The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-29
Followers Expect Votes to
Spare on First Ballot.
NOT CONCERNED OVER CONTESTS
They Declare that IL All of the lis
D,.nuted seats Are Given to McIess's
Opponents the Result viii Not Be
Acknowledgements Is Apparent, but
Organization Is Lacking, In spite OF con-
fdent observation-disclosures Welcome.


Lean holds court tonight in mouse
which he has rented, near the CLARENDON
RoteI. 1t is reached by a breaknech
descent through a dark street. but withln
the building there is much light anc
many people Mr. Mclean is conndenf, as
he listens to reports from various sections
of the State, that on next Wednesday the
first ballot taken in the Democratic state
convention will nominate him for govern
or. IL IS claimed for him that he Is now
assured of AS votes, and will get over 90
on the first ballot.
While the certainty of McLean's nomi-
nation seems TO be everywhere conceded,
there IS, nevertheless, considerable oppo-
s:tion 10 him, the extent of which is un-
known. He has bitter enemies, who are
not allowing this opportunity TO pass
without taking advantage Of it. The
trouble with the opposition, however, IS
the fact that it is unorganized and indefi-
mite. As the anti-Hanna forces could not
combine at Columbus last June, so the
anti-McLean faction is drifting here.
Judge Dittey, who is one of Col. Kilt
bcurne's managers, will not predict that
his candidate will win. but contents HIM
self with saying that the opponents OF
Mclean will be in the majority. and Will
eventually unite on some man. Other
anti-McLean men are equally indefinite;
and in the mean time the Mclean shout
ers crowd the lobbies button-hole the in
coming delegates, parade their brass
bands. and create a sentiment which is
well-nigh irresistible.
The Contested Seats.
The first real test of strength will como
in the selection of the committee on Gre
dentials. There will be twenty-one MEM
bers of this committee, one for each Con-
sressional district, and McLean's friends
claim from fifteen to seventeen. There are
llS contested seats, but McLean's mana
gers go so far as to say that decision
adverse to him in each case would not
defeat him. If he controls the committee
on credentials, he will also dominate the
committees on resolutions and permanent
organiza ton, so that the platform will be
practically, if not literally. of his own con-
struction. and the presiding officer will be
Of his choice. His strength comes largely
from the counties lying along the Ohio
River and from the central and western
parts of the State. In vain have Allen W,
Thurman and others sought 10 stir UP the
old feud which is connected with the
names of Thurman and Pendleton. This is
a present-day age and dead mems names
have little magic, compared with the
wealth and success of a living, active, am
bilious politician.
The ultra activity OF the Mclean man.
ayers led to an incident to-day which gave
the opposition much delight. Yesterday
Mr. L. D. Abel acting for the Mclean
/ forces, selected a special committee q
escort Mr.. Mclean from the depot wheT
/ he arrived to-day. EX-COngressmer
/ O'Neill and McDermott and Congressman
Southard were designated TO act as spe
! ciai escort AS similar honor had moi
| been planned for Col. Kilbourne. the lat,
| ter's friends objected to this distinction
| for Mclean. and the general committee OF
/ receptions was called to consider the mat
| ter.
| AnInformal Welcome.
The criticism was so general that tn
three committeeman declined TO act as al
escort, and the attempt at a formal re
/ ception was abandoned. although ther,
vas d large crowd at the depot. Mr.. Nc
Lean said tonight that If the inciden
vas giving his opponents any joy, the!
were welcome to 1t; but as a matter o
|
had not asked it, Mr.. Mclean, by tn
way, came not in private car, but trav
eied from Cincinnati in democratic fash
ion.
Perhaps the most unique thing abou
this convention is the hurrahing, hustlini
Iowd, which has gathered in GAINESVILLE
If tie Democrats in Ohio are going fort
or forlorn hope as the Republican lead
ers predict, they throw Mark Tapley int
TIE shade Even nov GAINESVILLE is over
| crowded and there is much inconven
fence The largest and best hotel is pack
ed like circus tent. Its lobby IS iamme
| with a throug Of enthusiastic delegate:
| while Il score of candidates for places o
| the gubernatorial ticket have opene
| headquarters and are seeking votes wit
remarkable persistency and energy Vel
ersn Democrats say that this will he IN
greatest convention their party has he!
in ten years Democrats are proverbiall
hopeful. They seem TO thrive under do
feat. II takes something more than thi
however. to explain the vigor and optiH
ism with which trey are holding the
convention They must believe, in fac
! they do believe, that the election OF
Republican governor is not yet settled D
yond all doubt.
Col. Ike BiiI's Pride
| OF course. Col. Ike Hill is the mo-
famboyant and picturesque figure her
Col. Ike is omnipresent, talking at Z
rate of forty miles a minute. He is OF
| OF McLean's most active lieutenants, ar
is especially happy because he Will .
again elected State central committe
man. He is also happy because OF Il
forty-six votes in his congressional di
| trict forty-one are for Mclean. maxim
IL. as the colonel says. the banner distri
outside Of Hamilton County. LEANING {
his cane and talking with that abandc
which makes his conversation a deligh
Col Hill tonight entertained a crowd
the hotel lobby. He offered 10 bet his or
money. and ne repeated several times.
way Of imparting absolute conviction. TIL
il was his own money he would bet III
Mclean would be nominated on the fir
ballot. Barney Layton, assistant 80
geant-at-arms OF the senate, and ex-Six
Auditor McConvilie, both well known
Washington. are also here for Mclean.
Tomorrow the arrival % the Dackwor
Club and the Hamilton County Democra'
will give further impetus 10 the Melee
boom, while Col Kilbourne will import
large number OF laboring men 10 sho
that the working people are for him. [
I 10 this time the Kilbourne forces ha
been working in gum-shoe fashion. b
! they evidently believe that there Il al
merit in outward demonstration. X
, bourne Is a large manufacturer and q
: regiment which he promises to have he
tomorrow will be composed OF his oy
employees.
The anii-McLean people are to-nig
4 | also emphasizing the fact that Congres
man Gordon. DR.. Norton. and Layton q
not on their county delegations. JHd
Dittey continues 20 claim that his can(
0 date is not defeated.
). las a matter OF fact" he said to-nigi
col. Kilbourne's chances are better
| this moment than they have been al al
| time since the fight orened. News OF Il
| most favorable character has been =
ccives at our headquarters tonight, al
y | we will receive support from ceris
quarters where least expected. over