The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-09
One Side Led by Gen. Samuel
Fessenden.
State Organization
Against Him.
State
State Wins in Preliminary
"Clash of Swords"

Hartford, Conn, May 8. The RepubIi-
cans Of Connecticut assembled In state
convention In the Auditorium this city
tonight ar the sesslon Of the :sveninR.
contrary to the presidents established In
previous years, departed from the realm
Of mere preliminaries and developed itself
into contest which has split the party,
temporarily, ct least. The convention
ostsptibly assembled to elect delegates to
thenatiopal Republican convention, which
10 to be held at Philadelphia in June.
Apparently, however, national politics
played no part tonight in the mental pro-
cssses and physical activities Of the dele
gates. Not stroke Of real business bad
been transacted before the first trikine
cliuax was n orded for the bitter canvass
which has characterised the campaign
Incident upon The choice of delegates
from one hundred and sixty eight towns
In the state to this convention OF the
Republicans Of the commonwealth. For
many weeks delegates have besn lining
up in battle array, ous side led By SAM
usl Fssssndsn OF Stamford, the national
committeeman from Connecticut, against
the party Organization Of the state headed
BY Erasmus X. tyler Of Torrington,
chairman OF she state central COMMITTEES,
the other fighting under the banner OF
Mr.. .. 4. Fyier, Morgan q. Balkslsy.
one of Conneotiout's Oldest Republican
lighters and George +. Mclean, q osndl.
date for the party nomination for Gov
srnor. It was $50 o'clock when o. Il.
H.. .
state committse stepped forward and
tried to call the convention to order.
Then for the first tiras IL became evident
that the lines Of the coming battle had
been finely drawn for he was received
with q perfect avalanche Of cheers sus-
tained for minutes. He Introduced the
Hon. John X. Buck, as the TEMPORARY
chairman Of the convention.
MIR. Buck tlsn delivered an address.
Tie speech occupied half an hour. At
Its conclusion and while the cheering
was still In progress, Mr.. Fessenden
shouted for recognition. Without loss Of
time he threw down the gauntlet to the
leaders OF the state organization. His
theme exploited his claim that the oon-
test was one involving the coming Cover
ncr CT Conneotiout, thus literally waving
in the faces Of his opponents the rid flag
that signinsd opposition co the candidate
already formally put forward BY the
leadsrs Of the organization. His text was
plea for the recognition OF the dslega-
tiors Of the little towns OF Bethlehem and
Cornwall whose names On the temporary
oIis had been supplantsd by what MT.
EesseDden chose to characterize as the
produ OTIS ef lump caucuses."
Mr.. Fessenden offs red a motion which
called for tie passing Of the two districts
involved. An amendment was offered by
his opponents. restricting the omission to
the contested towns Of bethlehem and
Cornwall. Chairman Buck decided that
the amendment had been carried and
a roll call was ordered. Here cams q
genuine lineup. The process was most
tedious but q half hours work brought
the refult and with 1t came the first VIC
tory for the state organization. The vote
stood 262 in favor OF the anendment;199
against. On account OF the absence of
real live Issue, the vote Was not oonsid-
cred ''test" Of strength and was dis
ntseoa ny eno reseS Eoon Aoh GO Aae1o
preliminary "clash Of swords"
The leaders of the two factions with
drew their skirmishing lines and the
business of the convention proceeded.
Committee on credentials, resolutions
and permanent organization were chosen
aud the convention adjourned until to-
morrow morning.
At the close Of the session the various
com nitttees held sessions.