The San Francisco call., 1903-09-15
CHAIRMAN OF DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION AND SOME OF
THE SPEAKERS.

sorry to say, but he and I understand
enc another The greatest writer OF tragedy
that ever lived, the Hon. William Shakespeare
never wrote tragedy but he injected a lit
tie piece of comedy through 1t. We nearly had
our tragedy in the beginning. Now let S nave
a little comedy even II we lose We may not
win this time but, gentlemen. as sure as the
sun rises and sets we viii win the next time
We the pioneers who tonight are going to
sow the seed that is going to bring back the
Democrats that have been driven away within
the last five years. They nailed the ballot box
so high at the primary that God knows, while
l am tall enough l couldn't see whether the
ballot was dropped into the box or on to the
floor. Therefore. gentlemen, without any fur-
ther remarks 1 would second the nomination
of my old friend o. Donnell and may he and
Hickey have a tight race, and even II he Is
which am not even if he is Horse and Cart
I hope he has been shod properly. daughter
and applause)
John H Mullen of the Thirty-sixth Dis
trict also seconded the nomination of
O'Donnen He was interrupted by the
McNab contingent but did not mind. He
appealed for the election of O'Donnell and
gave many reasons why he should be Sc
lected chairman. Nominations were de-
clared closed, and Joseph Slye of the For
ty-second District and William d. Hynes
of tile Thirty-siXth District were appoint
ed tellers. and kept tab on the votes. The
roll call continued very smoothly until the
Fortieth District was reached. There was
a division in this district, and trouble was
experienced in recording the vote. Will
liam Ross startled the convention by vot-
ing for David l. Mahoney for chairman.
There was loud outburst of laughter.
There was a squabble over the vote in
this district Ross claimed the right to
vote the absentees, and Sidney M. Van
Wyck Jr. protested. Ross rushed toward
the platform with a proxy, and Kelly,
who had taken the chair, declined to look
at it.
Il don't want to see that" said Kelly
with feeling.
Read iii" Read itr' INSULT and
other such replies came from all parts of
the hall Kelly then took the paper and
read it, He informed the convention that
it was an authorization to vote, but un-
signed.
When the Forty-third District was
reached Chairman John ]. Gleason an
nounced sixteen votes for ODonnell. Jo-
seph T. O'Connor arose and protested that
he was delegate to the convention and
would be entitled to seat until he was
unseated. He said he wanted to be re-
corded as voting for Hickey. Much feel
ing was shown by both sides and Gleason
explained the matter. lowing to an error
of the Registrars clerk" he said, Mr.
OConnor has been given the credentials as
delegate to this convention in place of
Mr. Reagan, who was rightfully elected
by the voters of this city, and 1 protest
against Mr.. O'Connor voting in this con-
vention'
RESULT OF VOTE.
The vote was then announced as fol-
lows:
Hickey, 2o415; o'Donnell, 1873.
Hickey was declared the temporary
chairman. O'Donnell moved to make his
election a unanimous one. Hickey was
escorted to the platform by O'Donnell and
Brady, and spoke in part as follows:
1 thank you, gentlemen of the convention.
for this honor conferred upon me- To me and
70 every man having read the history of the
Democratic party the office of chairman of a
Democratic convention, representing Democratic
traditions standing for Democratic principles,
striving for Democratic ideals of government,
Is an exalted station. But am aware that
in thus raising me TO the chair you have de-
signed to honor not personally. but the
district from which 1 come, the district which
contains more Democrats than any other As
sembly district in California. the district which
so often in the past has given and which as
often in the future will give to Democratic
candidates the puralities that turn defeat into
victory In the name of the Thirtieth Dis
trict L thank you.
And in accepting this responsible office l
now pledge myself to allow every man in this
body fair play am the chairman Of no fac
tion the champion of no candidate. In the
performance of nv office 1 may commit err
ment without bias and without malice: a nd
l entreat your charitable Judgment in consid-
GRAFTON of my clean purpose.
We have gathered in this convention to ex-
ercise a serious. an important function of cit
izenship. that of nominating candidates for
election to the municipal offices of San Fran
cisco the city where many of US were born
and reared which all of call home which
all of us, / trust, hold dear with an effec-
tion that is more than patriotism. We are met
to exercise function and perform a duty al
ways serious and important always demand
ing care and solicitude and zeal and honesty.
but at this time particularly serious, particu-
larly important. The city of San Francisco is
just stepping out of the condition Of pro-