The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-05-13
the COOK COUNTY RIOT.

The strife in Illinois between the
Grant, Washburne and Blaine men
for the mastery of the State COnven-
ton has been spirited, but aecompa-
MED by no very bitteffeeling until the
assembling of the Cook County Con-
vention last Monday.
1t has not been conceded q very
courteous act for Blaine's henchmen
to enter Illinois and attempt by high
handed measures to steal the delegates
from his chief opponent at his own
home; but all this has been overlooked,
and the Grant men have not complain
cd until the disgraceful and riotous
proceedings which occurred last Mon
day. Leaving the Cook county dele
gates out of the count Grant still has q
sufficient number of votes to place ILL.,
nois emphatically for him in the Chi
cago Convention. So the thugs and
bullies who bulldozed the convention
will find that their nefarious and dis
graceful proceedings will be frowned
down at Springfield. 1t was found after
the primary elections in Cook County
that Grant had q handsome majority
over any other candidate. This fact
was known to those who managed the
opposition to Grant, and q cOmbina-
ton was formed between the so-called
Washburne men and Blaine men for
the purpose Of carrying the county
convention in their interests-if not
by fair means, then by foul means.
This unnatural alliance was practical
ly under the management of the
Blaine men, and the mass of the dele
gates were not no much Influenced by
their prejudices against Grant as
against John A. Logan. A large pro-
portion of the Washburne men were
not unfriendly to Grant, and would
not have taken the part they did in
the convention had they supposed 1t
would have resulted as it did. WASH
burne himself has repeatedly declared
himself for Grant first, last, and all
the time, and that his candidacy has
been brought about by over Jealous
friends whose actions he has emphat-
ically disapproved Of. He has been
considered as the clark horse" for the
Grant men, provided their favOrite
cannot be chosen, and Independent Of
that secOnd-choice strength WASH
burne would have no show whatever.
We donOt believe that the Washhurne
delegates will continue this unnatural
alliance with the Blaine men, and that
when the convention assemblies at
Springfield next Monday, the Grant
and Washburne men will be in per-
feet accord.
Now with reference to the Cook
county fuss the facts in the case are
these: The chairman of the Central
Committee of the county after having
called the convention to order. attempt
ed to nominate temporary chairman,
as had always been the custom in that
county. As soon as he did this there
was q pandemonium scene. and amid
indescribable confusion and uproar the
chairman of the Central Committee
was hustled from the platform. Again
returning, he was unable to restore Or
der; and finally declared an adjourn
ment to the Club Room of the Palmer
House, where an organization was ef-
fected. The disOrganizers remained and
elected IS Washburne and 80 Blaine
men to Springfield, while ut the Club
Room an entire Grant delegation WAS
elected which, beyond . doubt. will be
the delegation admitted at Springfield.
We cannot see wherein the Blaine
men have accomplished any good for
their favorite by these proceedings.
It il almost absolutely certain that
Grant will be nominated by acclama-
ton ut Chicago. Should he not be,
and should several ballots occur, it
does not seem possible for Blaine to be
nominated at any stage in the pro-
ceedings. 1t looks as if the Blaine
men had grown desperate, with the
intention Of defeating Grant At all
hazards. Blaine stands no possible
show of obtaining the Illinois delega-
ton, and it would seem as IL the COM
bination with the Washburne men
was upon the principle of Anything
to beat Grant" As We stated before
we believe that Wsshburne's strength
will not be committed to this princi-
pie at Springfield, but that it has been
worked up thus far by envious politi-
clans purely for the purpose Of stroke
at Logan and not at Grant. And We
believe that there will be q perfectly
friendly feeling between these men
and the Grant men at the convention
next Monday.
The Cook county riot will result in
adding to Grants strength throughout
the State, and create solidity In the
convention which no power can over
come.