Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-20
ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS.
Meeting Of the State Convention
at Springfield.

the hall in which the Illinois republican Stat,
convention was to be held. was occupied
The caucusing had continued all night, with n,
signs of giving way No one whose seat was
contested was admitted to the hall. and thi.
kept out the Cook county delegates, who were
assigned to the gallery. This left a majority
of Grant men on the floor. The excitement
was intense, and SO much time was occupied
in preliminary matters that it was nearly noon
before the chairman of the State committee
called to order.
Green B. Raum was appointed temporary
chairman.
committee on credentials was appointed
after a sharp contest, the majority of whom
are supposed to be Grant men.
The contest over the admission of the
Cook county delegates, is being waged hotly
on a motion to refer their cases to the com
mittee on credentials, the Blaine W ashburne
men contending that there are no real grounds
for excluding the 90 delegates chosen by the
regular Cook county con, ention, which were
elected by the republican voters in fair, open
caucuses. The feeling is deep, and apparent
~ the Grant men are determined to carry out
their programme of controlling the whole
body Of delegates to Chicago.
The city is overwhelmed will, visitors to
the convention, the attendance being the
largest ever known on a similar occasion.
Thousands are unable to get admission to the
hall.
Before the convention assembled, il was
understood that outside of Cook county the
Grant men had from 40 to 20 majority in a
convention of over 600; but that if the 80
regularly elected Blaine and Washburne del
egates from that county should be admitted
there would be from % to 30 anti-Grant ma
jOrity. As majority of the State committee
were Grant men, they voted to not admit del
egates whose seats were contested, thus shut
ting out Cook county and controlling the or
ganizatiOn.
The Blaine Washburne men protested
against this, claiming there was no ground
for contesting Cook county, because the 90
delegates were elected by Il majority of the
members conceded to be elected to the coun-
~ convention. The object of the Grant men
was to get in 36 of their men from Cook
county, which would be sufficient to give
them majority, on the claim that they car
ried that proportion of senatorial disticts of
Chicago. The Blaine Washburne men re-
piled that in every county where Grant men
had a majority, they had taken all the dele
gates without regard to minorities, and there
was no justice in applying such rule unless
it reached both sides.
The Blaine Washburne delegates from Cook
county insist that all will go in or none,
and point out that the proposition to divide
the delegation is just in the same effect as for
them to take the whole. There is much feel
ing, and it is impossible at this hour to tell
what the result will be.
Senator Logan is here leading the Grant
forces, and says Grant will have a solid dele
CATION. If so, there will certainly be another
delegation.
The Grant delegates held large, enthusi-
astic caucus last night, Robert r. Lincoln
presiding. Stephen \. Douglas, Jr., was sec
rotary. On call of counties, So county dele
cations responded. A committee of five was
appointed to prepare programme for an ad-
journed meeting this morning. A despatch
was received from +. b. Washburnc, urging
his friends to support Grant. Speeches were
made by prominent leaders. Senator Logan
stated Grant would have 339 votes and that
Illinois AZ votes will nominate him on the
first ballot. Grant, he said. ought to have the ~
votes of Illinois solid. If Blaine should have
a majority of the convention tomorrow, the
senator said he would move to give him every
vote. The meeting adjourned.
Mr.. Raum, in addressing the convention.
after hoping the cOntesting delegates would
abide by the decision of the convention. said
Illinois would support the nominee of the
Chicago convention. If that true republican.
statesman and great financier, John Sherman,
is nominated, we will give him earnest sup
port. If that great republican leader and
inimitable parliamentaran and debater.
James &. Blaine, is the nominee, Illinois re-
publicans will make his cause their own. If
that man of extreme modesty, of absolute
candor, of extraordinary Judgment, of inflcx-
ible integrity, of Uncomfortable will, Ulysses
S. Grant, is nominated, remembering his
great deeds and recognizing the constant
growth of our debt of gratitude for his worthy
z ,nius in saving this country from its enemies
the republicans of Illinois will take that great
man in their loving arms and bear him for
ward in triumph.
The committee on credentials was appointed
by congressional districts. motion for a
recess resulted in 24S for against $40, which is
considered majority for Grants friends of
l0l.
Resolutions binding the contesting delega-
tons to abide by the decision of the conven-
ton were carried by the same vote
Before opening of the convention the Cook
county Blaine-W ashburne delegates held a
caucus and resolved to proceed in a body to
the door of the convention and demand adj
mission. This was done and the door keeper
refused them admission. They then APP
pointed a committee to confer with the tenn
porary chairman as to the authority for their
non-admission.
The Journals special claims that while the
State central committee refused to permit the
regular Cook county delegation to participate
in the organization of the convention, it al
lowed the galleries to be crowded long be.
fore noon, so that regular delegates could moi
even find room there, and denounces its actor
as without justification or precedent.
The Palmer House Grant delegates pre-
scented their certificates to the commit
tee on credentials. When the Farwell-IIal
men (anti-Grant) presented theirs, objec
ton was made because they had not complied
with the resolution adopted in the convention
requiring them to abide by the rules of the
convention. After a lively debate. during
which much feeling was developed the dele
cations were requested to make the pledge
The Farwell-Hall delegates asked until [
O'Clock to consult, which was granted.
Recess was then taken.
When the convention re-assembled. tn,
committee on credentials reported list o
delegates from all counties except Cook ant
Greene. The report was adopted and til,
the convention adjourned till . o'clock to
morrow morning.
The committee on credentials settled tn
Greene county contest by admitting both
Grant and Blaine delegates. giving eacl
half n VITO Cnot cnupty will ka rayup,a,