Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. VI. MANNING, S. , WENESDAY, AGUST 20, 19. NO. 36. A SPLIT IN TILHE PARTY. ANTI-TILLMAN DELEGATES LEAVES THE STATE CONVENTION. The Proceedings of the State Convent onl of the Democratic Party-After a Hot Contest the Tillmanites Organize and Control the Convention. CoLrmBIA, S. C., August 13.-Pre cisely at 12 o'cleck Colonel James A. Hoyt, Chairman of the State Executive Committee, took his seat in the Speak er's chair and rapped on the desk with the gavel. The noise and hubbub ceas ed at once and for a moment there was a calm. foreshadowing, perhaps the storm that was soon to follow. At the direction of Col. Hoyt Col. Wilie Jones, Secretary of the State Executive Com mittee, read the call issued by that committee for the August Convention. When the call had been read there was a mild hubbub, amidst which Col. Hoyt rose and said: "Gentlemen of the Convention: Under the call just read I, as Chairman of the State Executive Committee, to-day consider it my duty to call this Convention to order and prepare the way for a permanent or ganization. In conformity with the cus tom of the party, I have the honor to name Mr. G. Lamb Buist, of Charleston, 10r temporary president. It is the custom of the Convention to submit to the nomina tionof the Chair." Immediately Dr. Sampson Pope arose excitedly and put in nomination for temporary president Mr. W. J. Talbert, of Edgefield. Col. Hoyt replied that it had been the custom always to accept the nomination. Dr. Pope replied that he insisted upon the right to nominate a temporary chairman. "It is the right the people have," he dramatically said, "and that if it had been the custom of the executive committee I do not in tend to give it up to them any longer. It is right that weshonld have the pre siding oflicer." Here Senator Smythe, of Charleston, arose and asked: "Have you got any roll of theConvention? If the gentle man will furnish a roll for the conven tion there can be a yea and nay vote." Col. Iloyt replied: "I presume this custom has grown up for the reason that when the temporary chairmen is called there is no roll to determine who are members of the convention. I re spectfully ask the gentlemen that they will provide a way, and it will be my pleasure to conform to their wishes." Dr. Pope said: "There is a complete roll in the News and Courier to-day, and if you do not wish to adopt it call a roll of the counties. How is your nomination to be voted on if ours be not voted on ?" Col. J. C. Haskell asked: "I would ask the gentleman what proof he has that the counties havesent delegates. There is no delegate here until he has present ed his credentials and taken his seat." An attempt was made to drown Col. Haskell's voice, but it failed. His magnificent bearing and coolness sham ed down those who tried to hoot down the one-armed hero. "Question! question! question! the previous question!" yelled the Tillman ites, while "Haskell! Haskell! God bless you Haskell!" cheered the Straightouts, meanwhile the galleries joining in the cheers for Haskell. When Col. Haskell sat down Senator Smythe demanded the yeas and nays. Col. Hoyt replied: "We have no roll." Then followed a running controversy of which the following is a fair sample. Pope: -We want the roll called." Hoyt: -There can be no roll call." Robertson, of Abbeville: "How do you. propose to put Buist as temporary chairman exce'pt by a vote?" Haskell: "This is no house. We have no roll. How can 001. Hoyt recognize any of us as delegates ?" Cries of "Question!" rang from two hundred throats- and pandemonium prevailed. After awhile quiet was re stored. Haskell: "I1 assume the point of or der is that you (to Hoyt) cannot act as temporary chairman." Pope: "I ask all who are not delegates to leave the hall" Cries of -'Keep your seats!" came from all quarters. Irby, of Laurens: "The constitution of the Democratic party says that the temporary chairnman shall be elected. How can Mr. Buist act without being elected? The people of South Carolina propose to rule this State. There has been no rule adopted to govern this house, and I rise to a point of order." Haskell: "There is no house to act. You do not know that that gentleman is a member of the convention. You have to assume it. You cannot sub mit the question to the house, and we do not recognize the call for a ques tion." Irby: "I propose that all who are not delegates leave the floor." Some Tillmanite renominated Tal bert, and CoL Hoyt was about to call a vote on the nomination when (Col. Has ke11 said: "The Chairman of the State Democratic committee has no right to put a question." Hoyt: "As the chairman of that comn mittee I have a right to put t hat ques tion." SSmythe: "I1 call for the ayes and nays." Hoyt: "You can't call the ayes and nays." Bean: "I call for the previous ques tion." Some one moved that Hoyt appoint two tellers and a rising vote be taken. Hoyt appointed Col. Haskell and J. L. M1. Irby as tellers. "I bea to decline," said Col. Haskell, "for 1 do not recognize the right of the chairman to appoint tellers." In the meantime Col. Irby and Mr. Talbert leisurely walked up and stood on the Speaker's platform. Cries of "Take him down! He's got no right there!" rang out all over the hall. Then ensued a scene of excitement. Men shook their fists at Talbert and and yelled themselves hoarse in crying him down. But Talbert never fimnched. It had been arranged that he was to be chairman, and he was determined to be chairman. All the hooting, all the fist-shaking, all the moaledictions hurl ed at him, failed to swerve him in his prpose to speak of himself as "the Chair." The scene reminded one of the days of 1876. When order was somewhat restored Col. Hoyt appointed the lHon. W. D. Scarborough, of Sumter, teller in Col. Hlaskell's place. The honor was de clined.. Mr. Prank Kressel, of Charleston wanted to know what right Col. Irby had to be masquerading around the chairman's chair. Col. Irby replied that he was a teller Mr. R. J. McCarley, of Fairtield, was then appointed teller. but declined. The Hion. Charles A. Douglass,. alst of Fairfield, was appointed, and hi straightwaty declined. Col. Irby then suggested: "Appoint Tillmanite. They will stick." - Col. Ihoyt at this sug~gestion appoint ed Col. J. Townes Robertson, of A bbe ville. A rising vote was taken and fron the count madle by the teliers the vot< stood: Talbert 240, opposed 61. Co lake11 said that he had placel the ion. U. Lamb uist in nomination and asked Col. Hoyt if he had named him to be voted for. Cul. Hoyt replied that be did not know that he had been placed in nomination by