The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-27
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.
The Convention to be Held In ansas
City, July 18th

Washington. February s2-The next
national democratic convention will be
held at Kansas City. No. July 4th.
This was the decision OF the democratic
national committee which met at she
Hotel Raleigh today to Ex the tine
and place OF holding the convention.
Milwaukee was the only other city
(which competed for the honor OF en-
tertaining the convention and the poor
showing made when the vote was taken.
the result being Kansas City -. Mil
waukee 9. caused general surprise. The
iclaims OF the rival cities as TO hotel
accommodations. railroad and tele-
graphic facilities were presented in
open session by representatives. OF each
city. and. subsequently,. in executive
session, Ex-Governor Stone. on behalf
OF Kansas City. and National Commit
teeman E c. Wall. on behalf OF Mil
waukee, explained the financial in
Iducements which the city he represent
ed was willing TO make. Each offered
the committee $4,000; but. in addition,
Kansas City was willing to furnish
Ihotel accommodations for the members
lof the committee n the hall with
decorations and music free OF expense
to the committee
One of Nilwaukee's strongest argu-
ments was the political effect which
the holding of the convention in that
city would IA upon the German
American voters, who were represent
ed to the committee as wavering in
their allegiance to the republican party.
1t seemed to be taken for granted by
lat least two speakers hat Bryan
would be re-nominated and that the
Chicago platform in substance would
he re-affirmed. Opposition to trusts,
Expansion and Imperialism. together
with every mention of Bryan and the
Chicago platform enthusiasm,
but during the open session OF the COM
mittee there was no allusio to the is
sue of free silver.
Three dates for holding the conven-
tion were proposed, May 9th. by Mr..
of Oregon; June 14th by
lSenator Tillman, of South Carolina.
and July 4th by Mr.. McGraw, of West
Virginia. A speech by ex-senator Cor
imam in favor of holding to precedent
land naming a date later than that for
the convention of h party in power
had considerable influence in causing
independence day to be chosen.
After the committee had selected the
I"Gate City of the West" the Kansas
City boomers held a jollification meet
ling in their rooms at the Raleigh. Elk
lGoVernor Stone addressed the gather
ling predicting that those who attend
led the convention would depart with
praises upon their lips for the hospl-
tally they had received and that the
nominee of the convention would be
1.-THE victor at the polls in November.
The committee was called to order
by Senator Jones, chairman Every
state and territory was represented
Ieither by the national committeeman
Ior by proxy. There We're strong indi-
~lcations when the committee met that
kansas City would be chosen. Each
city was allowed thirty minutes to pre-
sent it's claims and the two rival cities
Iargued in rotation.
James A. Reed, prosecuting attorney
iof Kansas City, made the opening
speech presenting the claims of the me-
itropolis of the southwest. The invita-
Ition he presented, he said, came not
Ionly from the citizens of Kansas City.
but from the unfaltering triumphant
democracy of Missouri. Kansas City
has thirty-nine lines of railroad and
her Geographic facilities are excellent.
Her hotels are more than ample. Out
side of the great hotels of New York,
there are in Kansas City seven hotels
THAT will ank as high as any in the
IOnlleQ STATES. me committee, he ala
lshould have the first choice of rooms
at these hotels, the delegates the sec
lond choice. Hotel rates he promised
would not be raised. Mr.. Reed was es-
Ipecially fulsome in his euiogy Of the
convention hall which, he said, would
seat %, 900 people.
Mayor Rose, of Milwaukee, present
led the claims of the Badger City"
Whose selection he said would do it's
I1amnoranv good A1thn1l0h MpKin16v
carried Wisconsin by 100, 900 majority,
The promised that the state would this
year give her electoral votes to Bryan.
This announcement was greeted with
great applause. The same element
which carried Wisconsin in 1892 was in
sympathy with the democrats now, he
said. The hope of success for the de-
Imocracy this fall lay in the German
american vote. "Show to the Ger
man." he said, that the democrats
ARE opposed to imperialism and eXpan-
sion and they will be with u.s." Gap
IpTause.)
Among the others who spoke were
Ex-Governor Peck, of Wisconsin. and
Representative Lentz. of Ohio. for
milwaukee,, and David Overmeyer, of
kansas, for Kansas City.
The committee then took a recess.
At 3 o'clock h committee reassem-
lbled. The vote was then taken and
gave Kansas City 40, milwaukee, 9.
The vote for fixing the date for the
convention in favor of July 4th, q
Votes; June 14th, q votes: May 9th. l
vote.
A speech which had a great deal of
Influence fixing the date. was made by
Ex-senator German. He said that o u
years ago it might have been well to
hold the convention early as the party
then took a new position, one which
drove many of the leaders out OF the
Iparty or into temporary retirement.
The organization then went into new
hands, in the hands of able men, but
many of whom had not been active in
l%control of party affairs. and il took
them some time TO organize. Now
There was a good organization. The
tparty was ready and equipped to en-
ter upon the campaign. The party In
lpower should be allowed TO hold its
convention first and the Indictment of
that party could be made as IL has been
in times past.
Mr.. Mclean, of Ohio. also favored
tine latter date.
The committee then adjourned.
Following is the call issued by the
committees