New-York tribune., 1900-05-27
SPLIT OVER VAN WYCK.
HILL OPPOSES THE EX-JUDGE AS A
ELEGATE-AT-LARGE.
THE PROPOSAL TO SEND HIM IN THE PLACE
OF M'LAUGHLIN CAUSES THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR
STATE CONVENTION
STATE CONVENTION.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOX
STATE CONVENTION
Just as the finishing touches were about to be
put upon the programme for the Democratic
State Convention which is to be held in this
city on June B. condition that resulted in
a compound fracture Of the harmony which had
existed. When ex-senator Hill and ex-senator
Murphy came down from Albany Friday to
consult with the local leaders about plans for the
State Convention everything seemed to be going
nicely. Mr. Hill, Mr.. Murphy, Frank Campbell.
chairman of the State Committee; Elliot DAN
forth, John F. Carroll, representing Mr.. Croker
and the Tammany organization; Controller
Coer James Shevlin and P. H McCarren, rep
resenting the Kings County organization, and
other prominent leaders got together and talked
the situation. and there seemed to be a
disposition to love another and dwell to-
gether brothers AT the meeting of the State
Committee in this city when Richard Croker
unhorsed ex-senator Hill and took control Of
State affairs. there were some warm exchanges
of compliments among various Democrats, and
at that time the factional fights promised TO be-
come so bitter that they could not be patched
up Time, however, did heal the breach, and
when the various Democratic leaders continued
their conferences yesterday there was at first
not a ripple the surface. Everything was
decided upon concerning the calling to order, the
the platform to be adopted and 1t was
when the question OF deIegates-at-large was
brought up that the thunder cloud appeared over
the gathering. When the conference broke UP
the question was still unanswered, and will
hardly be decided before the State Committee
meets on June 4 to make the final plans for the
convention This meeting will be at the Hof-
man House, and a warm contest is anticipated
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
The entire trouble is over Augustus Van Wyck,
who was the candidate for Governor on the
Democratic ticket in 1898. When the subject
of deIegates-at-large was taken up following
precedent the Big Four in Democratic politics
were suggested Ex-senator Hill, ex-senator
Murphy, Richard Croker and Hugh Mclaughlin
are the Big Four This was received with salts
faction until q representative Of the Brooklyn
organization said that Mr.. Mclaughlin was not
so rugged in health he used TO be; that he
had not attended conventions for some time, and
that he could go this year, and that Brook
lyn would offer in his place the name of Angus
tus Van Wyck. When this suggestion was
made the brow Of ex-senator Hill contracted in
thought. He entered protest. Brooklyn in
sisted that it was entitled to one of the dele
gates-at-large and it had no to offer save
that of Mr.. Van Wyck. This led TO warm
discussion Brooklyn stoutly insisting upon Mr..
Van Wyck and ex-senator Hill leading the op
contention.
The plans of ex-senator Hill have been badly
tangled Of late by the developments concerning
the American Ice Company and the large stock
interests held in this trust by prominent Tam
many and Democratic leaders. Mr. Hill in
tended TO make a great hurrah in the State
platform and in the campaign against the
perncious alliance Of the Republican party with
trusts" 1t a ''facer" for him, just when he
had Dla al mad tN haU an
Of possibly the most harmful trust in this city
reveal the fact that it fostered, protected
and aided by the local Democratic machine and
that Tammany leaders and the Van wyck
brothers were apparently among the largest
stockholders in the company
FEARFUL OF THE RESULT.
Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Murphy. so it is said, be-
Iieve that if any prominence is given TO Angus |
tus Van Wyck in the campaign this fall the |
opposition will be equipped with deadly ammu- |
milton in paralleling his antitrust speech the
Metropolitan Opera House and in the facts
about his ownership Of stock in the Ice Trust 1t
is declared that they bluntly told the Tammany |
and Brooklyn leaders, in the light of these de- |
velopments. that the upstate Democrats would |
not consent to make Augustus Van Wyck q !
delegate-at-large TO the convention at Kansas |
City. After talk the subject was left |
open, and will be decided when the State Com |
a fine old fight over this point is expected in |
the State Committee meeting 1t is said that if |
Augustus Van Wyck is defeated. then James |
Shevlin will be named to represent Kings County |
as one OF the Big Four. The other three will |
be as named without contest. There is a sus- |
pcion lurking in the minds Of some prominent |
Democratic leaders that the plan to send Angus |
tus Van Wyck to the National Convention as a |
delega te-dt-large has a sinister motive. These /
leaders believe that the intention is TO work up |
a sentiment for him and try to secure his nomi- /.
his opponents among the Democrats think it |
would put the State and National organization |
in an embarrassing position.
THE REPORTED PLAN
After the conference yesterday the various |
leaders scattered Mr.. Hill left the city at I |
o'clock, and it is said that he went TO Albany |
Most Of the leaders unwilling to talk of |
what went on but it may be stated on good |
authority that the following plan has been de- |
cided upon. First, the Convention will indorse !
the candidacy of William j. BRYAN. and some |
reference will be made 10 him in the resolutions
as our National and peerless leader" or words |
TO that effect; second. the Chicago platform |
VIII not be reaffrmed, but a resolution will be /
passed pledginS the State organization to sup
port the platform adopted at Kansas City: third !
the delegates Will go uninstructed. This was |
unanimously agreed upon by all the leaders. |
1t leaves the delegation open TO fight BRYAN II |
the slightest opportunity offers. TO slip in and
be tractable if no loophole appears
One prominent Democratic leader said yester- /
day: Bryan $ nomination is certain, and we |
can't beat him; but we cannot swallow the Chi /
cago platform whole. We hope the Chicago plat- /
form will be much modified and toned down at |
Kansas City. declare for BRYAN and /
pledge support to the Kansas City platform"
Ex-senator Hill had long conference yester- /
day with George Fred Williams the volcanic |
Bryan advocate from Massachusetts. Mr. VIII
IA ~ r6Ad 9G iJara