Col. Haskell. Col. Hoyt then tufned around to Mr. Talbert and said : "I have the pleasure to introduce to the Convention Mr. W. J. Talbert as temporary chairman." Upon taking his seat Mr. Talbert said that the first business in order was to elect a temporary secretary. He neither thanked the Convention nor Col. Hoyt for the honor conferred on him, but went to work at once. Mr. Mciarey, of Chaleston, said: "I nominate W. P. Russell, of Charleston. to sit up there as secretary with you." J. P. Bean. of Edgelield. and J. T. Duncan. of Newberry, were also placed in nomination, Col. Irby wanted to kno w "if W. P. Russell is a delegate from Charleston'?" Col. Buist replied : "I rise, for the sake of the honor of the Charleston delegation. to say that W. P. Russell is not a member of the delegation." Without much hesitation Bean and Duncan were elected secretaries of the Convention Chairman Talbert suggested that the next thing in order was the enrolment of delegates. Several desultory motions were made, but these were shut off by the chairman. with the warning : "I won't entertain any more motions until the delegates are elected." Before the call of the roll of delegates was commenced Capt. J. L. Weber, of the Charleston delegation, entered the protest of the Democrats of Berkeley against the delegation headed by Mr. Stanland. Chairman Talbert replied that the protest would have to be submitted to the committee on credentials. Mr. Kershaw, of Florence, also enter tered a notice of contest of the Straight out delegation from the Baby County. Col. J. D. Blanding, of the Sumter Straightout delegation, rose to a ques tion of privilege to state that there were two delegations of five each from Sumter County who were diametrically opposed to each other. He considered that neither faction had legally elected the delegation, and he was of the opin ion that the Sumter delegation had no right to sit in the Convention. Chairman Talbert replied : "They will be enrolled. Hand in your list and credentials. Let the roll calI proceed." When the roll of delegates had been completed Dr. Sampson Pope, of New berry, moved that a committee on cre dentials be appointed and that all con tests and protests be submitted to the committee. This motion was carried and the following committee was nam ed by the chairman of each delegation: Abbeville-J. H. McCalla. Aiken-F. M. Green. Anderson-J. M. Glenn. Barnwell-J. F. Smith. Beaufort-H. D. Elliott. Berkeley-J. A. Harvey. Charleston-J. F. Ficken. Chester-W. H. Heath. Chesterfield-W. C. McCreight. Clarendon-E. A. Tindall. Colleton-M. R. Cooper. Darlington-W. H. Lawrence. Edgefield-H. H. Townes. Georgetown- Walter Hazard. Greenville-M. L. West. Hampton-A. M. Youmans. Horry-T. W. Daggett. Kersfiaw-T. J. Kershaw. Lancaster-Ira B. Jones. - Laurens-J. L. M. Irby. Lexington-H. D. Seibels. Marion-D. W. McLaurin. Marlboro-W. A. Evins. Newberry-Sampson Pope. Oconee-S. J. McElroy. Orangeburg-G. W. Fairey. Pickens-W. T. Field. Richland-J. . laskell. Spartanburg-E. C. Allen. Sumter-- -- Union-T. C. Duncan. Williamsburg-J. P. Gambrill. York-J. W. Neal. Chairman Talbert attempted to force the nomination of the delegate from the Sumter delegation, but when Col. J. D. Blanding and D.E. Keels were nomi nated by the Straightouts and the fill manites respectively it was determined to let Sumter slide. It was now 2 o'clock, and Dr. Pope thought it best to take a recess. A mo 'tion was made and the Convention took a recess until 4 o'clock. The Convention met at 5 o'clock to commence work in earnest. The gal leries were crowded and all available vantage ground on the floor was occu pied. The crowd, including the dele gates, was doornied to disappointment. for a message from the committee on credentials an.'ounced that its work would not be concluded until after 8 o'clock. So it was determined to take a recess until 8 o'clock. Again at the appointed time the Con vention reassembled. Chairman Tal bert announced that he had received a message from the committee dn cre dentials that it would report at 9.15. During the continued recess the dele gates -and spectators mingled and chat ted plesantly. Occasional cheers for Till man were given and numerous Tilinman "coat-tail." candidates moved around. rapidly. The ladies sat in the galleries. About half-past 9 o'clock Dr. Pope, from the committee on credentials, made a report. In reference to the con tests the following reports were read : We. the undersigned, a majority of the committee on credentials, do hereby report that T. P. Mitchell. J. W. Lyles, A. Gi. Bookman, 0. W. Buchanan. J1. II. 'urner. J1. I. Rutland, J. L. Balow and I'. W. Traylor are en titled to sea ts in this Convention as the delegates from Fairfield and recom mend that they be seated as such. Signed by Sampson Pope and several other Tillman members of the com mittee. We, the undersigned, a minority of the committee on credentials, dissent from the report on the majority of the committee and recommend that the deegation, consisting of C. A. Doug* lass T.W. Bvee J.S. Edmunds, H. M. Zealy, T. W. Woodward, R. J. Mc Carlev, John Hollis and J. G. Mobley, be admitted to seats as representatives of Fairfield County in this Convention. Signed by John F. Ficken, John C. Haskell, Walter h azard. II. D. Elliott, Thomas J. Kirkland. J. H. McCalla. We, the undersigned members of the committee on credentials, recommiend that neither of the contesting delega tions from Fairfield County be seated, and that both of the Democratic organ izations in said county are hereby de cared illegal, and, therefore. a reorgan ition of the D~emoeratic party in said conyis hereby ordered. Siried by W. 1). Evans, 'T. C. D'in cn. D.) W. McLaurin, W. II.Lawrence, M. R. Cooper. WXe, the undersinigedl committee oi credentials, do un ranimiously recom mend that L. S. Higham, .J. S. McCall S. Vt Ca ndler. B. B. McWhite, R1. M Mc (own aind J. 0. Bird be seated ir ths Conv entio~n as thc delegation fron: F lor ec Couty. Sined by Samipson Pope. as chair an of committee on credentials. In regard to the delegation fron: Berkeley headed by Mr. S:anland, Dri Pope nioved that it be seated dispit< the protest (entered and the motion wa adopted. A mtotioni was made to reat the report of the committee in refer ene to all delegations. II Chaiman TJalhert-rn1led that the Con vention was not competent to act on the report as it was not organized. This brought Mr. Joseph W. Iarn well to his feet. and in an indignant, impassioned manner, he said : "I de inand that the report be read. How can we know what it is? It is in the interest of the farmers that I ask that it be read. How can any honest man vote for