The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-07-21

ton empowered the chairman 20 call
meetings whenever he deemed i for the
best interests o. the party oecuon pro-
vided that the chairman snail call q meet
ing upon the receipt ~ & written request
by one-fourth OF the members Of the COM
nittee. Section 10 provided that Ihe seS-
sto1s % the committee shall be governed
BY general parliamentary law, and laat
the committee shall adopt any standing
rule for the disposition OF business coming
The fight between the Illinois factions
began as soon as Mr.. Bryan arrived N ILe
city. which was at o'clock in the morn
OF both sides, the AILge.d faction aSklHg
him 20 be at the meeting without fail ana
the Harrison men asking mat ne remain
away from the AUDITORIUM a-Lose theT-
Mr. Bryan was IN q dilemma ana LSr .
long time would not declare himself as
being in favor OF the meeting OF not re
said he had accepted the invitation for
the meeting and there was no apparent
reason why he should decline al the last
faction hostile 10 that which had invited
him 10 the city At the same time ne eX-
pressed himself as being anxious TO avoid
anything that would create turtner IIIc-
ton and as q remedy proposed that the
Altgeld people turn over the control OF
the meeting TO the National Committee
Nj. Alleged was personally willing that
this should be done. but the majority OF
his adherents. who are bitter against the
Harrison men. opposed II. and when the
latter heard that there was opposition 10
the plan in the Altgeld camp they openly
champIOned the passing OF the meeting
under the control Of the National Com
mittee-
The arguments on both sides were hot
and fierce for several hours and there
seemed 10 be no chance Of settlement
The large majority Of the members OF
the National Committee declared them
selves as being opposed 10 having any
thing 10 do with the meeting in any way,
They maintained that they had a fight
before the committee at that moment
born OF the outraged feelings OF the Har-
rtson faction because II believed that the
National Committee had taken part IN q
local matter without good reason, and
they were disposed TO keep their hands
out OF the present fight
Finally Mr.. Altgeld sent word 70 Mr.
BRYAN that II he considered that his at
tendance al the meeting would embarra5s
him he could feel at perfect liberty 70
remain away. The meeting could get
declared by the Altgeld people TO be one
Of simple courtesy TO Mr.. Bryan, but the
/ Harrison men declared that II was q mes
sage OF sarcasm which meant that II MI
! Bryan was afraid 10 keep MS word TO
address the meeting II would be sue
/ cess without his presence.
+ Il was late n the afternoon before Mr.
Bryan made up his mind 10 attend the
meeting. The Harrison people, who were
IN good humOr over the defeat Of DevIn
. before the committee, finally announced
/ that ne might attend the meeting with
I out causing any hostility 70 himself in the
( Harrison camp. This message, however,
+ AAu IOlHL-s 10 10 Win t-lS CSlLCI 4SIl Il
reached by Nj, Bryan regarding the
meeting for he had decided 70 attend
( before IL reached him
When the National Committee came 10
+ order in the club room Of the Sherman
J House a. z o'clock all the States were
represented either BY proxy or by their
/ regular committeeman. with the excep-
ton OF North Dakota, Oregon, Texas,
4 Utah, Vermont. West Virginia and Art-
IONA Mr.. Bryan held proxies for Michi-
gan and South Dakota, and he was pres
ent throughout the meetings OF the COM
I u1lttee, although he did not take an active
I part IN the proceedings
Ex-Governor AlrgeId was offered the
. proxy Of Committeeman White Of Wash
( ingtOn. but declined Il, and Willis J. Alb
bott OF New York acted for that State
/ ka, but did not attend either session OF the
AS soon as vica Chairman Stone had
( called the meeting to order Congressman
Ferguson of New Mexico was elected To
! I'll the vacancy from that Territory caused
by the resignation OF F. A ManZauares
/ The chair then announced that IL would
be in order 10 consider the question Of ad-
+ hitting the new member from MaSsa chu-
I sets Committeeman Corcorau. q gold
I Democrat Of that State, having protested
! George Fred Williams The matter was
. settled in favor Of the latter, who retained
| the seat
tee. consisting. OF Committeeman Wood
1 son. Troup and Daniels, appointed 70 in
! yestfgate the charges made by the Har-
rfsOu faction OF Illinois against ?. J. Dew
lin editor Of t1e Press Bureau OF the Ma
! The report was 70 the effect that Mr.
/ Deyltn had used the influence Of the Ma
/ ttoual Committee in favor. OF Altgeld and
! against Harrison in the late city election
work be taken out of the hands-of Mr