The Florence tribune., 1900-10-06

had been cast for Shannon and 70 votes for Ling. Shannon, thus fairly elect ed, took the chair. Amid calls for Liugs he was by the minority con ducted to the platform and claimed to be temporary chairman. Chaos fol- lowed. Why was Ling thus put up with only 70 votes, except to break up the convention, or destroy its nominee.
 Shannon was duly elected. No coun- ty present had rights superior to Mari copa. Even if there had been an hou- est, valid contest. Maricopa had the right to vote on preliminary organiza- tion, provided the delegation bore the regular credentials from the county convention. No lawyer will dispute this who has reputation that can be injured. What would fair men have done under these circumstances? It is plain. They would have recognized the election of Shannon, and on the appoiL tment of a committee on creden- tials, would have filed their contest and produced proofs and had trial of the question in an orderly and legal and decent way. If after such hearing the committee should decide against them, they had the right to bring in a r,iporitr, ,.anort ,na ,rot n x1to .f 4l 1. convention on it. If the minority re- port contested the regular delegates from Maricopa, that county could not vote on that contest, and there would have been 70 Wilson delegates voting and only 59 Smith delegates. Having no proof to submit to properly ap- pointed committee-having no valid arguments to urge before the conven- tion, their only escape from my nom- nation was through the revolutionary methods adopted by them. They knew among the 70 Wilson delegates there was a large majority of honest, fair democrats, who would not inten- tionally wrong their party or cheat it's choice out of 8 fair nomination. Their case could not be trusted even to their friends.
 Itis conceded that delegate whose seat is contested cannot vote upon that contest; but it is equally true that a delegate having the regular creden- tials can vote on all matters of prelim- mary organization prior to the motion to seat or unseat himself. McCrary on Elections, page 1SS-lS9, says:
 eff the mere institution of contest was to be deemed sufficient to prevent the swearing in of the person holding the usual credentials, it is easy to see that very great and serious injustice might be done. If this were the rule, it would only be necessary for an evil disposed person to contest the right of his successful rival and to protract the contest as long as possible, in order to deprive the latter of his office for at least q part of the term. And this might be done by contest having lit tie or no merit on his side, for it would be impossible to discover, in advance of an Investigation, the absence of merit. And again, if the party hold ing the ordinary credentials to an of fee could be kept out of the office by the mere institution of a contest, the organization of a legislative body, such, for example, as the House of Representatives of the United States, might be altogether prevented by in- stituting contests against majority of the members, or what is more to be apprehended, the relative strength of political parties in such body might be changed by instituting contests against members of one or the other of such parties. These considerations have made it necessary to adopt, and to adhere to, the rule, that the person holding the ordinary credentials shall be qualified and allowed to act pend- ing a contest and until decision can be had on the merits"
 It is evident. therefore, that Shannon was duly elected temporary chairman, and whether Mir. Parish did or did not declare the result, is wholly immater- ial otherwise he by withholding the announcement, or making false an- nouncement, could force any result his recklessness might dictate, and thus usurp the whole power and fnnc- tions of the convention, while he him self was not even a member of the body.
 In an effort to extricate the conven- tion from the unhappy dilemma into which it had thus needlessly been thrown, committee consisting of three delegates from each side was chosen by agreement. This committee never agreed. The proceeding had be- fore it will soon be made public.
 The ambition of certain men leading Col. Wilson's fight had in my opinion
 Al