Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-08
THE TUG OF VAR.

CHICAGO. June :. All is excitement this
morning. Intense anxiety is felt by all in
the result of the balloting which commences
at 10 A. NJ. The presentation speeches are
all made, and nothing remains now but to
vote.
The Grant men are saying that they shall
stick to their candidate, without breaking, all
day, and longer if necessary. Conkling still
processes confidence that the Grant men will
tire out their opponents, and at last bring the
issue squarely between Grant and Blaine,
when they claim they will succeed. The
friends of other candidates laugh at these
claims.
Curc,Go, June :, IL A. NJ. The morning
is bright and cool. The hotels and city
have been literally depleted since Saturday
of their crowd.
Before the hour for calling the convention
to order. the great hall was packed, and
everybody was on tiptOe. The individual
work ceased for the the time, as everybody
wanted to see the delegates on record for the
several candidates.
The sea of faces, the decorations and the
buzz of voices indicated that something of
unusual interest was about to take place.
| The several delegations were promptly in
their seats, and even the platform was packed.
Every seat in the galleries was packed.
Blaine in Pennsylvania and Kentucky on
the second or third ballot, caused considera-
! hi, stir. and increased the hopefulness of
the Blaine mon, who feel that the result will
he eventually determined by these States
| and the colored men of the South. Vermont,
| il is said will go to Grant in case the Issue
| ia between Grant and Blaine; but it is now
| certain that % of the Massachusetts, delegates
will never vote for Grant, and perhaps not
| for Blaine.
| II is said Ohio has determined to stand by
Sherman as long as he has chance, and
| then to present Garfelds name. Blaine will
| probablv have some votes in Ohio. The
feeling is gaining ground that Garfeld's
name NAV come in by and by. Washburne
! is freely mentioned.
Called to Order.
Soon after 1915 O'Clock. President iIoar
ranned to order, and in few minutes the vast
audience was stiIled. Prayer was offered in
which Divine guidance was invoked on the
important work of the convention.
/ resolution was promptly offered, and
adoptej without objection. to proceed to
vote for candidate for President to be sup
norted bv the republicans of the Nation The
roll was ordered to be called alphabetically
hx States and the chairman of each deiega-
t;on instructed to report the vote of the sew
| eral State delegations. giving eacn ueleBAte
the right to vote as he desired
| Ar IL 80 O'Clock the secretary of the con-
yention began to call the roll with Alabama.
There was a buzz and a movement of feet
for a moment, and then all was quiet as the
chairman of the Alabama delegation. seated
| in the corner to the right of the platform,
| rose and announced that Alabama gave IA of
her 90 Votes to Grant, 4 to Sherman and 2 to
Rlaine. There was loud burst Of applause
from the Grant column as the chair repeated
the announcement, though it was not much
TO shout over, considering the State was
claimed solid for Grant. The Grant men
were relieved to find that the rumored break
in Alabama had not come, but it was not ex-
pected befoe the second ballot.
Arkansas was next called, and cast her IL
votes for Grant. as was expected,-at which
there was loud applause.
California came next, and as the chairman
Of her delegation announced that Caiifornia
gave her le votes to James G. Blaine, there