The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-22
Confusion Became So Great that
Threatened to Clear the Platform.
HIS UTTERANCES RESENTED
BY A RURALITE WHO WAS UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR.
Then There Was PandemOnium, and
Many "KunneIs" Fled from the Hall
-Goebel-Stone Slate Successful.


the Democratic nomination for Governor of
Kentucky lies between Capt. w. j. Stone
and william Goebel. A combination of the
followers of these two candidates tonight
secured the organization Of the convention
in the election, after a close contest, last
ing all day, of Judge David B. Redwine, of
Breathitt county, to be temporary chair
man. In the district conventions this morn
ing they secured all but four of the eleven.
This, with the two members Of each COM
mittee to be named by the temporary chair
man, will give them good working ma
jority. But there is doubt as to just what
the Stone-Goebel combination will develop.
On the surface the plan is to nominate
Stone for Governor, give GoebePs friends
the remainder OF the ticket and the state
central committee. 1t Is not improbable,
however, that Goebel may show sufficient
strength in the convention to secure his
nomination at the head of the ticket This
would upset all present calculations and
probably cause a realignment Of forces. The
net result of to-day's work was the elimina-
ton, temporarily, at best, OF Hardin as an
important factor in the convention.
The first law OF heaven had little to do
with the regulation of to-days proceedings
of the convention. On. the contrary, order
gave place 10 great confusion. and after
sweltering through nearly eight hours of a
tedious hearing of contests the convention,
without nominationg chairman, adjourned
until evening in a whirlwind of chairs, fans,
tally sheets and reporters copy. Fortu-
nately, no one was hurt.
A LIVELY ROW.
This finale was as unexpected as 1t was
lively. The sweltering, packed-in, jammed
together mass of delegates, politicians and
onlookers had yelled itself hoarse. famed
itself tired and mopped itself pallid. 1t was
more in a humor to do justice to a dinner
than a prize fight Feeling was at high
tension over an argument that was In prog
ress before Chairman Johnston over the
contested delegation from Kenton county,
the home of William Goebel, one of the
leading candidates for Governor Congress
man Ellis, of the Sixth district, venerable
gentleman of much vehemence, was elo-
quently presenting the Goebel side of the
case and was being interrupted at short
intervals by noisy demonstrations of ap-
prevail AS much of this interference came
from the stage, which was crowded with
candidates, guests, officers of the conven-
tion and newspaper men. Chairman John
ston announced that the platform would be
A two-hundred-pound ruralite, little the
worse for political and spirituous excite
ment, mounted a chair and challenged Ma
jor Johnston TO carry out his threat, an
nouncing. incidentally, that force would be
necessary in his case.
Quick as a flash Williams started from
the front of the stage for the intruder in a
very businesslike way. Williams is local
character of some repute in gunnery, and
his activity was the signal for a stampede
towards the exits. Almost everybody was
standing on a chair when the affair oc-
CURED. and the result was a general tum-
BILE, scramble TO get out Of the way and a
general disarrangement of furniture. Half
dozen men surrounded each of the bellig-
erents ana the disturber was hustled out
not, however, until the crowd had cleared a
| space in the middle Of the stage about thir-
| ty feet in diameter, having fringe of hud-
died humanity around the edge, crouched in
corners or behind sheltering walls. AS no
weapon was drawn this struck the humor
| OF the crowd and quiet was restored. but
meanwhile Chairman Johnston had de-
| clared the convention adjourned until even
| Ing.
REDwINES VICTORY.
Aside from this incident the days session
Was q uull mOnOtOny, varied only Dy an &C.
| casional heated discussion between heads
| OF rival delegations or an outburst OF ap-
| plause as one or another of the candidates
| scored an advantage in the roll call for
| temporary chairman. For this position the
| Stone-Goebel combination nominated Judge
| David b. Redwine, of Breathitt county,
| while the Hardin men put up Hon. w. III.
| Sweeney, of Marion county. When the roll
/ had been called once Redwine had 540Ia
| votes and Sweeney 1881, but 80 votes had
| been passed on account of contests These
| were taken up by counties. and Chairman
| Johnston, of the state central committee
| heard arguments by both sides before rec
| ognizng contested delegation. This con-
sumed the entire days session and caused
| changes which left the vote at adtournmen:
as follows Redwine, 5es12; Sweeney, 52s1s.
| When the convention got together this
/ evening Chairman Johnston took the Kenton
county contest under advisement. after
| which he decided in favor OF the regular
delegates in two districts and threw out the
| third. Captain Johnston then announced the
/ result of the ballot for temporary chairman n
| declaring Redwine elected by vote OF
5Sl sc 10 52s l-6 for Sweeney. This marked
| the success of the first step in the Stone
| Goebel combination. The announcement was
| received with tumultuous applause
| Judge Redwine made a very brief speech
OF thanks TO the convention and assumed the
| chair. After empowering the chairman &c
| appoint committee members for the State
| at large the convention adjourned until to-
| morrow morning.
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