Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-24
BUCKEYE DEMOCRATS
Looks Like Old Time Fight
in Ohio.
CONVENTIONTOMORROW
HEARST LEADERS SUSPECTED OF
PLANNING A COUP.
State Central Committee in Doubt.
Control Matter of Speculation
-Bigelow Pitched.
CONVENTIONTOMORROW
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May A.-An signs
point to regular old-time democratic
fight on the floor of the democratic state
convention tomorrow. The conservatives as
the ant-Hearst democrats are called, sus-
pect that the Hearst leaders are Matching
plan to unseat enough of their men to
give them the control OF the convention
after all. What the state central commit
tee will do is uncertain. 1t was a COM
pletely Tom johnson body when selected
last year. but got away from him in the
meeting to select the temporary organiza-
ton Of the state convention two months
ago. Who has It now is doubtful. In fact,
1t is uncertain where Tom johnson himself
stands He will not arrive here before
noon. 1t looks as though there had been
a break between him and his lieutenant,
Charles p. Salen. Salen has effected
working agreement with L. G. Bernard of
Cincinnati. That. of course, includes the
throwing out of Rey Bigelow, the John
son leader. johnson telegraphed Bigelow
last night that he would not stand for
that.
James Ross, the Franklin county boss,
anti-Johnson, said this morning that Salen
was shrewd enough to see that johnson
had no strength in the convention and was
operating with the conservatives to save
his organization
1T don't make any difference what john
son does" he said, I'VE will control the
convention. They may get the state central
committee, but they will go no farther.
Even II they throw out half of our dele
gates We will still control the convention
Plan Of Hearst Delegates.
The plan of the Hearst men seems to be
this: They think they have the state CEN
trail committee solid. They expect to give
a hn
convention badges These will entitIe the
holders to seats in the convention until the
credential committees report is acted upon
The Hearst men expect to force a rule that
all delegations thus seated may vote on
the question of seating all delegations ex-
cept their own. This would of course give
the organization of the convention after all
to the Hearst men.
Claim of Conservatives.
The conservatives claim that no delesa-
ton whose right to seats is questioned can
! have the right to vote on any contest until
Its own case is decided. AS fast as the con-
tests are passed upon the delegations seat
ed will acquire the right to vote on sue
ceeding contests
When this plan of the Hearst men was
reported at the meeting of the Franklin
ccrnty delegation, conservatives. last night
1t provoked the most bitter speeches Col
w. A. Taylor, a member of the delegation.
declared that they would unseat him, for
he would refuse to go out, and while they
might remove his dead body, they never
could put him out alive. Other similar
speeches were made, showing very bitter
feeling.
R. L. Star the temporary chairman OF
the convention, arrived this morning. He
said he was opposed to either Endorsement
of candidates instructions to the dele
gates at large.
1T is not fair to the delegates" he said.
Entirely new conditions may arise before
the convention meets at st. Louis. ana the
delegates ought not to be bound by instruo-
tions and Endorsements made now" He
was also opposed to the proposition to mod
ify the unit rule which has been used in
Ohio for many years. Northwestern Ohio.
he said, had no candidates for places on
the state ticket.
Sanders Not a Candidate.
A. p Sandles of Ottawa, who was talked
of as the Johnson candidate for the noni-
nation for secretary of state, was not
candidate He had talked with him only
last evening and was told by Mr.. Sandles
that he was not seeking the nomination
and could not afford to accept it If offered
to him.
The only candidates for positions on the
state ticket to date are w. p. Huntington
of Columbus, for secretary of state; w. L.
Ferguson of Springfield, for member OF the
board of public works, and Phil Renner or
Cincinnati for supreme judge
Mayor Johnson of Cleveland is very bit-
ter toward Huntington for last years work
against him, and 1t is believed that john
son will have a candidate In the field
against Huntington, even If Sandles fails to
stand.
II the conservatives control the conven-
ton 1t is likely that Harlan of Cincinnati
will be the permanent chairman. He is
typical reorganizer democrat, and the vote
on his election to that Office would be a fair
index of the completing of the convention
as to this matter. The feature of the con-
vention at this stage is the presence of old
time gold democrats, who have not taken
part In the state conventions of their party
since 1896.
The fight between factions for the su-
premacy in the democratic state convention
will be decided for the day at least in the
state central committee meeting to be held
at T:30 pm. Both sides are working with
the members of the committee to have IL
give the delegates badges to their respeo.
tive delega tions. Owing to the fact that
there are many county delegations that
were unpledged it will be matter of doubt
until the credential committee report -
fully adopted which side will be left in con-
troll, though In uncontested delegates tho
conservatives have decidedly the best OF
it. but no matter what the committee may
do there will be fierce fight in the con.
vention tomorrow