The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-07-11

CONVENTION
watson F. Shepherd, of POttSville, Made
the Permanent Chairman.
JAMES W. RYAN FOR CONGRESS-
william A. Mari, Of Ashland, Named for
Judge-Both Were Nominated by Accla-
nation Bradigan withdrws From the
Controllership Fight-Balloting
For District Attorney.


The Democratic county convention con-
yened in Union hall this morning and was
called to order by County Chairman Joseph
w. Meyer. All indications pointed to an ex-
citing convention, the greatest interest being
manifested i'm the contest for District AttOr-
ney and Controller.
Watson +. Shepherd, Esq. former county
chairman and candidate for Congress in 1896,
was last night decided upon by the leaders
and candidates as permanent chairman of the
convention. An effort was made this morn
ing by the friends Of NJ. p. Quinn, candidate
for Congress, to develop strength against
Shepherd. Edward Kenney, of Butler
township, was the man selected to oppose
Shepherd, with the idea that the friends of
Mari, who had agreed upon Shepherd, would
be compelled to desert the latter and favor
the Butler township man. All efforts in this
direction, however, were early abandoned,
for the very good reason that the ex-county
chairman was the choice of the majority of
the candidates and their friends.
At an early hour this morning James w.
Ryan, Esq, held the key to the situation so
far as the Congressional fight was concerned
Badges bearing his likeness were plentiful.
In fact, he and Moran, candidate for District
Attorney, were the only candidates of the
hundred and more who distributed badges.
The friends of Ryan, lust before the conveu-
ton convened. were confident of victory
and claimed considerable more than 5000
votes for their favorite. 1902 being necessary
for a choice. The supporters of Quinn. how
ever, disputed this claim, but it was evident
that in the early stages of the fight RYAN
was In the lead. and that if would require q
combination Of all candidates to defeat him.
Ex-Congressman James b. Reilly withdrew
from the fight, his friends realizing the hope
l~essness of a contest. What delegates are
here for him are now booming RYAN. The
latter refused to 90 into any combination,
but it is believed there is a perfect under
standing between him and Mari.
The contest in which most interest is mani.
tested is the ContrOllership, with Muldoon
leading.
At an carly hour this morning, a caucus
was held at Mars headquarters, where an
effort was made to form a slate, giving Shen-
andoah the Corouership, DR.. Monaghan of
that town being decided upon. The candi-
date for Controller was to be either Kerns or
Leineweaver, thus giving Shenandoah the
throw-down in the Coutrollersbip. The
friends of Muldoon looked upon this move as
an indication of weakness ON the part of the
other candidates; in fact, they asserted that
the movement was inaugurated by the friends
of Bradigan.
The latter would not concede his defeat.and
claimed, up to the hour Of the convention.
a majority of the delegates. His friends
were active, and did some effective work
for their man during the last stages of the
fight.
Every effort to form a slate last night
proved a failure. The personal strength of
the leading candidates for District Attorney
and Controller was the rock upon which the
sIate-makers persisted. The bitterness of the
Controller fight was transferred from Shen-
andoah to this town, and has ragged in all its
fury from the time the candidates arrived
until the final vote was taken. The fact that
the District Attorney was nominated before
the Controller complicated matters. and caused
the Muldoon people some apprehension
Both B. +. Cummings and Robert Basbore.
candidates for District Attorney, were anxious
to form a combination with the Muldoon
people. The latter fully realized that if
Mclaughlin secured the District Attorney.
ship, neither Muldoon nor Bradigan Womb
be in it.
The result of the Altoona convention, so
far as the platform is concerned. had much
bearing on the convention of to-day. The
rabid free-silverites manifested very little
interest in the proceedings, especially in re,
spect to the platform. That document was
prepared last night by friends of Mari and
the wall paper syndicate. There is not much
doubt, however, but that the majority Of
the delegates favor an Endorsement of Rrvar
and the Chicago platform. but the men VIII,
are looking for offices are willing to subor
dinate their principles and have apparently
persuaded the delegates TO their wav of look,
ing at the financial question. The Trainer,
of the platform offer the plea thai
national issues have no bearino
on the present contest, Notwithstanding q
candidate for Congress, who must NECESSARILY
deal with questions of finance and Other
national issues, is to he nominated at tbi,
convention. Although Ryan made his can,
vass principally on the plea that he was the
only candidate for Congress who indorsed the
Chicago platform in 1896, he was only to,
willing to acccde to the wishes of the golC
standard managers in their demand for {
platform dealing with state and county issue
solely.
Should the platform as outlined go through