ex-
listed prior to the decentralization act Of
1873. We congratulate William ]. Bryan,
the glorious champion Of a righteous cause,
for his mastery, leadership in support Of
these principles"
scented a minority report, striking out
plank Of the platform commencing the
recommendation OF James NJ. Guffey as ma
tional committeeman in place of William
F. Harriety. lie pleaded with the delegates
to confine their work to state issues and
not attempt to create fractional division
by Offering an insult to Mr.. Harrity and
friends.
Tended the plank. He said the true Democ-
racy Of the State should not retain in a
position of honor a man who had not been
true TO Democratic principles or In accord
with the candidates and platform.
The roll was then called on the motion
Of Mr.. Donneliy TO strike the Guffey plank
out of the platform. The result OF the vote
sustained the majority report by 290 &c 1874.
Absent or not voting H. The Philadelphia
delegation stood Il TO % in favor of Mr..
Harrty.
Candidates were next nominated and then
the convention adjourned.
It stated late tonight that Mr.. Ritz
ter the nominee for auditor general. had
teIegraphed Chairman Garman that he had
been nominated without his consent and