The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-20


| cratic party OF Clinton County. The facts
10 the case, he said, have been involved
in some confusion, but he argued that II
appears that the new committee deflea
Democratic preccdents in falling to meet
with the old commit ittee--that the Reed
men had a majority in Shoal Township
and. therefore. majority III the County
Convention.
So he believed, though Folk man him
self. that Democratic harmony and con-
siStency required the defeat of Mr.. Me
Dearmons proposition. The latter de-
Tended his motion and contended briefly,
| though vehemently, for seating the five
Folk contestants.
Doctor Harrigan of Kansas City said
to blame in this contest. and moved that
half vote each be allowed from the
county Harry B. Hawes protested against
When my contests come up he said.
hotly. either 1 want my delegates seated
or i want the delegates of my opponent
seated. Splitting delegations, he main
tanned does not make for harmony"
The question, after lengthy argument.
devolved upon the half-vote compromise;
It failed. five ayes and eleven noes. all
the St Louis members voting no. The
issue then was upon Mr.. McDeRrmonS
motion. and it prevailed by nine ayes and
The vote by districts on the Clinton con-
tests shows COnCluSively the Folk dom
nance of the committee. Those who We're
inclined to compromise. when the direct
question was presented, voted in favor OF
the Folk delegates. upsettins the prece-
dents set at St. Joseph and Joplin.
BY districts the ayes were the First
Fourth, sixth. Ninth. Thirteenth. Four
teenth. Fifteenth and Sixteenth. Noes
Second. Seventh. Eighth. Tenth. Eleventh
and Twelfth. the Third not voting.
DE KALB CASE CALLED.
After twenty minutes recess the COM
| mittee resumed hearing contests at a:90
o'clock. The De KaIb case was called. a
limit of twenty-five minutes to side be-
ing placed upon arguments. John y. Cross
OF Clinton, who had appeared for the con-
tcstants in the Clinton contest, argued for
the contestants of De Kalb Charges of
arbitrary action by the County Commit
tee were again involved.
May ! ask" spoke up Hawes. whether
you are resident OF De kalb County,?
No l am of Clinton, but am represent
ing De kalb as an attorney now. replied
Cross.
81 would like to know how you are
here?' continued Hawes.
How are you here?' retorted Cross.
II am representing my delegations" re-
piled the st. Louis man hotly.
DO you object, to my being here?"
Yes l do" said Hawes.
We'll. it won't do you any good"
| Gaughter)
Il know that" admitted Hawes.
Both delegations from De Kalb are for
! Folk 1t is charged that the committee.
| governed by Sallec in his candidacy for
| Attorney General. instructed the delegates
| X
| instructions We're followed out At a sub
! sequent mass meeting of the citizens as
| the result of which the contesting deleSa-
| tiun was named.
| Parks moved that the contest be dis
missed as frivolous by this committee" 1t
| carried unanimously.
After seven hours work on the Monroe,
Clinton and De kalb County cases. at 10: 40
| o'clock y. m. the committee reached the
lA nj
| only in interest and Importance TO the St.
| Louis City situation.
Thomas Hacking of Carthage and J. W.
| MCEntyre of Joplin, speaking for the con-
testing Folk delegates, spoke at length of
the alleged political iniduities and enOrmi-
ties perpetrated by Gilbert Barbee and the
| Central Committee. which he dominated.
The State Committee. in the first place,
| it was declared. arbitrarily overrode all
precedent by ordering that the eastern and
| County be united for the gubernator:al
| contest Then. it was asserted maiorities
were ignored In mass meetings; that. in
| short. the Barbee control and the election
| of the Reed delegates was secured by
| wholesale fraues and brute force.
Frank. Farlow of Webb City spoke for
| the Barbee men. He said that the Jasper
convention convened with Reed uncon-
| tested ma aiority of sc to %; he decia red
| that in settling contests two Folk delega-
| tions We're seated from Joplin. He as
sered that thirty-fve Folk delegates had
| bolted the regular and held a rump cor
| vention, while twelve Folk delegates re-
manned, making los in what the Barbee
! men term the regular convention. He in
| sisted that Jasper wants its entire nine
| teen Reed votes in this convention or
wants none.
| Testimony was taken then on behalf of
| the anti -Barbee or Folk men. In one mass
| meeting. it was sworn, Barbee, acting as
| chairman. ordered a division of Folk and
| Reed voters. by the one going to one side
! Of the hal and the others to the other
/ side. A witness declared that he counted
| saventy-eight Folk men, though Barbee
| announced the vote as So to % in favor of
| Reed. Barbee then ordered the convention
| adjourned without motion. being put.
| The Folk men then organized and elect
| ed q coutesting delegation. Negroes and
| others not Democrats, 1t was asserted,
| were in the Barbce crowd. Fhe proceed
| ings were riotous. One witness "imItcd
| that 1t was his first experience at Il pri-
mary mass meeting, and he ieciarsd:
| IF they are all like that l never want
| to go to another.
Affidavits and much additional testimony
| on both si0ss were submitted.