New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
CONNECTICUT INTERESTS.
EXCITING FEATURES OF THE REPUBLI-
CAN STATE CONVENTION.
PROMINENT MEN AS DELEGATEs-A CASE OF
MISTAKEN IDENTTTY-NEw IDEA
IN TROLLEY LINES

Hartford Conn., May IL CSpecaD-The Re-
pubiican State Convention Tuesday and
Wednesday one Of the most exciting the
party has held in Connecticut for many years
the issue being. in fact, the control Of the party
machinery. The result not in doubt at any
tine during the last ten DAYS prior TO the con-
vention. the Fyler men having large majority
Of the districts but the opposition. under the
lead Of Samuel Fessenden, kept UP the contest
on the floor Of the convention on the question
Of seating the contesting delegates from Corn
vail and came near 70 winning. principally be-
cause Of ss1e able manner in which that side Of
the question was handled by Mr.. Kenealy, of
Stamford and Mr. Brandegee. Of New-London
There was also some Importance attached TO the
fact that the contesting delegates were chosen
,nde- the regular call. although il was admitted
that Democrats and minors were in the caucus
and voting Mr. Brandegee criticised the
breadth Of the call OF the State Committee,
which was patterned after the National call.
and strenuousIy objected TO the phrase with
out regard 10 previous party affiliations" say
ing that Democrats had been invited, and if in
vited must be allowed 10 participate, although
he did not approve OF that way Of running a
party.
The bitter feeling engendered during the de-
bate is sure 10 have effect upon the political
fortunes Of Mr.. Fessenden. and IL is freely pre-
OF the National Committee, and that Charles
T Brooker Of Ansonia. will be chosen in his
stead II may also have some effect upon the
canvass Of George P. Mclean for the Governor
ship candidacy. and it was apparently meant
that il should have, the impression intended 70
be made by the contest being that there was
so much feeling that il would be impolitic TO
name a man so closely allied with Mr. Fyler, the
chairman OF the State Central Committee. who
No. av5id "a
of Donald T Warner. of Litchfeld, 1t is an open
secret that there is little behind il, his name
having been used in the attempt 10 defeat Mr.
Fvler A new name is expected to appear be-
fore many days.
THE NATIONAL DELEGATION
The delegation 70 the National Convention is
an unusually strong one made up of men promi-
reur in their own communities and in the state
in business matters and also n service for the
Republican party. Seven Of the twelve are
manufacturers identified with some Of the most
important industries IN the State. Linus b
Flrpror Of this city is at the head Of the largest
envelope making concern in the country, which
has had the Government contract for stamped
e-valones for twenty years and more; Charles
2 Brooker. of Ansonia- is AT the head Of the two
great brass manufactures Of the state, the
American Brass Company and the Coe Brass
Company; Francis 7. Maxwell, Of Rockville, and
Edwin Miner Of Plainfield large manu-
facturers Of fine woollen goods; George A Ham
UOnd. OF Putnam is manufacturer OF SILK
thread in a large way; William T. Rockwell, OF
Meriden. is al the head Of & cutlery concern. and
Mathewson ". Potter, Of Deep River. is en-
gagged in the manufacture OF hardware. Two
delegates, Andrew J. .. Sloper, of New Britain,
and William z. Seeley, Of Bridgeport, are pres-
dents Of National banks, and well known inan-
ciers: Dr. Frederick Farnsworth. Of Newton
don is q retired physician. and j. Dening Per-
kins and Henry H. Bridgman. Of Litchfeld
County, are retired merchants.
COLD MAY WEATHER
as much share IN the thoughts of the people Of
the State as politics. Wednesday night the ther-
uorneter marked from 26 degrees above zero to
Is. according 10 the locality, and conditions
were favorable for severe damage 10 the fruit
crop the soil being saturated by the heavy
rains OF the early part Of the week J. H. Hale
Of Glastonbury, the peach grower, who is re
garded as n excellent authority. gives IL as his
belief, however, that, the blossoms Of the fruit
trees having been unusually heavy this year,
even If 20 per cent Of the blossoms should be
killed by the frost there still would be enough
blossoms left 70 insure full crop Of peaches
He predicts big crop and low prices. in spite
Of the freeze up Early vegetation suffered
severely. and small garden crops will have 10 be
replaced in many sections of the state To-
bscco not having been set in the fields
vet is unharr7ed as the small growing plants
are always protected with great care, and often
live through snOwstOrms and severe weather
END OF A QUEER CASE.
The Robinson bIackman case has been settled
Fl court at WiImantc by the acquittal Of Rob-
tnson who was accused Of attempting 10 black
mail the Rev. John H. Mellish OF Kngly. by
insisting that he pay him a reward Of $500
for the alleged discovery Of his missing daughter
Bertha MelIish, a Holyoke student who disap-
peared two years ago. The developed
curious instance Of mistaken identity, Robinson
believing that woman in Waterford was the
missing girl No malice could be proved in the
writing OF the letters demanding the money
from Mr. Nel.sh. and Robinson was discharged
from custody There was nothing 70 show that
The girl bore even a slight resemblance TO Miss
AfeIlish but Robinson thoroughly imbUed
with the idea that he had discovered the missing
girl. The whole affair has been most annoying
Mr. Meish, and also expensive.
TROLLEY FREIGHT LINE.
Down the river people are 10 have a new troll
ley line built the coming summer which is TO
cover distance Of about ten miles from East
Hampton 10 Moodus and beyond. the conditions
under which it is TO be constructed being some
what new and suggesting idea OF value 10
small manufacturers who have been crowded
hard by the cost Cf shipment from interior vii
lagos 70 railway or steamboat facilities. All
the manufacturers on the line have bound
themselves by contract TO ship all their prod
ucts by the proposed line for five years at
uniform cost Of seven cents a Eundredweght
This VIII be far cheaper than shipment by team
and really brings The products Of the twine and
FISH net manufacturing region Of the State into
much closer relations 10 the market. Il is pro-
posed II run the freight cars by an electric en-
gtne and for passenger service the ordinary
trolley VIII be used
DEATH OF A LARGE MANUFACTURER.
John II Douglas. Of AIiddletown, who died
this week was one Of the best known manu-
facturers % the State, having carried on the
building Of pumps and hydraulic machinery with
great success for many years. He was equally