Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-06-24


mittee on credentials was reached in the
order of business tonight, but its consid-
GRAFTON was prevented by the disturbing in
fuence of persons who were admitted to
the floor of the convention though not en-
titled to seats. The Hardin people place
the responsibility for this on local SYM
pathizers with the Stone-Goebel combina-
ton, but the latter candidates disclaim all
knowledge of an attempt to pack the con-
vention and declare the disturbance was
due to loose methods of the arrangements
committee What influence the occurrence
will have on the chances of the candidates
can hardly be foretold. but Hardin is most
likely to profit by it. 1t Is thought the
convention will get down to work in earn.
est tomorrow.
kentucky Democracy went adrift to-day.
After tuggtng for two days at her cables,
which had been securely placed In the
hands of Temporary Chairman Redwine by
the Stone-Goebel combination, she finally
loosened her moorings and for half an hour
fioundered about rudderless in the open
stream. There were thirty minutes of wild
excitement, of cheers and yells, jeers and
catcalls. The Kentucky Democrat is emo
t1onal by nature and demonstrative by
training. Two days in the leash has tried
MS self-restraint beyond the danger point.
secutive time since Wednesday night, de-
clared the convention adjourned after a.
viva voce vote which his opponents declare
was too close to. be determined in that
manner, and had refused the call of the
counties as demanded by them, they were
primed for an explosion.
Judge Redwine left his seat; but not so
the delegates. They had come to attend a
convention not to run up hotel bills and
sWeiter in the streets. There was no lack
OF leaders from among the Hardinites, and
soon they We're wrought up to a high ten
slon The Goebel-Stone followers remained
In the hall to see what was coming off, and
tried with their cheers to drown the angry
yells of the opposition.
This added to the already bitter feeling
among the followers of the three guberna-
tOrial candidates.
When the noise and confusion had lasted
ABOUT fifteen minutes, Charles Bronston,
fiery Hardinite, elbowed his way through
the excited delegates and mounted the
stage. He had great difficulty in making
himself heard and when he did his words
only added fuel to the flames.
The body 1 love better than life itself"
ne exclaimed at the top Of his voice, "is
In the hands of cut-throats and assassins."
The frenzied crowd was on its feet way-
and yelling like mad. the minority in ap-
proval and the Stone-Goebel people to cry
them down.
Every man was on his feet and the space
Immediately in front OF the stage was
jammed with an excited, gesticulating,
noisy crowd. Bronston tried in vain to
proceed The battle of voices ragged for
several minutes. Finally Bronston resum-
ed. but his voice was lost in the storm Of
yells. He continued to talk to those near
est to him, but only few Of them could
catch word here and there.
Now, whether Bronston had miscalculated
the effect Of his words Or whether he had
not counted on being interrupted, because
he could qualify his remarks, is not clear
At any rate when he made himself heard
again after five or ten minutes, he con-
tinued in a more conciliatory vein.
But we must be patient" said he. "Come
back at o'clock and let us settle our diff
ferences In this hall. If this convention
is again declared adjourned without re-
gard to the rights of the delegates, we
will elect another chairman, and proceed
with the business that brought us here"
This brought cheers from both sides, and
after several minutes of gradually subsid-
ing excitement the hall was cleared
This may have been the exhaust of a
safety valve. which prevented a bolt later
in the proceedings. Certainly the feeling
was intense, and the pent-up emotions of
the crowd, which had been closely kept
down for two days, were getting beyond
control.
Two short sessions of the convention
were held to-day, one in the morning, at
which the only business transacted was
the adoption of resolutions in memory of
Then a recess was taken until p. M, to
await the report of the credentials commit
tee which, 1t was announced, had been in
almost continuous session all last night
seats to pass upon to keep 1t busy until
the hour named. When the convention re-
assembled in the afternoon a plea for more
time was made on behalf Of the credentials
committee
A Hardin man offered a resolution for
disposal of the contests by the convention
itself. This was declared out of order, the
decision provoking the first demonstration
OF the gathering storm. Then came the
motion to adjourn and 1t broke with full
force. After half an hour of the livelisst
mass meeting even Kentucky Democrats
ever saw, the delegates left the hall with
omfnouS looks and words which betokened
little TRANQUILITY for the evening session.
The delegates came back after dinner
much refreshed and with vocal cords In
good condition for a renewal of the dis
order of the afternoon. The first hour was
passed uproariously. The Hardin people
called attention to a number of persons in
the hall who they charged were not enti-
tied to seats.
They made frantic appeals for the cleo
ton of these people, saying uncomplimen-
tary things of the Louisville police and urg-
ing that the convention be adjourned to
Lexington. One or two speeches by cooler