it?" By common consent the report of the committee as above was then read. There was considerable confusion during the reading of the reports, and at the suggestion of Dr. Pope the chair man requested all spectators to leave the loor. When quiet had been par tiallv restored Dr. Pope moved to seat the 'Fairfield delegation headed by J. W. Liles (all Tillinanites.) Col. Haskell amended by inserting the delegation headed by the C. A. Douglass (all Straightouts.) W. D. Evans, of Marlboro, aioved to adopt neither motion. Dr. Smith, of Spartanburg, moved to postpone Evans's amendment and this motion was adopted. Col. Iaskell succeeded in obtaining the iloor and made a stirring speech. A resolution was adopted to limit speeches to fiveminutes and then Dr. Pope took the floor. It was durmg his speech that a scene was enacted which has not a parallel in the history of politics since the days of the Wallace House. Dr. Pope made some statements about the Fairfield delegation, which reached the ears of a few only. It reached Major T. W. Woodward, of the Straightout delegation from Fairfield, however, and quick as aflash he sprang to his feet and said: "You are utter ing a direct and palpable lie, Dr. Pope, and you know it." Then ensued a scene that defies de scription. Woodward's friends gath ered around him in solid phalanx. while the fillmanites made a rush for Woodward. But something stopped them. Men glared at each other, and the frightened ladies in the gallery at tempted to get out. No pistols were drawn, but there could be seen a hund red hands in a hundred hip pockets. It was an exciting scene, and but for the coolness of some of:the leaders there is no telling what would have happened Amid all this din and hurling of malediction, and in the centre of the crowd that had piled over chair and desk and sofa. John C. Haskell stoodi cool and undaunted, begging that the I row be ended. He jumped on a chair and vainly tried to hush the noise. Chairman Talbert rapped with all his might, saying excitedly: "For the sake of the fair ladies here, I appeal to you to cease this mob-like rowdyism. I will make the sergeant-at-arms put the next man who gives the lie out of this hall. We are white men, and why not act like gentlemen ?" This somewhat quieted matters, and Col. Haskell succeeded in securing the attention of the Convention. He said that "Dr. Pope is a man incapable of falsehood. He is only mistaken. I beg of you to keep quiet and stop all this fuss." Everybody- seemed satisfied with what Col. Haskell had said, and he was cheered by both sides. Dr. Pope then resumed his speech. A resolution was adopted that each contesting delegation select one of its members to present its case, and that such members be allowed fifteen minutes' time. Mr. Ira Jones. of Lan caster, began to speak for the Fairfield Tillmanites. Mr. W. H. Gibbes. Jr., of Richland, made the point of order that as Mr. Jones was not a Fairfield con testant he could not under the resolu tion speak on the question, but at the request of the Bratton delegates with drew it and Mr. Jones proceeded. Mr. Jones was followed by Mr. C. A. Doug lass on the other side. The yeas and nays were demanded upon the adoption of the report of the minority seating the Bratton delega tion. There was no opposition to this and the long roil was called. There were some surprises. Six of the Ab beville delegation voted to seat the Straightouts; so did Stanland, of Berke ley, and evoked applause. M. B. Mc Sweeney was on the Hampton delega tion and voted aye. When the roll call was completed, by a slip of the tongue Chairman Tal bert announced, "Ayes 238," and the Straightouts gave a great yell and laughed loudly. Then the chairman corrected himself and declared the vote to be--yeas 70, nays 238. Mr. John G. Mobley, of the ousted delegation, rose in his place and calle'I for three cheers for the Democracy of Fairfield, which were given heartily by the Straightouts, and the delegation filed out of the hall, their friends crowd ing around them and giving a farewell hand-shake. The majority report seating the Till manite. delegation was then adopted without a division. In the confusion the Chair was not heard to ask for the nays. Then ensued a remarkable scene. Dr. Pope nominated for permanent chairman the temporary chairman, Ion. WN..T. Talbert, of Edgefield. Col. John C. Haskell nominated Hion. G. L. Buist, of Charleston. Talbert was elected, who expressed his thanks as follows: Gentlemen of the Convention: This position was not sought by me. I would much rather my distinguished friend from Charleston would have the trouble of m nanaging this Convention. B3ut I will thank you for your answer. I beg of you that all unkindness, all bitterness of feeling, be thrown aside and that we wvork together as true South Carolinians for the best in terests of South Carolina. Say that you are worthy of the name of freemen, of the name of American citizens, of the name of white nien, that race before which the red men, the Asiatic and the ferocious Africani have gone back. Let us act for the credit of South Carolina, which is the chivalrous State of the South. The Convention then proceeded to elect vice presidents as follows: 1st district Dr. J. W. Stokes; 2d district 0. C. Jordon; 3d district Dr. S. Pope; 4th district J. L. M. Irby; 5th district Ira B. Jones; 6th district James Norton; 7th district, T. W. Stanland. Dr. Pope again took the floor and moved that a committee be appointed on the constitution and on platform and resolutions. The members ofT these committees are: Constitution-Abbeville, J. T. Robinson; Aiken, WN. WN. 3archant; Anderson, J. W. Bowden; Barnwell, F. 3L. Nixon; Bjeaufort, W. J. Verdier; Berkeley, J. B. Wiggins; Charleston. A TI Snmythe; Chester, J A Wade; Che'sterfield, 31 F Jackson; Claren don, S A Nettles; Colleton, J 11 Knight; Darlington, J IH Parrott: Edgefield, W~ H Tiimmeriman; Fairfield, F L flulo George town, Walter ilazzard; Greenville, HIB Blust; h ampton, M1 N Venters; IHorry, ,J W John; Kershiaw, Joel Huih; Lani'caster, Ira B Jones; Laurens, T B Crews;I Lexington, J L Shutecr: 3Marion James~ Norton: 3Marl boro. C P Uocdaes; Newbery S Pope; Or angeburg, WN 0 Tatum: Plekens, J K Kirksey; Richiand, L F Touma'ns; Spartan thurg, G B D~ean: Eumter, J1 D G.raham; Union, G D Peak; Williams~burg, T C Willoughby; York, L K Armstrong. Platfo'rm and R{esolutions-Abbeville, J3 E Bradley; A iken, 0 C Jordon; Andersor, W A Neal; Barnwell, G D) Bellinger; Beau fort, WN F Coleck; Beikeley, T W Toale; Charleston, J F Redding; Chesterfield, F A Welsh; Chester, F A Cunnighamn; Claren don, J E Tindal; Colleton, C C Tracy; D)ar lington, T C Eaddy; Edgelield, E A Pad gett; Fairfield, 0 W Uuchanan: George town, J U Read:Greenvlle, J 11 Lattimiore; u-.,mlan i wN B W e- IHrry, T WN Daggett; Kershaw, G W Moseley; Lancas ter, .1 R Massy, Jr; Laurenm, R C Watts: Lexington, J J Seibles; Marion. S W Smith; Marlboro, T N Edens; Newberry, J I. Keitt; Oconee, J J Keitt; Orangeburg. 