River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-06-10
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.

llOildl convention.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
The Republican National Convention
which convened at Chicago on We'd
nesday, June ID, 1880, was unquestiOn-
ably the most notable political gather
ing ever held i'll the United States.
The hall provided for the occasion is
the most colossal and admirably ar
ranged of any ever used by a national
convention in this country and COM
prised the south wing of the exposi-
ton building, with a seating capacity
of ten thousand persons. The hall
was tastefully decorated with United
States flags and portraits of distin-
guished statesmen and celebrated war
riors, and the general arrangement of
the interior of the hall indicated q
clever conception on the part of the
local managers of the requirements of
the occasion. Notwithstanding the
great capacity of the ball it was filled,
and thousands who sought admission
were turned away for want of room.
The unprecedented demand for tickets
of admission was prompted by the Wig
orous contest that for months had
been waged by ambitious politicians
in the interests of different aspirants
for Presidential honors, and in which
much bad blood had been aroused
Though but little if any spilled.
The big bosses were early on the
ground arranging the details of the
conflict and marshalling their forces,
most conspicuous among whom were
the Senatorial triumvirate-C onkling,
Cameron and Logan-who had formed
an alliance in the interests of Grant.
These leaders of the Grant forces went
to Chicago with the fixed determina-
tion of applying all the methods pecu-
liar to the modern political machine
to effect the nomination of General
Grant, but before the convention
assembled they ascertained the fact
that State convention in New York,
Pennsylvania or Illinois is different in
| some respects from a national conven-
ton. Unfortunately for them "the
field" had a majority of about one
hundred against Grant upon questions
involved in the organization of the
convention, and before this fact be-
came quite apparent to them Cameron
| had become so insolent to his Oppo-
nents that they concluded to exercise
the power they possessed to depose
him from the craftsmanship of the ma.
tional committee; this conclusion adj
| monished Cameron that others had
rights which even he in his greatness
was bound to respect, and he begged
for mercy, he was at last permitted to
retain his position as chairman
upon pledge that he would permit
the organization of the convention in
a proper manner without the applica'
ton of machine tactics" Cameron
was thus reduced to comparatively
unimportant factor in the convention.
and Conkting was shOrn of his kingly
power for the time being at about the
same time by the open rebellion from
his dictation of twenty three members
of the New York delegation; the
squelching of Logan was reserved fol
the convention which neatly executed
the job by admitting The contestine
delegates from Illinois who had beer
left from the roll by the action of Lo
gan's convention at Springfield. The
browning rebuke of these tyrannica
bosses was the abrogation of the uni
rule. the enforcement of which they
had hoped to secure.
The excitement incident to the meet
ing of the convention was intense; TIN
principal hotels were thronged during
the intervals between sessions with NJ
excited crowd, while in the hall dur
ing the sessions deafening bursts o.
applause frequently broke forth in de
fiance of the chairman's gavel.. Hon
George F. Hoar. of Massachusetts, wa
male temporary and afterwards per
manent chairman of the convention
Action upon the reports of the com
mittee on credentials and the commit
tee on rules was not completed unit
Saturday nights session, the CLOSING
hours of which session were devotet
to the presentation of names of candi
dates, the balloting not being com
menced until Monday forenoon's SEES
sion. The balioting CONTINUES
throughout Monday and till on
o'clock in the afternoon Tuesday xheI
General James 4. Garfield, of Ohio
was nominated on the 38th ballot b
the following vote Garfield a9s
Grant 500. Blaine Y. From this
will be seen that the Grant men stco
by their illnstrious chieftain to til
last-a combination Of the supporter
of other candidates breaking the dead
lock. Chester A. Arthur, of Nel
York. was nominated for the secon
place on the ticket, concerning whic
We shall have occasion to say NOR
next week.