The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27

llIfllIldIy lnSSllISS So-ody VI IAS
Democratic state convention, which
will convene here tomorrow, DEM
onstrated that the conservatives were
in control, two to one, in opposition
to Hearst, but divided among hem
selves on Presidential preferences for
James Kilbourne, of Columbus. and
Judge Harmon, of Cincinnati. These
preliminary skrmisheS also demon
strated that neither the old guard.
known as the conservatives, nor the
Observation-Disclosures" men, known
as the radicals, had a leader. Major
Johnson, Of Cleveland, who has been
the recognized leader in his party in
Ohio for h past two years., was to-
day unable to control the votes of the
two state committeeman from his own
city, whom he had put or the commit
tee one year ago, and the anne was
true of other members Of the state
central committee, whom he a Sc
lected.
While there was no leader on the
ground, there was much comment to-
night that the old following of John
R.. Mclean was again in control. Mr..
Mclean had previously declined to
allow his name used for either dis
trict delegate or delegate at large, n
he was said to be out of politics, but
now he is expected to succeed himself
as Ohio member of the Democratic
national committee n be a factor at
the st. Louis convention.
The old state central committee was
in session all afternoon after passing
on contests by countless The settle
ment of Mayor Johnson's case from
Cleveland was second on h call, n
h johnson delegates were seated
unanimously. The first contest was
that OF Clermont county, where the
vote of 10 to 8 against the Hearst
delegation was considered a test vote
of the state central committee on the
contest between the conservatives and
radicals. There was great excitement
after the third vote of the state COM
mittee, which seated the Hearst dele
CATION of Franklin county by a vote
of fifteen affirmative, three negative
and three not voting. Franklin
county constitutes the twelfth con-
gressional district, n is the home of
Colonel James Kilbourne, who has
been doomed as the Ohio favorite
against Hearst.
If the seventy-three votes of Cuya-
hoga county, headed by Mayor John
son, cooperate with the radicals, it
will make three districts that the rad
icals secured in the temporary con-
tests, while the conservatives secured
six. The conservatives carried 10 of
the Fl districts for members of the
new state central committee. The
radicals have representatives on these
committees only from six districts,
the two Cleveland districts being
classed as doubtful.
There were mixed conditions in
several districts, showing that the
conservatives had no leadership. In
the fifth, A. P. Saundles, a radical.
was made state committeeman, while
Walter B. Richie, If Lima, formerly
manager for the late Senator Calvin
5. Brice, and now one of the leading
conservatives, was endorsed for dele
gate at large. At the same time,
Richie was defeated in his home dis
trict, the fourth, for such endorse
ment by Judge John F. Linderman,
one of the leading radicals.
Among those who We're endorsed by
different districts for delegates az
large, who would be selected to-mor-
row., are former Congressman John
A. Mcmahon. of Dayton; William S.
Thomas, of Springfield: Edward H.
Moore, of Youngstown; General E. b.
Finley. OF Bucyrus; Congressman
John w. Cassingham, of Coshton;
General A. j. Warner, of Marietta
and former Congressman John j.
Lentz, of Columbus.
There Is a dearth of candidates for
the state ticket. w. P. Huntington is
the candidate of the conservatives
and A. P. S~aundles of the radicals for
secretary Of state.