0 R Lowman; Pickens, W r Jones; Richland, A C Haskell; Spartanburg, R M Smith; Sumter, H R Thomas; Union, U .3 Otts; Williamsburg, 11 C Eaddy; York, J I Moore. Capt. G. W. Shell offered the follow ing resolutions, which were referred tc theeproper committee: Whereas, evil disposed persons, cause lessly hostile to the Farmers' 31ovemeni and regardless of the fair name and credit of South Carolina, have caused to be cir culated through the press of the country statements intended to prejudice the gener al public as to the relation of the Democrat ic party to the public debt of this State; and whereas, such sinister statements, growing out of hostile political motives, are wholly at variance with the purposes of the Democratic party of this State and if unnoticed would create wrong impressions and probably do harm and be unjust to the people of South Carolina: Be it rasolved by the Democratic party, in Convention assembled, That the debt of South Carolina, as now recognized, is a public obligation of primary importance, and in the future. as in the past, will con tinue to have the fastering care of the State Government and should command the con fidence of the investing public. Several efforts were made to adjourn, but all such motions were ruled out of order. A delegate from Spartanburg moved that -'we stay here until we finish the work." This motion was the cause of great confusion, which did not subside until the motion was withdrawn. Other motions looking to adjournment or recess were made in rapid succession. After much confusion it was decided to go on with the work of the Conven tion if it took all night. A motion was then made to take a recess until 9 o'clock to-morrow. This caused great confusion and a shower of all sorts of motions. Chairman Talbert finally cried: "You fellows, shut your mouths, and I will put the motion." The motion to take a recess was voted down, as were all motions of a similar character. Some delegate introduced a resolu tion to limit speeches to five minutes and only two speeches on the same sub ject. Senator Buist and Mr. Barnwell pro tested vigorously. No action was taken on the motion. A Communication was read by the chairman from the committee on con stitution stating that Messrs. Smythe. Hazard and Verdier had withdrawn from the committee. At 2 A. M. Dr. Pope made a verbal re port from his committee in favor of the new constitution. He took posi tion at the clerk's desk and read the con stitution. When the reading was finish ed Senator Smythe read a protest signed by himself and Messars. Hazad and Verdier. Against the adoption of the new constitution. Col. R. C. Watts, from the committee on platform and resolutions, submitted a majority report on Shell's resolution regarding the State debt, recommend ing its passage. A minority report was also submitted, signed by Col. A. C. Haskell, J. F. Redding and others. Upon motion to adopt the majority re port there were several speeches, but it was adopted by a large majority. . Gen. L. F. Youmans -read a minori ty report in reference to the adoption of a new constitution at this time, and in defence of it made a most elo quent speech. lie imrlored the Till manites not to do now without authority or right, what they can do on the 10th of September with full and unquestion ed power. Dr. Pope moved and secured the pre vious question on the whole matter, and dealt out the right to speak in slices of five minutes. Hie gave t wenty minutes to Major Brawley, who made an impassioned protest against forcing an unread constitution upon the mi nority at 3 o'clock in the morning. Mr. WV. N. Marchant, of Aiken, made a frenzid speech on the Tillman side, denouncing the Straightouts as "dama ble enemies." Mr. W. W. Timmerman, of Edgefleld, declared hin~self a bosom friend of Till man and in favor of the new constitu tion, but in the interest of harmony he urged the Convention not to force this constitution upon the minority to night. but wait until September. Col. Haskell spoke forcibly against the measure. He had a contemptuous word for Marchant, who withdrew his term "damable-" and substituted -'invet erate." Col. Ilaskell denounced the state ment that men on his side are inveter ate enemies of the farmers as false as the other. Col. Stackhouse, of Marion, moved that the constitution be laid on the table until September and that this ConventIon proceed to elect a State Exe cutive Committee. The minority report was defeated by a vote of 53 to 253. The motion was then put as to the adoption of the con stitution submitted by the majority of :he committee, and as the minority deleates of the Convention who are anti-Tillman and took the position that the call of this Convention was for a specific purpose, that of deciding whether there should be a State pri mary or not, entered their protest, and before the vote was taken the delegates of Richiand, Charleston, Beaufort, Georgetown and Sumter withdrew from the convention, giving as a rea son that they could not vote on the question, considering the action of the convention unconstitutional, &c. The announcement of their determination to withdraw was met with applause. The report and Constitution were adop ted then without any opposition, as at this stage the convention was composed of Trillmanites entii'ely. The Convention then, at five o'clock in the morning, wvent into the nomina tion of a newv State Executive Com mittee, resulting as follows: First Congressional District, II. A. Metze, 0. RI. Lowman. Second, 0. C. Jordan. G. D. Bellinger, Third, W. A. Neal, A. W. Jones. Fourth, J. L. M. Irby, 0. W. B3uch anan. Fifth, W. C. MeCreight. Ira B. Jones. Sixth. T. E. Early, M. C. Gallichat. Seventh, E. A. Williams, D. E. Keels. First Judical District, T. W. Stanland. Second. A. M. You mans. Third, L. S. Bigham. Fourth. T. W. Daggett. Fifth, II. II. Townes. Sixth. G. W. Gage. Seventh, Ri. A. Lancaster. Eighth, II. B. Buist. Mr. J. L. M. Irby was elected Chair man of the new Executive Committee. The followving were introduced: Risolved. That this Convention confirm the call made for a State Convention on the 10th of September. That those Counties which have not yet already elected delegates to the Nominat ir ovnion called for September 10, 1I0 ar eeyordered to do so under the provisions of the conistitution heretofore. Resolutions thanking the permanent oliers of the Convention, as well as Col . J. A. lloyt, for courtesies in pre siig, were adopted. On miotion of M r. Irby, a resolution was s umitted in writing that it is thE sse of the Convention that no pri marY he ordered for State officers thib Iv::r. Ad opted. ~IThe Convention at 5.30 a. m.adljourn ed sin de_-Ne and Courier. A MYSTERIOUS MURDER. Henry Gardner Fonnd Dying in Iis Store in Charleston. ClARLE>sTON, S. C.. August 12.