The San Francisco call., 1897-07-15
Delegation Contest Settled and
a Sound Platform
Adopted.
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS
COMMENDED.
Course of the Admin istration on
Leading Public Questions
Warmly Indorsed.

DETROIT. MICH, July 14-Com bina-
tions on league officials and the location
of the next convention were the topics of
active discussion among the delegates to
the convention of the National League of
Repu blican Clubs prior to the calling to
order of to-day's session. Secretary Dow
ling appeared 10 be in line for reelection
in case OF victory for either of the leading
States.
The three leading com bin atoms were
about as follows: L. I. Crawford of Ken
tucky for president; Dowling for secre-
tary; Omaha for the next convention.
Fred w. Fleitz of Pennsylvania for
president; Dowling for secretary; Chicago
for the next con vent tlon.
M. M. Higgins of indiana for president;
Downing for secretary; Kansas City for
the next convention.
While the convention was assem- bling
the delegates gave vent to enthusiasm
over the entrance of the Young Mems
Mckinley Club of Dayton, OHIO. who had
come to visit the convention. The boys
were given seats Of honor on the platform.
At 10:45 Chairman Wood dmansee called
the convention to order. The committee
on rules made its report on order of busi-
ness and rules of business. The rules of
the Fifty-third Congress were recommend
ed Tor the g, vernment of the convention,
and the delegations were each to cast the
full vote. The report was adopted.
! The committee en- credentials reported
| that the question OF seats had been settled,
with the exception that the Louisiana del
egatlon of twenty-six headed by III. III.
Blunt (colored) was recommended to be
seated and that the delega tion of four
hu ~ n Wiicnn ho
Augustus Straker (colored) of Detroit
moved to amend the committees report
by seating the four contestants from Lou
isiana as we'll as the twenty-six who were
recommended to be seated by the com.
mittee.
Mr.. Blunt of Louisiana, charm anIof the
big delegation, look the platform and in q
speech insisted that the four contestants
had no rights as delegates. He intimated
that they were out only for the loaves and
fishes, because the Republicans were IN
power. He moved to table Mr.. Straker's
amendment.
Straker defended hi. action. He ewanted
to waive technicalitles and pay no atten-
ton to the local quarrels from Louisiana.
Other colored delegates asserted that
| some of the contestants were free-silver
men. There was a brief stormy scene In
which several black and white men tried
| 10 talk al once. Then Mr.. RI1nt's motion
| 10 IdDi6 MT. OtTGhCI S was
carried by very large majority and the
report of the credentials com mmittee was
| adopted.
| The resolutions, which were reported
! through the chairman of the resolutions
committee, Colonel Bundy of Ohio. de-
| clare ''unfaltering allegiance 10 the prin-
! cipIes and policies of the party of protec-
ton, sound money and reciprocity as ex-
| pressed in the st. Louis platform"
1.-The faith which prompted the nomina-
| tion and election of William Mckinley
and Republican Congress-" says the
platform, has been justified, and we con-
gratulate the country upon the evidences
of returning prosperity. We pledL anew
the organized effort of league men
throughout the Union for the party of
| Abraham Lincoln"
The platform commends the President
| and Congress for sending monetary
comm ission to European nations; for in
augurating measures for the annexation
| OF Hawaii and for an attitude on the
| Cuban matter that has tended to lessen
| Spanish atrocities in that land. 1t urges
| upon Congress the earliest possible pas
sage OF discriminating duty measure to
| protect American shipping. Congress Is
| commended for fostering the beet sugar
| industry by legislation. The question of
| equal suffrage 10 women is recommended
| to mem bers of the league as matter of
| education. President Cleveland's civil
service changes are vigorously condemned.
and modification of the rules and pro-
visions of that law are favored in the in
| terest of good service and to correct the
| Injustice alleged to have been thus perpe-
| trated. Restriction of immigration is
favored anu sympathy expressed with
| miners and other laboring men in their
| struggles for living wages.
| Several negroes tried to offer resolu-
tion against lynching, but the president
ruled it out of order on the ground that
the convention had previously determined
| to refer all resolutions to the committee
| withou. debate.
| c. A. Cottrill (colored) of Toledo moved
! that the committee be instructed to report
an anti law resolution. The presi-
dent announced that the committee, not
having been discharged, could prepare
such resolution.
| Meanwhile the next order. election of .
president of the league, was proceeded
with.
Leonard ]. Crawford of Kentucky was
| elected president of the Republican Ma
| tional League and the committee on place
and time of the next conven tion has Sc
| lected Omaha as the meeting city.