Arizona republican., 1900-09-15
THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FAILED
There Was Hope Until the Last Moment That Some Way
 Might Be Found to Prevent the Wreck of tbe Demo-
 cratic Party of the TeHtOry-The Fight Will Still. Be Continued in the Court for Place on the Official
 BaIIOt-C Convention Incidents

The democratic party broke squarely in two yesterday in spite of ,he most earnest efforts to hold it together and nominated both Marcus A Smith and J. F. Wilson as candidates for delegate to congress.
 The ray of light thrown upon the gloomy situation on Thursday night never returned. There was never an other instant when peace was possible, though everybody desired it. A very large body of the delegates regretted that conflict had ever arisen. but there were a few who took advantage of it and urged 1t on, intending to bring it to an end before the adjournment of the convention. They lost control of a situation which they had largely brought about themselves and became instruments for the wrecking of their party and their own political fortunes There are a dozen men who have been prominent in democratic politics in this territory for years who will never te heard of any more.
 The extent of the disaster is not yet known. Said an official of Hhe late con- vention last night: 'T believe it is much worse than we think it is. IL is my opinion that it's effect will be felt in every county and precinct in Ari- zona."
 THE REPUBLICAN CHANGE.
 This cloud over democratic politics, gloomy as 1t seems to be. has silver lining from the republican point of view. The election of a democrat to congress appears impossible, and many republicans have been inclined to feel that it is impossible to put a man in the field so weak that he cannot de- feat the stronger of the two demo- cratic nominees. A republican, speak ing of lthe matter last night said that 1t would be dangerous to accept dem ocratic defeat as foregone conclusions: that it is possible to nominate can didate whom either Smith or Wilson can beat. No chances should be taken, he said, with the enemy because it seems to be helplessly crippled. Only one of the nominees will be a candi- date, and the sloughing off of the party from him may not he as extensive as it seems now. But there is not one of all the delegates in the late convention who believes it viii be possible to elect either Wilson or Smith. That opinion may be revised before election. Every thing seems dark to man who has just emerged from great sorrow. and If the democrats of Arizona ever had sorrow in great volume it was yester- day. Time will soothe their grief and they will shortly take a more cheerful view of things.
 A FUNEREAL OCCASION.
 There were more sad looking people ir Doris theater yesterday between 10 o'clock and than had ever been con SreSated there since the appearance of Duncan Clark and his minstrels. There were many republicans to whom the occasion ought to have been felicftous but the woe of the democrats was in fectious and everybody was sad. There was weary and anxious waiting for development in the conference com- mittee room which would relieve the agony. The first brightening influence was an announcement by Wiley F.. Jones of Graham county. who hal just come from the Hotel Adams, that the committee had agreed. A shout of joy went up, followed by the eager in quiry, Who's the seventh member?" 'They haven't agreed on that yet said Mir. Jones; "they'Ve so far only agreed on resoIution to prohibit me from pro pounding any more c)nundrums tO the convention" This was to prevent repetition of the embarrassment caused by MT. Jones the day before when he asked, "Who is democrat"
 This agreement wasn't much. but it was something and indicated an ability of the committee 10 get to- gether. Speaking of agreements, there were in the course of the three days convention only two agreements on anything permanent. One was to di- vide the convention in two and the Oth- CT was the nomination by the two of James B. Finley of Tucson for joint councilman for Pima and Maricopa counties. That was the sole incident | connecting the two fragments of the l brok- n convention. There was a man who almost. bat not quite. saved the day-Alfred Ruiz of Apache county. He was loyal to Col Wilson until he saw that a continuance of the fight meant comprehensive dis , aster. and having a bad opinion of the MaricOpa county contest, began on Thursday afternoon to suggest to Col. Wilson the propriety of his withdrawal in the interest of harmony. He met with little opposition so far as Col. Wilson was concerned but there were other influences in the way. At length Mir Ruiz threatened Ito throw his del ega.ion to Smith. It Was this threat which led to the understanding with the conference committee. It was fu-