-At 1 o'clock this morning Henry Gardner, a young seaman, who keeps a grocery store in the Northwestern suburbs of the city, was found dying in his store by a negro who passed the place at the time. A doctor was summoned but the man died without making a sign. His head had been crushed in by an axe handle which was found near the scene of the murder with traces of blood anl hair clinging to it. The murder is wrapped in a mystery. At the Coroner's inquest to-day the following testimong was developed: A white man, named John McInnery, was seen talking with Gardner and left his store about 9:30 p. m. At 1 o'clock a negro named Curtes Shecut heard groans in Gardner's store. With some of the neighbors he went in and found Gardner lying on the floor with a fearful wound on the back of his head. The skull was crushed in. A heavy axe handle lying near by was evidently the instrument with which the blow had been dealt, for on one end of it was blood and hair. Peter Hagan, a fisherman, and Wiley Pitts, a scavenger cart driver, both col ored, were examined by the Coroner. Their statements were very confused and they were committed to jail on suspicion that they committed the foul deed. Shecut was committed to jail as a material witness. It is be lieved that he knows more than he has told. Pitts and Iagan have both had a difficulty with Gardner. and Pitts has been heard to threaten that he would get even with him. Hagan recently was roughly handled by Gardner, whoni he cursed and abused in his own store. The verdict of the jury was, "Death at the hands of persons unknown." Mcinnery has not yet turned up, al though there are no suspicions against him. A Curious Phenomenon. LNDIAXAPLIS, Aug. 12.-Ten acres of the farm of Thos. Habon, three miles north of Waldron, have been destroyed for farming purposes and great holes have been blown in the earth. The Icourse of Flat Rock creek has been turned up stream, birds, snakes and rabbits and fish are dead, while fish are thoroughly cooked in the heated water. All this was caused by an upheaval of water. A log fire was blazing in the midst of the ten acres when, without a warning, the earth belched forth its flame. Great trees were hurled skyward and all the waters of Flat Rock were con verted to foam and steam. A vast pocket of natural gas burst forth and the scene was beautiful. The gas took fire and blazed fiercely above the trees at times, and continued all yesterday and last night. To-day 5,000 spectators viewed the phenomenon. The fire has been extinguished, but gas is still escaping. Some assert that other agencies than gas is the cause of the phenomenon, but the general con viction is that no other agency could have produced the effect on the water. One of the marvellous effects on the water is that hot a drop of Flat Rock's flood has gone' below the cavern since the upheaval. Great caverns have taken in the current and a wild, foam ing Niagara is created. Congressman Hemphill says No. RocK HILL, S. C. August 14.-The County campaign end the campaign for the election of a Congressman from this district opened here to-day. There was a large crowd in attendance. One of the most important features of the meeting was the answers given to the questions propounded by the committees from the erent alliances from the Fifth Con gressional District by Congressman J. J. Hemphill. Of the five questions pro pounded to MIr. Hiemphill he accepted the affirmative on all except one, "the sub-treasuary bill." Hie is violently op-I posed to this and condemned it as a monopoly. Although the alliances were not very much pleased at his-definition of this bill, it is thought Mr. Hemphill is the next Congressman. M1r. Hemphill has served several years, and in all of his positions he has shown up as a man not afraid of duty, and who stands up for what he thinks is right. The Alli ance questions propounded to Congress man Hemphill were the same as those answered by Congressman Tillman and published in the Register a fewv days ago.-Columbia Register. A Sensational Story Refuted. GREENVILLE, S. C., August 14.-A story has been afloat that Colonel ID. K. 'Norris, candidate for Congress from the Third District, was guilty of grossly immoral conduct while a resi dent of Orangeburg, in consequence of which he had been forced to leave that. locality. The story is brought before the public by a printed circular now being circulatted presurnably by CoL Norris or his friends, which is as fol lows: "To whom it may concern: The uni dersiged having been selected to inves tigate the charges against ID. K. Norris, Esq., report that they have carefully examined the same, together with the testimony of parties who were in a po sition to know all the facts, and from this investigation we find the slander ous reports are untrue and without foundation." Signed: W. H. Nardin,; WV. F. Odell, County Chairman of Pickens County; A. C. Latimer, County Chairman of Anderson County; M. P. Tribble, Clerk of Court. Refuses to Give Ui'. CoLUmBIA, S. C., August 14.-This afternoon a representative of The News and Courier asked Col. James A. Hoyt, chairman of the State Democrat ic committee, if he considered that his committee had been superseded by the action of the Tillmanite faction and the Convention this morning, Hie promptly replied that his conmmittee was still in existence, that its powers and duties wyere unaffected, and that the action of the Tillmanites was uin constitutional, null and void, lie add ed that he had to-day personally noti fied Col. J. L. M. Irby, the chairman of the committee chosen by the Tillman ites, that he (Col. Hoyt) was still State chairman and his comnmitte the State Democratic executive committee. It is announcedl that a meeting of the committee will be held very soon. A Whiskey Conflagration. LOUISYILLE, KY., August 14.