The evening Republican., 1902-09-17
The Choice of the Convention Creates General Sur
prise Among the Democrats
Peter j. Ford Presides AS Temporary Chairman and
Speeches Were Delivered by Him and Con-
gress1nan Griggs of Georgia.

hlCcr Llle pldtlOTW ,lIu Do5u FeIu,
and Chairman Ford ihad called fol
the adoption Of the platfo rm, John
p. Holland. OF Milford. u prominent
young Democrat, stepped to the plat.
form and offered a minority report
endorsing in its entirety tue Kansas
City platform 1t read as follows:
"That all of the majority report
pertaining. to national issues be strc!l-
en- out, aud the following inserted in
lieu thereof:
In state convention assembled
we, the Democrats Of Delaware,
hereby acknowledge and declaro
our continued allegiance to the Dem
ocratic party of the nation and on
national issues realfirn and endorse
the principles Of the last national
platform adopted at Kansas City"
Clinton A. Prettyman seconded
the adoption OF the minority re-
port
Thomas Davis of Wilmington
raised Il point of order, on the
ground that the amendatory reso-
luton should have been referred to
the committee Oh resolutions.
Mr.. Holland upheld the right of
the minority members of the COM
mittee on resolutions to submit a
minority report, but Chairman Ford
ruled that the amendment was out
Of order.
Mr.. Holland again explained that
the minority certainly was entitled
to present a report, if not in accord
with the platform.
After comforting II moment with
State Chairman Willard Salisbury
and former Senator Richard R
Kenney, who sat near him Chair
man Ford announced that he had
been informed by men in who's,
judgment he had the utmost faith
that h9 had erred in declaring the
minority report out of order. Mr.
Ford then ruled that the report pre-
sented by Mr.. Holland was on or
der.
At this juncture DR., G. W. Ploas-
anton of Milford moved to lay the
minority report on the table. Chair
man Ford called for q viva voce
vote.
On the question to lay the report
on ths table, there WAS tumulr
of ayes from all parts of the hall.
The supporters of tho report were
comparatively few, ann Chairman
Ford, amid applause, declared the
minority report tabled, it being
overwhelming defeated
1t was said that Mr.. Holland was
elected Il delegate on II fight involv-
ing the free silver issue.
Then the most important feature
OF the convention was about to
occur Chairman Ford announced
that the nomination of a candidate
lor representative in Congress was
III order, and the call by counties
was made bY Secretary Hocomb.
Whn The nam, OF New Castle
county was called, William b.
Kurt assembled the platform and
pleaded IN nomination l.. Irving
ffandy. lie referred to the Demo
crat,c convention asa big family.
which has its quarreIs, then makes
up, and returns home. lie lauded
tho ability and he record OF Mr.
Handy wilhelm Congress. lie char
acter'zed as "vote.gettcr aud
Democratic shaft -horse."
II the rotation system Of nom,na-
tion congressman were adbeared to
Mr.. kurlZ declared thlL the con-
grcssional nomination should 20 to
Kent county. But new conditions
now prevail. demanding that the
strongest possible candidate b
nominated. Mr.. kurtz SAID. Then
he placed The name OF Mr.. Handy
before the convention.
No sooner had Mr.. r.Kurtz couclud-
ed before former Acknowledgement
Robert 9 White was on the plat. I
form, and in Il stirriug speech,
nominated Harry A Houston OF
MlIlsboro, who he said was the
unanimous choice OF the Sussex co
unity caucus,and the "pccr OF any
candidate this convention can
name. " This was received with !;
much enthusiasm on the part Of
the Sussex delegation.
Thomas Davis OF Wilmington sec
onjei the nomination or Mr. Hous. |
ton saying:
"ln behalf OF those delegates OF
New Clstle county, who believe in
county rights, who believe that it is
to the best interests Of the party
that Sussex county should name one
OF her sons, and in rotation is emit
tied to the nomination. l second the
nomination Of Henry A Houston. "
Mr.. llandy's nomination was not
seconded.
Chairman Ford appointed William
F. Kurtz. Colonel Everett Hickman
and George D. Harrington as tellers.
The pames Of delegates were called
and each walked to the front OF The |
hall and deposited his ballet In a hat.
While the ballots we're being
every person In the room |
was on the tp.toe OF expectancy.
The count began with Sussex, and
Mr.. Houston Was far ahead Of Mr.