The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-16
MAY GET THE NOMINATION
His Appeal for Honesty Meets
 With Applause.
Belknap Has More Than Enough Votes to Win If the Delegates Do Not Force Bradley In-
 to the Field.

Louisville. Ky, July 1b.-spectavular in the extreme was the opening session of the Kentucky Republi- can State Convention. which began at the Auditorium this afternoon and the situa- ton is full of possibilities for more pyro- technics before final adjournment Is ta- ken. The salient features of the after noon gathering were an endorsement of President Roosevelts candidacy in 1904 which upset the calculations of several shrewd leaders who, 1t is charged, were figuring on ignoring that point in the platform resolutions and what amounted almost to stampede to former Governor W. o. Bradley, who Is not an announced candidate, after Colonel Morris B. Belk- nap had on a test vote for temporary chairman, apparently shown that he could win hands down on the first ballot.
 The convention was called to oRder at 2:25 o'clock this afternoon by State Chair man Barnett, who announced the chief business before the convention to be the nomination of a full State ticket. There are three candidates for Governor: Col. Morris B. Belknap, Louisville whole sale merchant; Hon. Augustus B. Will
 
 General Clifton J. Pratt, the only man on the ticket in 1899 to secure his ofice after a bitter legal contest.
 Chairman Barnett announced that the State Central Committee would waive It's right to arbitrarily name the temporary chairman and called for nomination.
 William c. Owens was named by the Belknap forces, while Charles Blanford received a large part of the combined strength of the Pratt and Wilson forces.
 Belknap's Strong Showing.
 The result was a vote of 1,Sn to 676 In favor of owens. This vote cast In the contest for Governor would enable Belk- nap to win even should he lose the con- tested Louisville delegation of 24s votes.
 The Committees on Credentialss Rules and order of Business, Permanent Organ ization and Resolutions were then an- nounced.
 In announcing the names of the Com mittee on Resolutions Chairman Owens called attention to the rule that all reso- lutions must be offered the Committee without being read, unless unanimous consent should be obtained for promul- gating them on the floor of the conven- ton.
 It had been openly charged during the day that a fight would be made against endorsement by the Committee of Roose- velt's candidacy. This State of affairs was charged to former Collector of In- ternal Revenue Charles E. Sapp, and former United States Senator DeBoe, who led the Belknap forces and organized the convention.
 Immediately after the Committees were announced, former Governor Bradley took the floor and offered the following resolu- tion:
 Resolved, that we, the Republicans of Kentucky, express our heartfelt approval and admiration of the administration of Theodore Roosevelt and that we heartily endorse him for the Republican nomina- ton of President in 1904"
 The resolution was read by Governor Bradley. without having first obtained consent. but 1t was unanimously adopted by a rising vote, every delegate springing to his feet and cheering.
 Wild Cheers for Bradley.
 Immediately afterward MT. Bradley was given a tremendous ovation. After i've minutes uninterrupted cheering. he con- sented to take the stage, and spoke. The pith of his remarks was an appeal for honest elections and honest conventoins, and he referred indirectly to the contest over the Louisville delegation by plead ing that the delegates name a man only whose methods had been fair and honest, and one who could command united sup port. The speech was powerfully put and there immediately began what threatened to become a stampede to Bradley. Hun dreds of delegates gathered around Brad ley and admonished him that he was the man who most nearly resembled the pic- ture he had himself drawn.
 If Bradley had been placed in nomina- ton then he would have received an al- most unanimous vote on the assumption that his nomination would wipe out any bitterness caused by the Louisville con hao fYep Hon. A. E. Wilson, who Is cntesting the entire Louisville delegation to whom cre- dentials were given by the man at the head of the local party machinery.
 After half an hour of steadily growing excitement, the convention was suddenly adjourned until o'clock tonight.
 At the opening of the night session the Committee on Rules reported the order of business for the remainder of the con- vention to be reports of the Committee on credentials. permanent organization. resolutions and then the nominations. The proceedings then came to a halt while the convention waited for the report of the Committee on Credentials. The delegates called necessarily for Bradley, showing that the effects of the outburst of the afternoon had not been dissipated. The Bradley sentiment so suddenly but strong ly developed, unsettled the calculations of the politicians and silenced predictions as to the outcome. Commissioner of h. ternal Revenue Yerkes made a speech in- dicating his preference for Belknap.
 The report of the committee. it was announced would not be ready tonight and adjournment was taken until g o'clock tomorrow. The delay was caused by the contest over the Louisville delegation, the Wilson forces developing unexpected strength on the committee. Until this committee reports no business can be transacted and ballot in the race for Governor may not be reached until to. morrow afternoon.
 pradIav Not a Candidafa