-The immense distillery and ware house of the Kentucky Distilling Company, owned by Barkhouse & Co., was burned to-day, along with 25,000 barrels of whiskey. The fire began in the ware house and was causcd by the carelese ness of a colored laborer who was shift ing barrels with a lighted lamp stand ing on the floor. The barrel rolled against the lamp, breaking it. The barrel was leaking an~d the whiskey and oil flashed up like gun powder and th lmsfle h ulig osingle barrel of liquor was saved. The heat was tremendous andI the lire was uncontrollable. All the buildings be longing to the plant were destroyed. The loss on whiskey is half a million dollars, on the buildings perhaps $100, 000 mnoe Wll insurrd. UNDER THE GALLOWS. SPARTANBURG'S HIDEOUS CRIMINAL TO HANG IN OCTOBER. Turner, the Double Murderer and Sedu cer, Breaks Down When Comforte by His Solemn Fate-The Sad End of a Mis spent Life. SARTANMURo, S. C., Aug. 15.-The scene at the announdement of the ver dict in the Turner case, which is one of the most exciting and notorious ever tried here, beggars description. Turner is a bad man. le killed a poor rriendless German some years ago, but )n account of his wealth and influence lie escaped punishment. He then se :uced his sister-in-law a young lady of %bout eighteen years of age and said to be quite handsome. This brought )n a row between Turner and his broth r-in-law, Ed. Finger, whom rurner :eliberately shot down as Finger was passing Turner's store on his way home rom Spartanburg, and it is for this ,rime that he has just been convicted ind sentenced to be hung. The case during its progress excited reat interest both among the town mnd country jpeople and when it was 3arned about ten o'clock Monday night .hat the jury had agreed on a verdict the people began to assemble in the Courthouse. At last when the for mal ceremony of the court had been re tored, the judge sat solemnly on the 3ench, and the prisoner and his counsel 2ad been recalled, the bujlding, which iad been jammed for three days, was igain filled to its utmost. Then was one of the most critical noments of the trial. No one knew hat the verdict would be, but serious men knew that the browd from the :ountry, the men who had been here ill day, and the men who had come in ifter night, had come for a purpose. rhe excitement had much fuel to in lame it. No observer expected a ver ict of acquittal, but many thought the inding might be manslaughter. Noth ng but a verdict of guilty would satis !y the crowd. If the verdict had been 'not guilty" it is certain that Turner Arould never have left Spartanburg live. There were hundreds of pistols n the crowd. They would not have waited to hang him. They would have iddled him with bullets before he ;ouched the ground. Whether the ame thing would not have happened .f the verdict had been manslaughter as a critical question. And the killing would not have ended ith the prisoner. Unless the sudden urge of the crowd had prevented any >pportunity for resistance it is certain heriff Nichols would have defended iis charge to the utmost, and a terri )le scene of bloodshed would have re ;ulted. Judge Norton took occasion o deliver a timely remark to the audi mce, requesting them to keep down' my exhibition of feeling, wnatever the erdict, and it had a good effect. Tur 1er came into the court without a col ar. Evidently he did not expect a ver lict against him. When it was read, the spectators de cribe the effect on him as sickening, 2is face usually florid, looked corpse ike, and his hands worked nervously. [t was a dreadful night for the poor onvict. The court !adjourned until 0 o'clock this morning, and the poor risoner was carried back to the jail, ind the crowd dispursed, and there had jeen no breach of the peace. At the "Oyez, oyez" of the court crier his morning another large crowd was present. It was a mixed assembly. rownsmen and countrymen had come : hear George Turner sentenced. The prisoner was in the dock, Mr. Shumpert was in his place, and the clerk had be gun reading the recitals preliminary to :o the question whether the prisoner lad anything to say why sentence of leath should not be passed upon him, when the solemn charge of the clerk was suddenly interrupted. It hadibeen discovered~that not one of he prisoner's counsel was in court. 'You may sit down, Mr. Turner. Call the counsel," said the judge. When he attorneys ihad hurried in, and the recitals had been gone over and the prisoner was asked if he had anything o say, Mr. Sanders rose and made a aotion for a new trial. No ruling of he judge was asked to be reviewed by aim, but theground of the motion was hat the state's counsel had been al owed comment on facts which the udge had excluded from evidence. The Solicitor and David Johnson both nade brief replies; Maj. Duncan closed ~or the defendant, and the court refused he new trial. Then George S. Turner was told to tand up again in his place in the dock. [le did so, and the judge addressed aim very briefly. He said that he would not add to his discomfort by ecturing himi, but he trusted that, as lad been testified by Turner and his ife on the stand, that his experiences 2ad led him to see the evil of giving a oose rein to passion, and he would, in addition, only remind him of the eighty words of Scripture: "B3e not de 2eived; God is not mocked. Whatsoever m man soweth, that shall he also reap." The judged then signed and read the leath warrant, sentencing the unfortu nate criminal to be hanged on the first Friday in October, the third day of the month, betwveen the hours of 11 and 2 fclock. An immense change has taken place n-the appearance of Turner since Sat rday. The man's look is troubled. His ace is blotched. His eyelids are in amed. He is very different from the rurner who is accustomed to rule his 2eighborhood and to have unlimited onidence in his success.-Augusta hronicle.__________ A Deadly stroke of Lightning. M1Acox, Ga., August 12.-A story of iath and distruction by lightning comes Erom Mlarion Church, Twiggs County,' some twenty miles from Macon. Several rundred negroes were gathered at the hurch when a heavy cloud came up) and torrents of rain began to fall. Suddenly the throng of negroes huddled inside the :hurch were terrified by a vived flash of ightning and a fearful peal of thunder. Thie bolt had struck a tree near the curch, under which thirteen people were closely gathered seeking shelter from the rain. One of the thirteen was instantly killed and ten others were wounded, of whom several may die. All of the party were severely stunned, being hurled to the ground one upon another.____________ An Alance Ticket in Kansas. TOrEKA, KAS., August 13.-TUhe Far ners' Alliance of the State of Kansas met in Convention here to-day to nomi nate candidates for Mtate oflicers. W. F. Wightmore was nominated for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: John~ F. Willets. of Jefferson County. for Glover nor, and A. C. Shinn, of Franklin County, for Lieutenant Governor. *A Brkle at T welve. Married, in Flat Creek township on the 31st July, 1890, by llev. John Faile, Mr. Monroe Hliltcn and diss Nannle Ulackmon. The bride we are ted!d is only 12 years and 65 nienths of age and the groom is also quite youug.