The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-14
A STRONG
CONVENTION.
Democrats Had a Very
Lively Time Today.
CONTESTING DELEGATES.
Pawtucket Facli0nal Fights Re-
newed at Muse Hall.
SLOW WORK IN NOMINATING.
SLOW WORK IN NOMINATING.

1
Music hall at IL o'clock today with about
l2O delegates present, and very few spec
tators Prior to calling the convention to
order the state committee held e confer
ence and decided to nominate Richard Is
! Comstock for chairman. but shortly otter
! this. Mr.. Comstock, who had just arrived,
| told FRANKLIN II. Owen that he did not
want it, and suggested that somebody
/ else be chosen.
At precisely 12 O'Clock Chairman Owen
OF the state COMMITTEES, called the conyen-
tion to order, and quite long time was
/ consumed in collecting the credentials,
ana making mp the roll.
The roll being made up, Richard B.
| Comstock was elected temporary chair
| man, and upon assuming the chair he
said that the only Tight was whether the
government Of the state should bs con-
trolled by few or by the people as u
whole.
John 4. Conley was elected to serve as
| temporary secretary.
Mr. Robinson of Pawtucket, stated
/ that there were contesting delegations
| from three wards of Pawtuoket, ana he
wanted the matter settled before business
| was transacted.
Mr. Hall of Jamestown wanted all the
delegates seated.
Mr.. Owen moved that the names OF
both delegations from the First Ward be
called and that one member OF each be
| allowed five minutes to address the con-
vention, and it was so voted.
Mr. Thomas +. Vance spoke for the
| city commit ttee side, and Mr.. Fitzgerald
advocated the claims of the fair play"
| party on behalf of the First ward.
For the Fourth ward James +. Mori-
arity spoke for the city COMMITTEES, saud
Mr.. Thomas w. Robinson spoke tor the
fair play" side.
For the Fifth ward, Thomas p. Gill
| spoke for the city committee, and
! Thomas O'Brisn for the fair play end.
Then came sceLe of more or less con-
| fusion, at least 20 delegates talking at
once, and chairman Con- stock declared
! everv body out Of order. When something
| like reason was restored. 10 was voted to
vote upon each ward separately. Then
there was more noise, snme claiming that
Mr.. Robinson was Democrat and others
claiming that he was not Mr.. Robin son
| made motion, but was declared out OF
order becauss he had no ssat in the con,
vertion. Then there wBs more clamor,
motions and counter coming
thick and fast.
Chairman Comstook declared that he
was not responsible for inare motions
made.
Mr.. Keenan, moved that the delegation
heade by Mr.. Vance ie seated. and Mr.
Mcdlynn of Central Falls, moved to
amend by sutstitu ting tie opposing dele
CATION. Bernard AloCaughey talked n
great deal, snu was howled down as q
| prohihitionst.
Then some body wantei roll call and
| there was more clamor and personal re-
ordinations, and finally the much be-
wildered secretary commence1 to call the
| roll, which, resulted as follows; Vance,
| As; FITZGERALD, 772; and the "fair play"
m en- won the coveted SEATS for the First
Ward.
MIR. Murray moved that the fair play"
| delegations from the Fourth and Fifth
7 Wards be seated. and it was so voted.
| The motion was put and the ayes sp.
peared to be in favor OF il, but the vote
being doubted. n rising vote was taken,
which resulted in seating the fair play"
men 73 to 49,
| Mr.. O'Brien moved that the temporary
organization be made permanent; SO
voted.
Mr.. owen moved that committee of
| five be appointed To prepare platform,
| ana the chair appointed Franklin y.
Owen. Il. r. Garvin, Henry q. n. Raw
son, Clark Potter and Nj. W. harrington.
Mr. McGlynn offered the following reso.
| lption providing that the state committee
| be authorized to settle all differences be-
tween town and city committees 10 the
| future.
Mr.. Fitzsimmons objected to the reso.
| Luton as being too sweeping, and Mr..
| Fitzgerald spoke in favor of Its passage.
Mr.. Halt said the Warwick fight had
been carried TO Pawtucket and this
called MIR. O'Brisn to his feet who said
10 was the same man who carried 1t there
| (Applause).
lhen n motion was made TO indefinitely
postpone which appeared TO be lost on a
| viva voce vote. A rIsinR vote resulted In
defeating the II otion. 5i To bl,
Aft,r n gerat deal more controversy the
resolution was laid on the table by ris-
ing vote, 63 to 81.
Mr. Quinn moved that the state COM
mittee be empowered TO declars who are
and who are not the Democratic city and
town Commuters; adopted.
Il. Owen then reported the platform,
which I'm substance endorsed the giving
to registry voters iD cities the right 10
vote for citycouucil oapdidatsS, and endors-
mig on act calling constitutional con-
vention. a corrupt practices act ana sim
liar legislation. The platform condemned
| the General Assembly for refusing to
| cniTy out certain legislation. A bill Gre
| aling state comhjission to reduce rates
and prices of gas and electric lights, tele-
pt ones and other monopolies Proper
| tional representation was warmly en-
dorsei as regarded the election OF boards
Of aldermen, and there were other minor
matters.
The plat form was unanimously adopted.
Candidates for general offices were
then nominstsu as follows:
For governor, Daniel 4. Church Of
1iNcrton.
Lisptenant governor, Fayette u. Bart.
lett of Burrillville.
=, cretary Of state Miles McNainee,
Provide 60.
Attorney general, George H., Brown,
Piovldet 60.
General treasurer, Edmund Walker,
South h1nsstown.
Mr.. Comstcck then lgft tie hall and the
chair vas taken by r. r. owen and
mem hers Of the state central committee
were elected hy the usual form cf toni
mating from the fl,or, altar whicq the
convention adjourned.