Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-26
Turbulent Scenes in the Kentucky
Democratic Convention.
PRESENCE OF POLICE CAUSES TROUBLE
Bloody Encounter With Firearms
Was Narrowly Averted.
OFFICER DREW HIS GUN

LOUISVILLE. Ky. June 26-when the
democratic state convention again began
work at 10 O'Clock today ;he three-cornered
fight for the, nomination for governor was
apparently far from settlement as ever.
Conferences lasting until long after mid
night failed to bring any two Of the cam
didates nearer together, though for a time
it looked as though : one and Hardin might
Join forces. But this is an unlikely COM
binaiion. for no matter what its result one
Of the parties must lose all. for Goebel has
the state organization.
Many delegates, weary after last weeks
excitement or at the end Of their allow
ance for expense account. have gone home.
What effect this Will have on the main
contest is an open question. but IL has seri-
ously alarmed many of the candidates for
minor offices.
0bjects to Presence of roiice.
John S. Rhea got the floor at once and
called attention to the presence in the han
OF policemen. The Inference was that they
Were not simply TO keep order. He moved
that the chairman order them removed.
The chairman recalled the attempt Of Fri
day night by outsiders TO interfere with
the proceedings of the convention. said
the police had been called at his request.
and declared the motion out OF order. Rhea
and other Stone and Hardin leaders ap-
pealed from this decision and demanded a
call of the counties. The chair declined TO
recognize the appeal and Ordered the roll
call for ballot for governor.
Instantly the convention was in turmoil
equal 10 any of the exciting incId,n nts of
last week. The Stone and Hardin leaders
made frantic appeals for justice and fair
ness A dozen of them gathered In the
space in front of the chairman. and with
the VoCile"ous support of hundreds of del
egates declared the ballot should not pro-
ceed until their appeal from the decision Of
the chair was put TO the house. DisynEtent
over what was believed to be arbitrary de-
cis!ons of the chair bade fair To- put a stop
to further business.
Af,er a season of excited speec hmaking
the chairman made another attempt TO
have the roll call on nomination FOR gov
eTnor, but the OF position created such dis
order the clerk could not be heard.
Delegates Engage in Song.
Then came a deafening chorus Of sing
song yells, the chairman beating time with
his gavel. After several minutes Of this
pandemonium A facetious delegate arose
Gentlemen" he said, after struggling
some time to make himself heard. there
seems to be a general disposition to sing.
Why not let us sing together? Let us sing
Praise God, From Whom All Blessings
Flow"
4 wave of laughter swept through the
hail: then ali caught up the strain. and
the hymn was sung amid surroundings that
made ii sound weird and uncanny, not in
dicative of peace and good viii.
But sacred music never had less sooth-
ing influence, and another attempt TO start
the roll call was hOwled down. At this
juncture delegate rushed toward the
stage. Immediately in front or the chair
man stood a line of bluecoats.
The excited delegate began to denounce
the police the chairman and things gen.
orally. An officer laid his hands on ths
disturber's shoulders. The convention arose
as one man and a dangerous movement 70
the front of the house began. Every dele
gate was on his feet and wildly excited.
This gesticulating. noisy mass surSei for
ward. pushing back the police and crowd
ing them against the stage. -Four of thd
dissider;s with presence of mind took pos
session Of the d!sturber and hustled him QUE
Of the way.
The police who had been stoically listen
ing to all sorts of deuunciation for hours,
took the matter seriously.
One Drew I4is Revolver.
One of them Captain Maher pulled his
revolver. His intention probably Was 10
protect Chairman Redwine. who had made
his way to the rear of the stage At any
rate the crowd did not catch sight of the
weapon or the convention might have de-
veloped what has been momentarily feared
for nearly a week-a general fight.
The cause of the disturbance removed,
comparative silence, and that VAS not