The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-08
Saline County Democratic Body
Adjourns Without Decision On
Gubernatorial Primary.
DEBATE OVER INSTRUCTIONS.
Audience Becomes so DemOnstra-
tive That Committee Finds 1t
Necessary to Retire Behind
Closed Doors.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
! Marshall Mo-, March THE new mem
| ters of the Democratic Central Commit
tee of Saline County, elected at township
| meetings Saturday. met in the Circuit
, Courtroom here to-day. Dean N Duggins
was selected chairman, John ]. McKeever
secretary and James T. Fisher assistant
| secre tary. The proceedings were exciting
| throughout and at tines trihe stormy.
As soon as tie organization was per-
fected a resolution was offered declaring
that members of the committee should
| cast votes In proportion to the number of
Democratic voters In their respective
townships. as shown by the vote cast at
the last general election. This was
promptly voted down.
resolution declaring that township
meetings be held to selece delegates To
the Congressional. judicial, Courr of An
peals. Senatorial Circuit Judge of rhe
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Criminal Judge
of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and
Judge of the Supreme Court conventions
was offered.
MOTION STARTS DEBATE.
1t was then moved that this resolution
be amended so as to submit the names
of candidates for Governor to the votes
of Saline County at the general primary
election.
AS soon as the amendment was read by
the secretary a member of the committees
sprang to his feet, opposing the amend
ment to the resolution, and stormy de-
uate followed, in which prominent Demo-
Gratis from different parts of the county.
as Wen as members of the committee,
participated.
The chairman declared the amendment
carried.
Committeenoan Jobp NIcEaa,.or r,bo
had voted for the resolution. then made a
motion TO reconsider the amendment.
The motion prevailed. AT this juncture
the audience again became very enthusi-
astic.
Joseph Robertson of Ellenwood Town
ship asked permission to address the
meeting. The chairman declared him out
of order, but Notwithstanding the ruling
of the chair he had the floor long enough
to declare in emphatic terms that Com
mitteeman McKeever, from his ELLEN
wood township, had voted the instruc-
tions given him at the township meeting
to vote for primary for Governor
Several other Democrats from the same
township arose and declared that they
were present at the township meetings
and that Mckeever was not instructed
Mckeever's credentials failed to show any
instructions. A stormy scene enSued.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
Chairman Duggins. upon securing order.
announced that the committee could not
account of the conduct of the spectators,
and the meeting was adjourned to an ad-
joining room.
During the recess of the committee
Abiel Leonard, brother-in-law of former
Governor Stephens and an ardent Folk
supporter, mounted the table and attempt
ed to call the house to order and make a
speech. The audience refused TO listen
He was at last pulled from the table by q
supporter of Mr.. Folk. When the commit
tee returned to the courtroom the follow
Ing resolution was offered by Folk man:
Resolved That mass meetings be held in the
various townships in Saline County, Missouri
at places to be designated Saturday, March &C.
1904. to select delegates to the following con-
ventions: Congressional. State Senatorial, Court
Of Appeals, Judge Of the Circuit Court and
Judge of Criminal Court Of this circuit, and
Judge of the Supreme court.
The resolution carried, and the commit
tee adjourned to meet March II.
No action was taken with reference to
the method for selecting delegates to the
GubernatCrial Convention or the primary
election for county officers.
The personnel of tie committee IS as
follows, with reference to the various
candidates for Governor: W. A. Gwinn for
Folk. John ]. McKeever for Reed. John
Robertson for Reed. W. L. Hogge for
Folk, r. S. Ireland for Reed, d. d. Da
wilson for Halves, ID. d. Duggins for Reed.
W. H. Reavis for Folk. D. n. BurTus for
Reed INSTRUCTED for primary. John Reid
for Folk. W. L. Abney for Folk.