Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-07
THE CONTESTS.
SATURDAYS FIGHT.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. I

Special Telegram to the Globe.
CHICAGO, June ., 2:30 P. M.-Now the
decks are cleared for action. The conven-
tion was called to order little late, as usual,
and it was nearly II before business was &C.
tually in progress. First came the contested
election cases, which were left undisposed of
last night. Kansas was the first case. The
anti-Grant gang in order TO steal votes
from Illinois, established precedent which
required them in the Kansas case to
give four votes to Grant, so We had the
strange spectacle of Conger, chairman of
the committee on credentials, Blaine man,
advocating the admission of four delegates
from Kansas who were Grant men, and
turning out four who were for Blaine.
They improved it little by allo wing the ex-
cluded members to remain on the floor and
use their influence, if they have any. On
this vote the Grant men divided, good
many voting to admit them and others ad-
herring to their principles and voting against
them, even though it gave four votes to
Grant. The Conkling portion of the New
and thirty-eght declined to vote.
Next came West Virginia, whose one
Grant and one Sherman man were contested
The anti Grant men hadto put them through
also, because it was in the same line with
Illinois. Utah was the last case. That con-
test was so strong that even the Blaine men
couldn't refuse to admit the two Grant con-
testant. They were chosen by committee
by the State central committee, four years
old, and the delegates themselves were on
the committee. Conkling pulled wires in
the Utah matter but didn't appear on the sur
face.
MASTER STROKE BY CONKLiNG.
Conkling's next point was master stroke.
1t has been claimed all the time that the
Grant men we're delaying the nomination in
order to wear out the convention. After the
contested seats we're disposed of the next
regular order was the two reports from the
committee on rules. The maj j.rity report
provided that if members of any delegation
mon, the name of each man should be called,
and his individual vote recorded. The mi
nority report presented by General Sharpe of
New York, was the same rule in use since the
party was born, aid provided that while del
egates could have their votes corrected, it
must be done by the chairman of the dele
cation. 1 noticed Conkling busy writing
resolutions, and in a few minutes, when
Garfield called up the report on rules, Gen.
Sharpe moved as a substitute a resolution to
proceed to make nominations, and ballot for
President. He urged it in a very forcIble
speech, following which Hale and Garfield
spoke against it. This placed tho anti
Grant men in the position of desiring delay.
1t was. probably with this view that Copk-
ling sprung the trap. There would have
been no difficulty in taking vote at
once, but the Blaine gang were not
ready, and the anti Grant force voted it
down, and the Grant men appeared as the
ones opposing delay. There were 276 votes
for ballot where 1 think isslittle less than
whole proceeding was fine point, and it
was we'll made. The adoption of the MAORI
ty report on rules then followed, with the
much mooted unit rule abolished.
THE PLATFORM.
When the platform came up, which was
the next business on hand, with a humbug
civil service reform resolution, this
called forth a spicy speech from a
Texas delegate. He said we had too much
of civil service reform. Dat of 1,4OO ap-
pointments by Hayes in his section OF coun-
try, only 20 were Republicans. He believed
in the motto, "To the victors belong the
spoils." What do we come here for, he
shouted, but to get the offices. This was a
confession which, though true, was very in
opportune, and created great laughter in the
galleries. Cessna of Pennsylvania, tried to
smooth it over by saying there were lot of
rebels in Office at Washington, and they
ought not to be too exacting on civil service
until they we're cleaned out. The committee
didn't want to adopt it, and didn't dare to
vote it down, 80 it went into the platform
though there were lusty negative vote. At
this time it was P. M, and after adopting
theplatform recess was Immediately taken
until o'clock, when we hope to get vote
Tor President. H. P. II.