The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-03-20

The abrupt adjournment of the convention in
the afternoon left feeling of dissatisfaction, be,
cause so little work seemed to have been done
The Opera House had scarcely been vacated be
fore the Clifton Hotel was Overlooking with dele
gates, who, on comparing notes and finding n
general feeling favoring an evening session, a
vote was taken by q Cook County member,
mounted upon the clerks counter, which result
ed in a unanimous determination to meet at the
Court House at ~ o'clock.
At the time stated the court room of the high
ly ornamental and capacious rookery was crowd.
ed TO sutiocation, mainly by delegates and visit
from abroad. "Long john" for reasons
best known to himself refused to acknowledge
the second meeting as Legitimate affair and
failed to appear. After waiting few moments
and asIertaining his views on the subject, Mayor
Nicholson was called to the chair, and Ernest
sherman, Of Pekin, appointed secretary.
The chairman, in response to an inquiry, stated
that this meeting was regarded as being con
tinuation OF the afternoon convention.
p. A. Armstrong, Of Morris, stated that, in
common with many other delegates, he felt chag-
rined and disappointed at the results of the after
noon meeting. Major Mum had offered reso-
luton which embraced two propos,ions-one
looking to national aid and the other to the state
Of Illinois-to make the ship canal This reso-
luton was put in a singular way by the chair
man and declared adopted, without giving the
negative chance TO oppose or vote upon it. 1t
is plain fact, well known to every one familiar
with the people of this state, that to submit such
proposition to the people, as an amendment to
the constitution, which must needs be done,
would insure its defeat by an overwhelming ma
jOrity. The state will never build the canal.
We must look to national aid. He introduced a
resolution covering the point, that We must ask
congress to do the work, in conformity to the
act Of 1927 granting lands to this state for canal
purposes, and to make this route a natianal i'm
Improvement
Capt. Turnkey and j. Y Scammon, Of Cook,
favored the views Of Mr. A.
Mr.. Scammon offered a resolution, added to
Armstrong;, in effect that, Immediate action
is necessary, a committee Of the mayors present
from the different cities be 4 committee to select
prominent gentlemen Of the state along the line
of the proposed Improvements to urge upon con-
gress the need and importance Of a ship canal
and river improvement as a national thorough
fare.
Much debate followed. Stsckpole, OF Living
-ston county, made some sensible and many te-
dious remarks and was finally choked off.
VI. c. Quinn, of Peoria, delivered 4 caustic
speech, denOunCing the whole meeting as a mis-
managed affair and failure.
Geo. W. Armstrong declared the proceeding of
Wentworth, chairman OF the afternoon meeting,
in leaving the meeting without appointing the
committee of ten, which he had been instructed
to name. arbitrary and unparalleled in all par
liamentary usage. Wentworth had also stated
to him (Mr A. that he would appoint no COM
mittee to visit Washington, in accordance with
the scheme of appealing only TO the state for
aid. This would be a fraud upon the delegates
and people who have come here in the true in
;erests of the canal.
Carter Harrison made an excellent speech and
was loudly spplauded. He carried the audience
with him and pleasedthem beyond measure. He
denied the people Of Chicago are opposed TO
ship canal, citing that he was elected Mayor of
that city on the issue Of q ship canal, he being