The San Francisco call., 1904-07-06
FIGHT MAY GO
TO THE FLOOR
OF CONVENTION
Illinois factions
Display Great
Bitterness.
National Commit
tees Decision
Not Final.

ST. LOUIS, July 6.-The National
Committee held this afternoon what
probably VIII have been its last meet
ing. The reports OF subcommittee
appointed TO hear contests IN the States
OF Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
South Dakota and the District Of Co
lumbis, were heard and concurred in.
These reports in every instance recon-
ended the placing Of the names Of the
contestants on the temporary roll call
Of the convention. Not one contest
was successful The majority OF the
contests will 90 before the committee
Oh credentials.
Palmer Woods OF Honolulu was to-
day declared a member Of the National
Committee, TO succeed William H.
Cornwall. deceased
A resolution was adopted providing
that the delegates from the Philippine
Islands and from Porto Rico be given
seats in the convention but no votes
until their status shall have been fixed.
A resolution commencing the work Of
the national chairman. James X Jones.
and other officers Of the committee was
unanimously adopted, and Chairman
Jones made an address expressing his
thanks for the appreciation OF his
work
VICTORY FOR HOPKINS.
The subcommittee Of the national
committee. which yesterday and last
night heard the evidence in the four
teen districts Of Illinois, to-day re-
ported 10 the national committee that
il was the unanimous opinion OF the
mem bers Of the subcommittee that
the Hopkins delegates be allowed 10
retain their seats. The report was
concurred in and the Hopkins men
VIII hold their seats unless ousted by
the action Of the committee on creden-
Lsls.
The decision Of the subcommittee
was based on the ground that the State
convention was supreme. that fights
in the district caucuses are not proper
matter for adjudication by the national
committee and that it is not the busi-
ness Of the national committee to go
behind the records Of the convention,
ss submitted. These records show that
the Hopkins men are regularly ac-
credited delegates and because Of this
fact the subcommittee gave its YER
dict for them. The fight. in the opin-
Jon of the committee, should have been
made in the State
HEARST MEN DISHEARTENED.
The Harrison and Hearst men were
greatly disheartened by their defeat
and announced their intention Of
carrying the fight before the committee
on credentials and, if beaten there, be-
fore the convention itself. This threat
did not alarm the Hopkins faction
which said that the argument that won
before the national committee would
hold good before the committee on Gre
dentisls and before the convention.
1T is all over" said John P. Hop
kins. We won, as I knew we would
There was, in fact, nothing else for the
committee 10 do. What steps may be
taken later viii have no effect. Our
delegates viii remain just where the
State convention seated them"
The victory Of the Hopkins faction
was also a defeat for W. J. Bryan. who
has made the fight almost a personal
one. He yesterday attended the hear
ing IN the greater part Of the contests
and showed his anxiety in every way
10 win the seats for Harrison and
Hearst.
The action Of the committee is far
reaching" he said, ''and means that
the work OF a few men is TO stand be-
fore the wishes Of the majority Of the
delegates. hope the credentials com
mittee viii see the question in a differ
ent light"
The contests in the other States were
reported by the various subcommittee
as previously announced, and their
action was approved by the National
Committee, which then adjourned.
DISPLAYS OF RANCOR.
The sght in the Illinois delegation in
volved thirteen districts and two of
the delegates at large, and was one Of
The most bitter ever contested before
any convention. The hearing yesterday
and last night before the sub-commit-
tee of the National Committee was only
preliminary for both sides. The bitter
work VIII come later before the com
mittee on credentials, and il is almost
certain al this time that II there is any
chance 10 get the contest TO the floor OF
the convention il viii go here and be
waged with energy.
Several times last night the retorts
between the cOntesting factions were of
so heated nature that Chairman Stone
OF the subcommittee was compelled 10
repeatedly call for order. and once s5,n-
gested that the gentlemen from Illinois
would ind the outside Of the hotel a
proper place TO conduct their argu-
ments. if their minds were made nm
for a bullfght"
Charges Of high-handed worl, rvere
made repeatedly against the secretary
Of the State Convention. George A
Brennan, by the representative of CON
tcE-ants ia the Twenty-third District
=. NJ Katy declared that twice he had
Eiven TO Brennan the names 81 tbo
delegates selected in the district 60,
Gus and twice Brennan had fbrou,, -
~ the floor, and he had found n tboro
and submitted il to the committee This
brought Brennan 10 his feet with -
impassioned denial, closing win The
declaration; Everybody knows that
would not do such thing" This called
forth jeers from the contestants an6
Brennan took his seat in silence
BARNES ASSAIIS QUINN
An acrimonious fight took pIace ~
the hearing Of the contest in the Tween