The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-25
WALSH WALKS IN
Surprises Democratic Commit
teemen at st. Louis.
Committee Meets With 22 Men,
bers Present.

ST Louis, May 25.-C. A. Walsh of
Ottumwa, Ia, the secretary of the
Democratic national committee, who
was supposed to be editing a paper in
Alaska, walked into the Planters hotel
this morning and announced himself as
prepared to take part in any confer
ence that might be held. Il was not
quite as far off as they thought I was,''
said Mr.. Walsh Il have been in OF
tawa, Canada, for the last four months
looking after some mining matters, and
when I saw by the papers that this
meeting had been called l just thought
1 would run down and attend it. 1
don't know anything more than 1 have
read regarding the objects of the meet
ing and although I have not very
accurate idea of the number of mem
bers of the national committee who are
present, it looks to me now as though
there would not be quorum. How
ever, I cannot tell anything about that
until after the roll call al the meeting"
Ex-Governor Stone of Missouri was
very hopeful this morning that there
would be a working majority of the
committee on hand when the meeting
came to order, but confessed that it was
practically out of the question to know
until after the committeeman had been
rounded up and replied to the roll call.
Mr.. Bryan arrived at 1920 this morn
ing from Pittsfeld, Ill. He is very
hOarse, and not able to talk much above
a loud whisper He thought however,
that he would be able to speak in sat
isfactory manner when his turn came at
the banquet.
John p Altgeld of Illinois arrived this
morning and Immediately set to work
to repair the damage done his fences
yesterday by the Harrison forces of IL
linois.
I guess they will not impair my use
fulness to any great extent he said.
4 intend to continue right along as 1
have BEEN
A large number of politicians arriv-
ed this morning, and long before the
time set for the meeting of the national
committee the Hobbies of the Planters
hotel were filled with them. They
all in a state of general uncer-
tainty regarding the outcome of the
meeting, but the feeling is growing
be dropped party issue. 1t is as
serted on all sides that it will be a
factor in the next campaign.
COMMITTEE MEETS.
ST Louis, May 25.-With % members
present in person, the Democratic ma
tional committee went into secret ses-
sion at 10 O'Clock this morning at the
Planters Hotel. The committeeman
present were: Henry D. Clayton. Ala
bama: Thomas C. McRae, Arkansas;
Adair Wilson. Colorado; Alexander
Troop, Connecticut; Clark Howell Jr.,
Georgia; Thomas Gahan, Illinois; John
G. Shanklin, Indiana; c. A. Walsh,
Iowa: ]. G. Johnson, Kansas; Urey
Woodson, Kentucky; T. D. O'Brien,
w. j. Stone. Missouri; w. H. ThOmp-
son, Nebraska; Josephus Daniels, North
Carolina; J. NJ. Griffin. Pennsylvania;
James NJ Woods, South Dakota; James
NJ. Head, Tennessee: James G. Dudley,
Texas: Peter ]. Otey, Virginia; John T.
McGraw. West Virginia; w. N. Holi-
day. Wyoming; Thomas Marcum, In
dian Territory.
Governor Stone stated the object of
the meeting as set out in the call. He
was then elected chairman.
Mr. Walsh was in his place as sec
retary
J. M Griffin of Pennsylvania, who
was present as proxy for Committee
man Harrtty of that state, made a to-
tai representation of % states. Commit
teeman Stone of Missouri presided and
Immediately after calling the meeting
to order, announced that reports of or
ganizations and conditions in the diff
ferent states were desired.
One by one the representatives of the
different states outlined the conditions
existing at home and the reports were
accepted without recommendations of
any kind. Not one of the speakers
touched upon the trusts, Imperialism OF
silver.
After the committee had been in ses- |
sion an hour Mr. Bryan was introduced
and made a short address, urging the |
members to look closely after the or
ganiza tions in their states. and suggest |
ing that strong efforts be made to pro-
vide campaign fund for the coming |
campaign
He made no SPECIFIC suggestions, |
merely talking in a general way regard |
ing the great advantage of organiza- |
tion.
The fight of the Illinois Democracy |
against Editor Devlin of the national |
committee press bureau was then |
brought up by Committeeman Gahan |
of Illinois. He made a vigorous speech. |
claiming that Devlin had acted against |
the regular Democratic organization in |
Illinois and that he should be removed. |
He said the control of the Democratic |
party in Illinois was now in the hands |
of the regular Democrats and that it |
should be allowed to remain there. If |
Mr.. DevIin persisted in his attacks up
on the regular Democracy of Illinois. /
he should be compelled to do so from |
some other position than that of the |
official manager of the Democratic ma
tional committee He strongly urged |
that Devlin be removed
A motion was carried appointing a |
committee of three to investigate the |
Dev1in matter and report to Chairman |
Jones upon his return from abroad |
Mr.. Stone appointed on the committee |
of investigation Messrs johnson of |
Kansas and Daniels of North Carolina, |
the third man to be named later in the /
day.
At 1:30 the conference adjourned to /
meet again at 8 O'Clock.
1t was officially announced that the |
the same lines as that of this morning |
matters relating to organization to be
chiefly considered.
No action regarding planks in the |
next platform is expected.