The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27
NOT INSTRUCTED
Tho Platform Devoted Mainly to State
Issues-A Plank Favoring a TWO
Cent Street Railway Fare-lhe
Harmon Men Apparently Win i'm the
Convention-The Majority for the
Unit Rule Was Only IS Out OF
Total of 723-Hearst Will Get No
Votes From Ohio.

Columbus, o., May 25.-The Demo-
cratic state convention here to-day
nominated the following ticket:
Secretary of State-A. P. Sandles,
of Ottawa.
supreme Court Judge-Philip ].
Renner, of Cincinnati.
Clerk of Supreme Court-Peter
Mahaffey. of Cambridge.
Dairy and Food Commissioner
Ouintin NJ. Gravatt. of Wooster.
Member of the Board of Public
Works-Wiliiam H. Ferguson. Of
Springfield.
Electors at Large-John y. McDoW-
ell, of Millerburg, and A. ]. Pear
son, of Woodsfield.
Delegates at Large-William 5.
Thomas, of Springfield; John A. Nc
Mahon,. of Dayton; Edward H.
Moore, of Youngstown. and Charles
P. Salem, of Cleveland.
Alternates-David L. Rockwell, Of
Ravenel; John Sheehan, of Cincin-
natl; Henry c. Gray, of Hamilton, and
William Z. Decker, of Paulding.
There were three Presidential ele-
ments involved. The Hearst men ori
ginaIIy wanted instructions, but final
iy limited their opposition to the unit
rule. The friends of Colonel James
KfIbourne, of Columbus, who was the
Democratic candidate for Governor
three years ago, wanted endorse
ment" The friends of Judge Judson
Harmon, of Cincinnati, who was at
rorney-generai under Cleveland, want
ed neither endorsement or 1nStruc-
tions. but the unit rule. The Har-
mon men apparently won. The plat
form was adopted as presented with
the exception of a two-cent railway
fare plank. which was added at the
instigation of Mayor Johnston, of
Cleveland.
The majority for the unit rule was
only 65. out of a total vote of 723.
After the conservatives had de-
eated the radicals at the preliminary
- meetings yesterday, they had to-day
contentious among themselves. but
the Harmon men limited their efforts
to avoiding either instructions or en-
dorsement. and making sure of the
unit rule. under which William r.
Hearst will get no votes from Ohio,
although he has carried at least three
districts. Harland Cleveland, of Gin
cinnati. a cousin of former President
Grover Cleveland, made the argu-
ment before the convention In support
of the unit rule, to which John H.
Clark and others vigorously objected.
The convention was in continuous
session almost nine hours, and during
the last three hours it was diSorderly.
There were several dramatic scenes.
notably when former Congressman
John j. LentZ and Colonel William A.
Taylor indulged in personalities on the
platform, and later when Allen O..
Meyers and Mayor Tom L. Johnson
had a heated argument.
The delegate alternates at large are
claimed by the so-cal!ed conserva-
tives. Who also claim thirty of the
district delegates. Their poll of the
Ohio delegation to st. Louis IS So
conservatives (friendly to Harmony !;
Hearst 6, and Folk 4.
The first test OF strength came ON
the question of adopting a minority
report from the committee on ere
dentials seating the radical delegates
from Franklin county. The minority
report was defeated 307 20-35 to $50
1876.
The majority report of the conser-
ed.
An attempt TO amend the platform
by striking out the unit rule was de-
feated-yeas 327 1928, nays 3e1
1928.
The platform is devoted mainly to
state issues. relegating purely ma
tiOnal questions to the national con-
vention. The Ohio delegation is di-
rected to cast the entire 46 votes in
the national convention as the major
ity of those present and voting shall
decide. when such majority shall de-
termine that course to be advisable
The platform contains a plank IA
YOr two-cent street railway fares and
on state issues 'oqer the people re-
lief from the political trust which
has long controlled every department
Of the state government. Its owners
have grown arrogant. reckless and
corrupt; secure. they think, in the
union of predatory forces against the
people who are not organized in their
own Defense"