The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-08
NEW YORK DEMOCRATS.
State Convention TO be Held Oh April
18th in Aibany-ETfction Between.
the Esictions-Hil Faction Gets the
Best of Tammany.

Albany, y. Y, March 5.-The Dem
ocratic State convention, which will
select delegates TO the national con-
vention, will be held here Monday.
April 18th. This was the unanimous
decision of the Democratic State com
mittee, which met today The real
result was arrived at before the COM
mittee met at a meeting between
former Senator Hill and Leader Muir
ply, Of Tammany. 1t was believed
that some acrimony would result at
the meeting over the selection OF the
place and time. il being known THAI
Tammany desired to have 1t held IN
New York, but Senator Hill accede0
TO Mr.. Murphy's request to set the
date for the 18th instant, instead OF
the 18th. and Mr.. Murphy. finding
that Mr.. Hill controlled a majority OF
the committee. acQuiesced in the se-
| lection OF Albany, so that there was
no friction over the matter in open
| committee. II - understood that the
| Kings county delegation would have
| voted with the upstate delegates. as
1 against Tammany on this single prop
| osition. had the question been put TO
A vote, thus giving MT Hill about
| thirty votes. out OF a total Of fifty.
The only test OF strength between
| the force led by Mr.. Hill and Senator
McCarren, of Brooklyn. and that
controlled by MT Murphy. came on
the question OF seating Committee
man Fitzpatrick, OF the Forty eighth
District. whom the Hill forces claim
ed had resigned. The Hill forces OBJ
tanned 26 votes, a bare majority OF
the committee, while Mr.. Murphy got
twenty-three. there being one vacan-
cy. For the vacancy in the Forty
eighth district. 30 declared. Mat
thew Merzig was named by the Hill
men. and DIR. Auel by the Murphy
men. On this ballot, the Hill forces
gained one vote. giving them 27 in all
: for MerZig. who was elected
There was An undercurrent Of fric-
ton between the two factions during
the discussion and this found vent
: afterwards In statement prepared
I at the request OF Mr.. Murphy after
= the adjournment of the committees.
r This reads:
y the State committee would be the oc-
! casion for a demonstration Of De-
= mocrauc harmony which would be
r an earnest intention of the Demo
q Gratis Of the State to bury all past fac
= tional differences and present a united
( front The first indication OF any
: breach in the harmony was afforded
: when the intimation was convsyet
z that the State committee would b'
8 asked at its meeting TO pass resolu
; tons. IL not Of endorsement. at leas
q of confidence in one OF the prospec
2 tive Presidential candidates. Tn
leader OF the Democratic party In New
q York city. Mr.. Murphy, who has con
~ sistently believed that the cause o
q the party would best be served BY
2 delegation to St. Louis. left free 4
4 use its own judgment. al once de
p clared that in his opinion Il woul
a be unwise at this early date TO pretu
n dice the Issue by declaring for any on
- choice.
,v In the face Of the energetic opposl
n ton maintained by Mr. Murphy IL
- satisfactory to know that the sounde
IA judgment OF the party finally con
ceded the propriety OF his stand
The statement points out thar IN
question OF the date and place OF IN
convention was more matter OF Ia
OF convenience OF the delegates tnan {
We Importance in itself. and conciuaes
no This would seem 10 be the zee
he when Democratic success IN sta
ed and nation II only Dependent upe
an the measure OF Democratic harmon
he and when the question OF the cor
lls troll Of party machinery might We
~ await q favorable verdict from q
r. peoole upon our candidates and DO!
cfee. which can only be Averseo
sn our bSckerfnGA