The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-21
CONVENTIONS FIRST SESSION.
MURPHY BALKS AT WALKING
WITH PAT M'CARREN.
Hornbiower's speech Pieases Democrats
Hill an misunderstanding for
Well known Delegates-Prof. Leo OF
Cornell to BE Permanent Chairman


Of the Democratic State convention, which
began here at noon and was over two hours
later, was singularly harmonious, so far as
the proceedings were concerned. Most
Of the delegations had candidates for Gov
ernor and most of the leaders had been up
a greater part of the night in an effort to
unravel the tangle and corral the very
strongest candidate for Governor. Yet all
OF the dissension disappeared when the
delegates gathered in the convention hall.
When the session was over, there was but
one comment. 1t had to do with the speech
OF William B. Hornblower, temporary
chairman Of the convention. That speech
appealed to every Democrat in the conven-
tion, and even the densest delegate there
said that 1t was the best speech that had
been heard In a Democratic State conven-
ton in a decade.
The mere fact that the speech was de-
nounoed by Republican visitors to the con-
vention was accepted by disinterested
ones as showing that 1t pretty nearly hit
the bullseye, from a Democratic stand
point In fact the Democrats said 1t was
the best speech that has yet been uttered
in the present campaign. They declared
1t to have moro meat in it, more food for
reflection. II was a speech they added,
which will undoubtedly be read by millions
of Democrats.
David B. Hill. as usual, did not attend
the first session of the convention. 1t has
not been Mr.. Hills custom, for number Of
years, to be present on such occasions.
GOOD FEKIIEo AT THE GATHERING.
The convention was not only singularly
harmonious, but gave evidence OF pretty
good feeling all around. For instance,
when Charles r, Murphy, the Tammany
chieftain, came down the aisle, accom-
panied by Representative W. Bourke Cock
ran and Senator Victor J. Bowling, they
got rousing welcome.
When Senator Patrick Henry McCarren
Of Kings strobe into the sight Of the dele
gates and visitors he also was received
With booming cheers. So we're George
Foster Peabody, who Is a delegate from
Warren county, and william F. Sheehan
and August Belmont; and when Cord Meyer,
chairman Of the Democratic State COM
mittee, commanded order 30 that the pro-
oeedings might be begun. the Queens county
statesman was also received with great
applause.
Chairman Meyer announced that the
D6mOCTaJlC
Mr.. Hornblower to be temporary chair
man of the convention, and he appointed
Mr. Murphy Of Tamrnany. MIR. McCarren Of
Kings, ex-Judge Samuel A. Beardsley
Of Oneida and Representative Francis
Burton Harrison Of New York to escort
Mr. Hornblower to the platform.
MURPHY WOULDN'T. ESCORT WITH M'cARHEN
Mr.. Murphy OF Tammany did not regard
Chairman Meyers wishes in the matter.
He sat at the head Of the Tammany delega-
ton while the three remaining members OF
the escort accompanied Mr.. Hornblower
to the rostrum. Some said that Mr.. Murphy
In refusing to become one OF the escort,
had struck the only inharmonious note IN
the first session OF the convention.
Others familiar with the feeling between
Mr.. Murphy and Mr.. MoCarren said that
Mr.. Murphy had done nothing OF the kind.
that he was only maintaining consistently
the attitude which he has marked out for
himself toward Senator McCarren. Mr..
Murphy. over and over again in the New
York city newspapers. has said that he
would have no personal or political affili-
ations with Senator McCarren.
Chairman Meyer Is a friend to both
Murphy and McCaren, and, moreover.
he Is the conciliator in politics. He forgot
for the moment, 1t was learned later, the
attitude Of Mr.. Murphy toward Mr. McCar-
rem in the last few months and appointed
them as part OF Mr.. Hornblower's escort
merely as q matter Of courtesy.
CHEERING FOR HoRNBLowER.
Mr.. Hornblower was received with great
cheers. He always has been known as a
strong Cleveland Democrat. He also has
been anti-Hill for the last twenty years.
Any impression that Mr.. Hornblower &C
cepted the invitation to be temporary
chairman Of this convention at the hands
Of Mr.. Hill is entirely erroneous. 1t was
William F. sheehan, Edward M. Shepard,
August Belmont and men Of that stamp
who requested Mr.. Hornblower to accept
the honor, and Mr. Hornblower replying
TO them, said that he would be only too
greatly pleased to do 50.
?, Mr. Hornblowers speech was constantly
interrupted by tremendous cheers. 1t
was speech to which the delegates liked
to listen. Mr.. Hornblower's references
to the Rep ublican panic Of 1878 and his
mention Of Grover Cleveland's name brought
out a storm Of cheers which lasted Ave
minutes Thousands Of feet stamped,
Whistles WSTe dilO Graphing
shouts Of approval greeted the e1-Presi-
dents name.
Mr. Hornblower, In calling attention
to the economy OF Cleveland's first Ad-
rninistration, followed by Harrison's Adj
ministration, which he termed reckless
and which brought the country to the
verge Of a financial precipice In 1893, was
received with great acclaim.
"No billion dollar Congresses were al
lowed under Democratic administrations,
declared Mr.. Hornblower, and there were
more cheers.
THE cHAIRMAN's FoRcEFUL oRAToRY.
Mr.. Hornblower Is little man physically.
but there Ia a sonorous rolling voice In that
small body which shook up the conven-
ton 1t wasn't timid or q hesitatin speech,
such as might have been expected from a
great lawyer like Mr. Hornblower whose
training has been toward the conserve
tive side OF public speech. He forcibly
arraigned the Republican national Ad-
ministration for arrogance, for audacity,
for the postal frauds and for extravaganza,
and in resonant tones he called attention
to the fact that under the Cleveland Ad-
ministration no exposures were neces-
sary and no frauds were unearthed.
Mr.. Hornblower spoke Of the necessity
for exposing the postal frauds, Just as
there had been necessity for exposing the
Credit Mobilier, the Whiskey Ring and
the Star Route frauds.