-Lan BLOWN TO ATOMS. Four Men Killed and TWo seriously In jured by an Explosion. NE WBEn nY, Aug. 14.-News reached here at 10 o'clock this morning of a terrible boiler explosion, which occur red about 7 o'clock, at a country saw mill ten miles west of Newberry on Dr. W. M. Dorroh's place. Four men, one white and three colored, were killed, and two colored were seriously wound ed. Pickens P. Matthews, white, the son of the owner of the saw mill, met with an awful fate. He was literally blown to atoms-his limbs bein:; found scat tered around at some distance from the scene of the explosion and other portions of his body suspended in the trees. The colored men, Carry Davis, Tump Ellison and William Chambers, had their heads blown off and otherwise terribly mutilated. Milton Rabb, colored, had his thigh badly mashed, and Watt Davis fear fully scalded. Both -ire seriously hurt. It'seems that a colored boy named Young, about 12 years old, was the only survivor of the dreadful catastrophe. He says that the pump had gotten out of fix and the engine had been stopped. Ellison, the colored engineer, with the other colored . men were around the furnace of the engine, and Matthews was working with the pump when the explosion occurred. The pump was in front of the engine, and near the saw, being supplied with water from a small stream alongside of which the engine was placed. Matthew's shoes were found by the stream with his feet in them having been blown from his body. The water must have got pretty low in the boiler, causing the men to stop the engine, when they were suddenly hurled into eternity. Our informant says the only thing he saw left of the engine was the band wheel. The noise of the explosion was distinctly heard by several persons in Newberry and by other persons at great distances in the country. Physicians have been sum moned to attend the wounded colored men, and Coroner Buist has gone to hoid the inquest. It is somewhat're markable that the small colored boy, Young, escaped death. He was only slightly scalded.-Columbia Register. A DASTARDLY DEED. Wrecking a Train on the Youghiogeny River, Near Pittsburg. PITTSBURG, PA., August 15.-A das tardly attempt was made last night to Wreck an Atlantic City excursion train on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, at a point twenty miles from here, where the road runs along the Yough iogeny River thirty feet above the water.. The train, which consisted of six sleepers and a baggage car, was crowd ed with excursionists for the seashore. It was late in getting away from the city and was proceeding at a rapid pace to make up lost time. Near Os ceola station an obstruction was en countered. There was a terrific crash and the engine was thrown over the embankment. The cars ran along the rails for fifty feet, where they fell over on the west-bound track toward the hillside. The engine was completely wrecked. The casualties were : Killed, Yan kee Sullivan, of Pittsburg, one of the oldest engineers on the road; Daniel Goodwin, engineer of the Eastern divi sion, who was riding in the cab; an un known man, supposed to be a trampt riding between the tender and bag gage care. Fireman King was painfully but not dangerously injured. H-e was thrown into a tree thirty feet off. The passen gers escaped with slight bruises. It is surmised that the intention was to wreck a high class freight train which usually precedes the Pacific Ex press, but followed it yesterday. Four ties were placed securely on and be tween the rails. All that prevented a frightful loss of life is the fact that the coaches fell the opposite way from the engine and did not follow into the river. The train had two hundred passengers. _____ The Anti-Ti Iman Con ference. COLtIBIA. S. C., August 16.-The following call has been issued; CoLUxIBrA, S. C., August 15,1890. The Conference held in the city of Columbia on the 10th and 11th July, 1890, adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, That when this Confer ence adjourns it adjourns to meet sub ject to the call of the president, and in the event that the August Convention refuses to make provision for the elec tion of delegates to the September Convention by primary election, that the president call a meeting of this Conference, to be held before the Sep tember Convention, for the purpose of consulting together as to what course shall be pursued to preserve the exist ence of the regular Democratic party~ of South Carolina." In pursuance of this resolution and in obedience of this mandate of the Conference, I hereby call a meeting of this Conference to reassemble at the State House, in the city of Columbia, on Tuesday, August 26, 1890, at 8 o'clock P. M. All members of the Conference and all others in sympathy with the objects and declared purposes of -those then participating in said movement arc hereby invited to attend. WV. D. JOIIxsoN, President. Killed by a Runaway Horse. SENECA, OCONEE COUNTY, Aug. 11. Yesterday morning MIr. John P. Reed er, saleman in the store of Adams Bros, of this place, was found in an unconi scious condition. He was lying in the public road, about six miles from here, with one leg fastened in One wheel of his cart, which was overturned, and bore evi dence of a runaway. Hie never recover ed consicousness and died yesterday af ternoon Mr. Reeder was a salesman in the store of Adams Bros.. of this place, and his famiily lived in the country. it was his custom to dirive out home every .Saturday night. it is supp)losed that his horse be came frightened and ran away. .There was no one with him. Hie leaves a wife and seven children.--Newvs and Courier. lilled in lied by a Snake. UrmIuxoliAl. AILA.. Aug. 12.-Jasper Keith, a farmer living in Winston cotun ty, awoke yesterday morning and found his wife and s-monthis-old babe dead i bed by his side. Tlhieir bodies were badly swollen, and coiled in one cornier of the bed wa.s a moainh~f snake,. who se bite is as fatal as thlat of the rat tlesnake'. During the night the snake had craweled into the bed and had bitten 'lrs. Keith and the cid. Keith wais so overcome with grief and horror that he fell pros trate across the deh~d b)odies of his wife and babe. 