The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-01
THE MORNING NEWS.
Estab blished 1850. = Incorporated 1888
]. H. ESTILL. President
PARKER CAUCUS
BROKE UP IN A ROW
ONLY A MOTION TO ADJOURN
COULD BE PUT AND CARRIED IN
THE TURMOIL

Reach some Concerted Plan of Ac-
ton in the Convention, but Cheers,
YeIIs and Kisses Constituted the
Caucus-COnventiOn for Parkerj
.Tnstructions' the Rub.
Atlanta, May 31.-The Parker caucus
called tonight in the ball room of the
Kimbal House adjourned amid the
widest tumult and most turbulent
scenes of disorder ever witnessed in
Georgia Democratic gathering. There
were cheers and yells and yells and
Kisses, and so great was the confusion
that it was impossible to take any ac-
ton.
After Judge E. H. Galloway of Rich
mond had been elected permanent
chairman, the roll of the counties was
called. During this period the disor-
der amounted to simply a continuous
buzz of conversation. Many motions got
before the caucus, but only the motion
TO adjourn was acted on after it was
apparent that any other action would
be impossible.
The motion to adjourn was put by
strongest leaders. Congressman Hard
wick managed to make himself heard
long enough to introduce the resolu-
ton for straight-out instructions,
which was proposed at this mornings
confere nee. Hon. E. T. Brown spoke
in favor of these resolutions. His
voice was frequently drowned amid
cries of "Hurrah for Jim Griggs" and
Question, but he urged that the
Parker men should not put themselves
in the attitude of poltroons and cow
ards.
Hon. Hamilton McWhorter of
Athens, in replying. stated that this
was no time for Parker supporters to
be calling each other poltroons and
towards. He said he was as strongly
in favor of Parker as any one present,
but he also had confidence in the Geor-
gia delegation, and he insisted it
should not be sent to st. Louis with
hands tied. He offered d resolution
favoring the unit rule and a preferen-
tial resolution indorsing Judge Parker.
That was as far as the caucus ever
got. A mob crowded around the
Speakers stand and twenty to fifty
men tried to gain recognition at the
same time. The utmost confusion pre-
vailed for more than half an hour, at
the end of which Burton Smiths mo-
ton to adjourn was carried. Thus the
convention unsettled.
Like Dnys of Old.
The situation in the Kimball
corridor tonight was one of the
liveliest that has been seen since the
old days when the Democrats had to
fight the Populists in Georgia, and the
contest now is only whether Georga's
delegation to ST. Louis shall go with
or without instructions.
On that one word instructions"
hinges the whole struggle. The Parker
element that has stood all along for
straightout and irrevocable instructions
receded somewhat from its position to-
day, and at noon a conference of the
Parker men was called to determine
whether a caucus should be held. This
conference was presided over by Hon.
Hoke Smith. The conference. deter
mined to hold a caucus at p. m. to-
night at which the question of instruc-
tlons and the matter of delegates at
large should be discussed, with a view
to taking some positive action. Mr.
Smith then submitted the following
resolutions:
Parker Resolutions.
Resolved, that the delegates this
day chosen to represent Georgia in the
National Democratic Convention at st.
Louis be, and they are hereby instruct
ed to cast the vote of this state for
Judge Alton B. Parker of New York
as the Democratic nominee for Pres
ident 80 long as there is in the opin-
ion of majority of said delegation a
reasonable probability of his nomina-
ton; and that the vote of the state be
cast as a unit on all questions
Mr.. Smith stated this resolution
would be submitted to the caucus with
convention tomorrow.
The appearance of this resolution was
taken to mean that the element that
has stood for irrevocable Instructions,
had weakened somewhat, because 1t is
apparent that the element opposed to
instructions. and favoring The unit rule
and preferential resolutions for Parker,
is undoubtedly a strong one, if 1t does
not control enough votes to carry
things it's own way. The whole fight
then will be whether the foregoing res
olutions shall prevail. or whether Il
shall be simply the unit rule and in
dorsement of Parker.
For Delegates .at Large.
The candidates for delegates at large
have been busy all day working for
votes and have seemingly been paying
little attention to anything else. Pre-
dictions as to Georgia's big four"
are varied, but there seems to be
general belief that three of them will
be Congressman Maddox. Congress-
man Griggs and Hon. ]. NJ.
Smith. of oglethorpe. with the fourth
place between ]. r. Gray and c. r.
Pendleton, though Judge Sweat has
been getting in some hard work and
he promises 10 surprise the boys when
the roll is called.
Col, ]. II. Estill arrived to-day with
hha atroftoc ertsar1 Of The h aoIa-