Kansas City journal., 1898-03-09
WILL BE FELT AT TO-DAY,S
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
EBREE WILL BE NOMINATED.
HE GANG IS IN FULL CONTROL OF
THE MACHINE.
riends of Reed VIII Try to Thro-
on the Heavy Hand of shannon
ism, but Failure Will Mark
Their Attempt-Minor
Offices Neglected.

The Democratic city convention will be
alled to order by Joe Shannon. chairman
the city central committee. at II o'clock
lis morning in the GiIliss opera house
nd the battle between the Shannon wing
nd the better element of the local Democ-
ICY will be on.
The indications now point to the triumph
the Ninth ward boss and the nomination
the men selected by him. 1t looks as
1ough Frank p. Sebree would be the
ominee for mayor, though County Coun-
elor Reeds friends will make a deter
lined fight in his favor. Allied with Mr..
teeds personal friends will be every dele
ate who is against the perpetuation of
;hannonism in the local Democratic party,
which has cost the Democrats many an
election. The better element will do its
Utmost to preserve intact the small rem
lant of political respectability left in the
party.
A strong supporter of Sebree yesterday
predicted that he would receive at the least
lso votes, over thirty-five more than enough
TO nominate him, on the first ballot. An
equally strong supporter Of Reed declared
that there would be some surprises when
the balloting began and that many dele
gates counted for Seebree would be found
to be anti-Sebree and while Reed might
not be their first choice yet they would
unite on him if he seemed to be Sebree's
strongest competitor.
Reeds friends declare that he could be
elected, while Sebree would be beaten by
5000 votes. Union labor would fight him TO
the bitter end, while Ii Is well disposed
toward Reed. AT the worst, argue the
Reed men, who are all anti-Shannon, anti
Sebree men. the party would do itself the
would put itself in. better shape for the
fall election. The Reed men declare that
u the Shannons triumph in the convention
at the election. the party will be wiped off
the county map this fall. Shannonism has
been rebuked in the county before, while
the city has given 1t many a black eye.
will express the belief that any ticket
nominated can be elected, but the Reed men
point to the fact that the better element of
the party is for him as proof that he will
come nearer to election than any candi-
date put up by the Shannons.
The Reed men declare that the street
railways. the Barber Asphalt Paving Com
oany, are all for Sebree and especially
bitter against Reed. who they know they
cannot use. The Reed men are making the
most Of the fact that he got through the
while Sebree is being bitterly fought by the
Inions for his record in the legislature.
N ise cse are ahy any for positions
better chance of electing the county ticket
hat the city ticket. Therefore nominations
his tha fan trs are much m more sought after than
shannon can handle the county easily
enough IL he wins out to-day, and for these
viii vote with Shannon to-day against their
better judgment and against their real
preferences for the sake of winning Shan
IONS favor this fall. Herein lies one of
Reeds greatest weaknesses. another being
he lateness of his entrance into the race
The whole fight resolves itself into the
question whether a revolt of the better ele-
nent against Shannon's domination will
prove stronger than the bosses with the
machine and county patronage at their
hardly be in doubt. The best citizens are
oroverbially lethargic while the bosses get
,ut and hustle.
The ticket will be named by the Shan
IONS and beaten by the respectable voters
sebree's nomination Is practically assured
md his Overwhelming defeat April beyond
question.
There is utter chaos SO far as the candi-
lates for other places on the ticket are
concerned; Everything depends on the
nanipulations and the deals of the conven-
ion to-day. The minor places are lost
light of and very few candidates have
wen avoWed themselves. Everything has
been swallowed up in the mayoralty fight.
The convention will be called to order
It IL o'clock by City Chairman Joe Shan
ION. The temporary officers will be decid-
d upon at a meeting Of the city central
ommittee to be held this morning at 8
clock. at the Gilliss opera house. The
onvention will nominate a candidate for
mayor, city auditor, police judge city treas
rer, city attorney, nine members of the
pper house, and members of the lower
puse from the First. Fourth, Seventh,
inth. Tenth and Fourteenth wards. Five
the upper house nominations will be to
I the vacancies caused by the expiration
the term of the five members elected
ur years ago; the other four will repre-
mt the four wards recently annexed to
city, this being the first election to oc-
since the annexation.
The following ticket was picked for q
nner last night:
or mayor-Frank p. Sebree.
city attorney-Charles Howell.
police judge-M. J. Oldham
tressurer-Ex-City Comptroller John F. Shan
30 prediction was ventured al to the