'This aro'used~ the snake and it struck at Keith. but its fangs caughit in hisniight shirt and he es$capedi the fatal sting. I ealizing his peril. Keit hi caught the snake in his hand and huirle-d it to the floor before it could strike again. Trum: aret four canididaies for JTudge (othiran's seat in (Congress. Trhey are Nessrs. Beniet. Jiohnison. Calhoun and No rris. All of them oppose the sub WHY THEY BOLTED. I THE ADDRESS OF THE RETIRING DELEGATES. They Claim that their Duty to their Con stituents, Under the Circumstances, Would Permit no Other Course-The Law and the Reasons in the Case. COLMBIA, S. C., August 15.-The address of the - Straightout delegates who withdrew from the State Conven tion yesterday morning was given to the press to-day, and is as follows: To the Democracy of South Carolina: We. the undersigned delegates from the counties of Sumter, Beaufort, Rich land, Charleston and Georgetown to the Convention of the Democratic party which assembled in Columbia on Au gust 13. 1890, hereby announce to our fellow Democrats the reasons which compelled our withdrawal from that body. The Convention assembled under the call of the State executive committee. "for the sole and exclusive purpose of determining whether delegates to the State Nominating Convention to be held on the 10th day of September, or thereafter. should be elected by primary eiection, to be held on a certain day throughout the State, and for no other purpose whatsoever." The Convention, after its organiza tion, instead of transacting the business for which it had been summoned pro ceeded to take action looking to the adoption of a new constitution for the party in this State, making many im portant changes in that instrument. Against this action we made such ar gument as was possible in the limited time allowed for debate by the mjori ty of the Convention. We pointed out that under the general rules of party government, as laid down by so distin guished a parliamentarian as the Hon. J. G. Carlisle, late Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, "when a convention is called for a spe cial purpose, its authority is necessarily limited by the terms of the call itself;" that "it can have no general authority to bind the party by its action on any other subject, for the obvious reason that its metmbers are simply delegated to do a particular thing." We pointed out that this general rule as to party conventions was in ex act accordance with the decisions of our State Courts in the analogous case of the power of a convention of the people called under an Act of the Leg islature for a specific purpose. Inthecelebrated case of McCrady vs Hunt, decided.by the ,Court of Appeals, Judge O'Neall used the following lan guage: "A convention assembling un der the constitution is only the people for the purpose for which it assembles; and if they exceed these purposes their act is void unless it is submitted to the' people and affirmed by them. It is true the Legislature cannot limit the con vention, but if the people elect them for the purpose of doing a specific act or duty pointed out by the Act of the Legislature the Act would define their powers, for the peopleelect in reference to that and nothing else." Judge David Johnson concurred in this opinion, and Chancellor Harper, in his opinion, uses these words: "Cer tainly the convention was not the peo ple for any other purpose than that for which the people voted and delegated them. To conclude that the people in tended to invest the convention with their authority for any other purpose than the purpose specified would be plain usurpation of the power of the people." We stated these views fully, and ap pealed with all the earnestness in our power to the majority, as fellow Demo crats, not to force us into a position where we would be compelled, in view of the limited authority conferred upon us by our constituents, to refrain from participation in the further proceed ings of the convention. Notwithstanding these appeals, usur ping powers not delegated to them, and in open violation of the law gov erning the subject, the majorit'y pro ceeded, under the operation of the previ ous question, to take action upon the adoption of a new constitution for the Democratic party of the State. We therefore withdrew from the body, be ing unwilling to allow the Democrats whom we represented to be bound by its further action or to be committed to a precedent so dangerous and illegal. J D Bilanding, W H Gibbes, Jr. J D Graham, N G Gonzales, W D Scarborough, Jas. B Adams, John S Hughson, Joseph Bates. Frank Mellett, Wilie Jones, W J Verdier, J P Meehan, W F Colcock, Richard Singleton, Henry D Elliott, Lero F Youmnans, Thomas Talbird, WS oe Joseph S Reed, W P okter, C A Williamis, F W McMaster, Thomas R Ueyward,A C Haskell, W 0 Prentiss, G Lamb .iuist, J C Haskell, A T Smythe, A N Talley, M Hiorres W Hi Brawley, R C Barkley, K S Tupper, John F Ficken, J W Barnwen,. John M Kinloch, W E Stoney, J L Weber, C H Bauls, C Fitzsimons, D A ,J Sullivan, F Kresseh, Jr. J F Rledding, ilLP Bolger, 0 A Johnson, HI Schachte, J Adger Smyth, J H Perrine, T F McGarey, M1 W Bowers. W H Dunkin, A HL Du~re, 0 B3 Skinner, J Hiarleston Read, E C Easterling. R D Munnerlyn, W G Hluison. S S Dusenbury, Walter Hazard. On the Right Track.. The Farmers' Alliance in Louisiana has taken a firm position in regard to the Louisiana Lottery, and has given ambitious politicians distinct warning that they must pledge themselves to oppose the. Lottery or never more ex pect the Alliance. vote. Members of the Alliance who favored the Lottery charte:- are to bc disciplined, and, if found contumacious, are to be expelled from the Order. This is on the right line and the Louisiana Alliance de serves to be most heartily congratula ted upon the bold stand it has taken on the Lottery question. Many of the politicians have been coquetting ,with the Lottery or are regularly employed in its service and the Farmers' Alliance is right in putting its foot down on them. The farmers can be depended upon, as a rule, to take the moral side of every public question. A Girl's Ferocity. CmcAwo, Aug. 14.-A (lispatch from Hazar,Ky.,says : The grand jury has returned nineteen indictments for mur der to date. Outlaws are fleeing the country in haste. Near ]Booneville, Owens county, John Bowman knocked his cousin, Henry Bowman. down, after which his sister cut his heart out with a bowie. The girl claimed that Henry insulted her.. . - Broke His Neck. (lI.u:l.roN,.S. C Aug. 13.-A 9 year. old son of Samuel Easterby. at 183 St. Phillips street. broke his neck this fore non. IEd was tiying a kite from a kitchen roof and fell adistance of twen tyfive feet to the ground below. Death was instantaneous. The father was in Savmahf at the time and was telegraphed for. Th le family came from Branchville in this sitte