Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-24
Special to TImes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, June 24.-The democra
tic state convention met today. what
ever the outcome the convention is sure
to have a place in the political history
OF the state as a notable one Ihe con-
vention marks the return to the old fold
of large majority of those who have
felt themselves forced out into the cold
for several years. When the convention
met. and there had been music by the
high school band and an invocation by
DR.. Breeder, and Chairman Jackson in
troduced ]. Herbert Quick, of Sioux
City, as the chairman, 1t could be seen
that the convention more nearly resem-
bled a democratic convention of the
Cleveland or Boies era than several that
have passed current as democratic con-
ventions. The Second district was the
center of attraction. Here there was
a solid district every man earnestly for
q return to the traditional principles OF
the party; and in the seats were such
men as Judge E. II. Thayer, Clinton
Judge NJ. J. Wade. Iowa City; j. j.
Richardson, Davenport; Senator Ball
Iowa City; Senator Lambert, Sabula:
Gil Johnson, Marquoketa; Judge House
Clinton; and e. M. Sharon, Davenport
Over in the First were such men as
Judge Trimble, Keokuk; w. w. Bald
win, Burlington, and Senator Alberson
Washington. Here also was Tom Bow
man, of Council Bluffs; Judge Ezra
Willard, Atlantic; Jim Parsons
Rock Rapids; Farley Sheldon
Ames: Charlie Fullen, Ottumwa; and
John Stuebenrach. peIa. One who has
been attending democratic conventions
for many years declared that no such
fine body of men has sat in a democrat
&c state convention since Boies was
first nominated for governor. Every
where there was indication that the
convention was made up of the best
men that could be picked to attend a
democratic convention. There was the
absence OF Gen. Weaver quite notice
able. and Cato Sells was not on hand
to give out an interview this time, and
Governor Boies was sadly missed: but
on the whole 1t was a representative
democratic gathering, and no democrat
could make complaint that the men
present were not entitled to seats.
The convention was called to order
at 10:45 and Chairman Quick delivered
his address.
The caucuses We're held early in the
day. The caucuses disclosed that there
had been surprising gains and losses
on both sides Late last night the silver
.~,av, ;rt, Jp,iftaS the 9
of their cause. They were counting
more votes than they had last year.
but 1t Is a bigger convention and they
would need good many more than
they had last year. They could not
find them and while not publicly ad-
mitting their weakness We're skirmish-
ing for more votes. The closeness of
the vote In the Seventh district was a
surprise to many. The fact that the
silver men made gains in the First was
unexpected. The silver men practically
had everything in the Eighth, which
was not expected. But in the Ninth the
gold men had gained, and they had
gained noticeably in the Second and
Eleventh districts.
The caucuses.
In the caucuses this, morning the
gold men won out easily, carrying every
district except the Sixth, Seventh,
Ninth and Tenth. The committee WILL
therefore. bring in two reports. In all
probability the majority report will be
written by Judge Matthews, of Du-
buque. and the minority by Editor
Robb, of Creston. The following COM
pose the resolutions committee:
First district-Thomas H. Johnson
Lee county.
Second--E. M. Sharon. Scott.
Third-Alphonso Matthews. Dubuque.
Fourth-D. d. Murphy, Clayton.
Fifth-S. s. Wright, Cedar.
Sixth. H. Tucker Poweshiek.
Seventh-W. f. Davis. Dallas.
Eighth-W. H. Robb, Union.
Ninth-John P. Organ, Pottawatta-
mie.
Tenth-E. H. Doud. Boone.
Eleventh-James NJ. Parsons. Lyons.
Silver Men Discouraged.
The result of the caucuses was de-
cidedly disheartening 10 the silver
forces this morning. They had expected
a larger number of men on the reso-
lGtions committee, and they practically
have only three, and they not of great
force. These are Robb, Davis and Doud,
but they say they will bring in min
ority report and have 1t fought out. In
the Seventh district, wnere the silver
men controlled, an effor, was made to
place Walt Butler on the resolutions
committee, but he did not get vote.
The instructions in the Sixth for silver
were carried by just one majority, and
a gold man was named for the COM
mittee.
caucuses Were Quiet.
The caucuses were generally quiet
and orderly and in most of them the
delegates were satisfied with a direct
vote. In the First district the vote was
46 to "a for gold on n motion to in
struct. In the Second the contest was
purely personal. as the district was
solid for gold. In the Third district
there was no test vote. but it was de-
ve!oped the gold men HAD So to II for
silver. IN the Fourth district D. D..
Murphy. OF Clayton, a gold man, was