The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-27
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRACY
An Exciting Day in the
Convention
A PARTISAN DEADLOCK

Four Sessions Hello, with no
Beyond Temporary Organization.
Stone.GoebeI actor Sill I'm Con.
IrOl-Hardenires nakfn a Vigorous
Fight-RiotO Scenes and Abusive
Language In the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tials Committee still at Work.
Louisville, KY, June 23.-For the
third time in as many days the demo-
| cratic state convention tonight broke
up in disorder. 1t will enter upon the
fourth day of its sessions tomorrow
without having accomplished anything
more than temporary organization. The
report of h committee on credentials
was reached in the order of business
onight, but its consideration was pre-
vented by the disturbing influence of
persons who We're admitted to the floor
of the convention, though not entitled
to seats. The Hardin people place the
! responsibility for this on local sympa-
thizers with the Stone-Goebel combi-
nation, but the latter candidates dis
claim all knowledge of an attempt to
pack the convention and allege loose
methods of the arrangements commit
tee. Hardin is most likely to profit by
the occurrence. It is though that the
convention will get down to work in
earnest tomorrow.
The first order of business tomorrow
VIII be the report of the
committee, and, if outside interior
ence is prevented, the convention
should reach the nominations shortly.
Louisville, June 23.-Kentucky de-
mocracy went adrift today. After tug
ging for two days at her cables, which
had been securely placed in the hands
Of Temporary Chairman Redwine by
the Stone-Goebel combination, she fin
ally looSened her mOOringS and for half
an hour f1oundered about rudderless in
the open stream. There were thirty
minutes of wild excitement, of cheers
and yellS, jeerS and catcalls.
The Kentucky democrat is emotional
by nature n demonstrative by rain
ing. Two days in the leash had tried
his self-restraint beyond the danger
| point. So, when the chairman for the
fourth consecutive time since Wednes-
day night declared the convention ad-
journed, after a v voce vote which
| his opponents declared was too close to
be determined in that manner. and had
| refused the call Of the counties as de-
manded by them, they were primed for
ar explosion.
f; Judge Redwine left his seat, but not
so the delegates. They had come to at
tend a convention, not to run up hotel
bills, and swelter in the streets. There
was no lack of leaders from among the
Hardenites and soon they were wrought
up to a high tension. The Goebel-Stone
followers remained in the hall to see
what was coming off and tried with
\ THAR nhonrc TO 1~Nuyn Tho prrxy wells
Of he opposition.
When the noise and confusion had
lasted about fifteen minutes, Charles
Bronston, a fiery Hardenite, allowed
his way through the excited delegates
and mounted the stage. He only added
better thar life ITSELF" he exclaimed
! at the top of his voice, sis in the hands
of cut-thrOats and assassins."
The frenzied crowd was on it's feet,
waving hats, canes, ans and handker-
chiefs and yelling like mad-the minor
ity in approval and the StOne-Goebel
; people to cry them down. Every man
was on his feet and the space imme-
diately in front of the stage was
damned with an excited, gesticulat-
ing, noisy crowd. BronSton tried in vain
to proceed. The battle of voices ragged
for several mintes. Finally BronstOn
! resumed, but his voice was lost in the
storm of yells.
Whether Bronston miscalculated the
effect of his words, or had not counted
| on being interrupted before he could
| qualify his remark, is not clear, but
| when he made himself heard again,
| after five or ten minutes, he continued
in a more conciliatory vein: but we
must be patient" said he. Come back
at 6 o'clock and let US settle our diff
f%erences in this hall. If this convention
is again declared adjourned without
! regard 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
subsiding excitement h hall was
cleared. This may have been the eX-
haust of a safety valve, which prevent
ed a bolt later in the proceedings.
Two short sessions of the convention
were held today, one in the morning
at which the only business transacted
was the adoption Of resolutions in
memory of the late Richard P. Bland,
Of Missouri. Then a recess was taken
until 4 o'clock p. m, to await the re-
port of the credentials committee,
which, it was announced, had been in
| almost continuous session all last night
and still had enough Of the 375 con-
tested seats to pass Upon to keep it
busy until the hour named. When the
convention re-assembled in he after
noon a plea for more time was made on
behalf of the credentials committee. A
Hardin man offered a resolution for
the discharge Of the committee n the
disposal of the contests by the
4 ton itself. This was declared out of
order, the decision provoking the first
| demonstration Of the gathering storm.
| Then came the motion to adjourn and
it broke with full force. After half an
hour of the liveliest mass meeting
even Kentucky democrats ever saw.
the delegates left the hall with
ominous looks and words which be-
tokened little tranquility for the even
ing session.