The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-12
HILLS DEFEAT
Brought About by Murphy and
Croker Combine.

New York, Oct. 1.-THE followers of
ex-senator Murphy and Richard Croker
defeated ex-senator D. B. Hill in a
struggle for supremacy at the meeting
of the state Democratic committee at
the Hoffman House last night. Just
what the victory means the campaign
alone will tell for Senator Hill in a
strong speech on other matters en-
phatically declared that while Croker
had won the fight in the committee he
could not ride roughshOd over the
rights of upstate Democrats at the
polls and followers of the senator de-
clared that Croker's victory meant de-
feat for every member of the legisla-
ture above the New York city line. Ex-
Senator Hill himself declared the fight
in the committee, one of his followers
asking at the opening of the meeting
! that the contest in Rochester be settled.
Ex-senator Murphy and his friends op-
posed the consideration of the matter
at this time but Senator Hill in long
and impassiOned speech, forced a resO-
luton that the state committee decide
between Tracy and Kelly, the rivals for
the place on the committee. The Muir
| phy-Croker faction won by 2s to 20.
From the time that the test vote
showed the strength of the opposing
side Mr.. Croker took advantage of his
opportunity and assumed the leader
ship, and ex-senator Hill and his fol-
lowers IOunQ In6lE pEOI6SLS anu pas
siOnate speeches received with laughter
by the winners in the long fight that
has now apparently resulted in a
change of Democratic leaders in this
state. After settling the Rochester
contest, Mr.. Frank H. Mott, proxy for
Thomas H. Dowd, of Chautauqua in
troduced a resolution of sympathy with
William J. Bryan in his present ill
ness The resolution was read as fol-
lows:
The Democratic state committee of
| New York, recognizing that William
J. Bryan is the natural and approved
leader of the Democratic party in the
nation, expresses it's sOlicitude for his
health and strength, and while he is
temporarily stricken on the peoples
battlefield they beg to assure him of
their loyalty and love"
These resolutions were seconded by
Mr.. Croker. They were opposed by ex-
Senator Hill. Mr.. Croker, in seconding
them, spoke of Mr.. Bryan as the nat
ura1 leader, and said that if he We're
nominated in 1900 the people would
Loyalty support him. Ex-senator Hill
asked Mr.. Croker sarcaStically if he
would support him.
You have changed your mind three
times, and there is no telling what you
will do when 1900 comes" said Mr. Hill
Mr.. Croker simply put his hands in
his pockets and smiled back at Mr.. Hill
Ex-Seator Hill. in opposing the reso-
lutions with his followers, declared that
he and they had voted for and loyalty
supported Bryan in 1896.
Ex-senator Murphy and Senator P.
H. McCarren laughed out loud at this
statement of ex-senator Hill
The Murphy-CroIxer faction signalized
| their victory in the state committee by
deciding against Senator Hills suppor-
/ ter in the Tioga county contest. A res
olution was passed, offered by Commit
! teeman Conway from Cayuga county
directing the secretary Of the commit
/ tee to notify the county clerk of Tioga
county that the ticket headed by John
! H. Sawyer, of Auburn, was the regu-
/ lar Democratic ticket and so recognized
4 by the state committee.
| Henry z. Brewster, a Hill committee
! man, wanted a committee of five ap-
pointed to investigate the claims Of the
| rivals in Cayuga.
/ 1t was at this juncture that Mr.. Hill
made his passionate plea, threatening
/ the New York city men in case they in
sisted upon their course.
! Let me warn you" he said impress
! siveIy, that if any clique or coterie of
1 politicians from this city tries to ride
| the ticket that the clique endorses will
! not be worth the paper it is printed
| on
/ The resolution to appoint the commit
! tee of five was defeated by vote of 2S
! to 49, The vote on the Bryan resolu-
/ ton was even more adverse to the Hill
! forces and stood So to 10 in favor of the
I adoption of the statement declaring Mr..
! Bryan the leader of the Democratic
| party.
Elliott Danforth offered a resolution
! which was adopted, authorizing the
! chairman of the committee to open per-
| manent headquarters to the committee.
! After the meeting ex-senator Hill
| abruptly declined to be interviewed.