Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-10
The Chicago Convention.


 taken, and the convention was organized by the appointment of Senator Hoar as temper ary chairman, and with an amicable arrange ment regarding the temporary composition of the convention.
 On taking the chair MT. Hoar proceeded tc ganizatien, Rules Credentials and Resolu- tions. As these committees were made Up by States, and as Gen. Grants supporters were in a clear minority of States, the committees were all anti-Grant. That on Permanent Organization soon reported Senator Hoar as Permanent President, and list of Vice Presi- dents and Secretaries Gone from each State).
 Meantime the great struggle was going on in the Committee on Credentials. In almost every instance the contests were decided against Grant. The right of each congression- al district to representation was conceded, but contests occurred in repeated instances on the application of the rule.
 It had been supposed that the committee on credentials would report on Thursday morning, and there was little for the Convention to do l till that report was received. On Thursday | evening, even, there was no such report, but there was vote in the Convention on an un- important matter, but which seemed toler- ably fair test of the Grant and anti-Grant strength. The fromer showed SIS, the latter l 406 votes
 ] The Committee on Credentials was in ses- sion till four o'clock. Thursday morning, and it was not till after 3 D. m., of Friday, nearly thirty hours, with scarcely any respite, that they were able to make their report to the convention.
 | The report of the committee on rules had been waiting action also, so that the conven- tion really had scarcely any business till Fri day afternoon.
 On Friday morning, MT. Cenkling offered l his test resolution elsewhere referred to. No sooner was the Credentials report in than real work began. The first vote of importance was upon seating district delegates from Ala bama. Here the Grant party were very badly beaten: 306 to 449. The great debate was on the Illinois contesting delegation. great many votes were taken in which it was evi- dent that the Grant party had the support of several other factions, the vote showing about | 30 net majority only for the contestants. At | about half past two a. m., Saturday morning, the convention adjourned till ii. For about an hour near midnight of Friday, l there was an immense deal of ridiculous l cheering for Grant and Blaine in which the two Crowds" vied with each other to make the noisest demonstration possible. The amount of excitement was intense and the ] hallooing served, no doubt, as a safety valve, but to person reading the reports cool l ly, at distance, nothing csuld seem more ab- I surd
 On Saturday, action continued upon the re- port of the Committee on Credentials. The Kansas case resulted in favor of the Grant contestants upon the same principle which gave the anti-Grant delegates from Illinois their seats. In West Virginia, also, Blaine lost two by the abrogation of the unite rule. The Utah contestants also received their seats. This finished the work of ascertaining who were the true members of the convention ;; Grant losing heavily by the recognition of the principle of District representation in all cases where it came in conflict with State represen- | tation.
 1 The report of the committee on Rules then came up, the contest being upon the one which repudiates the unit rule. This carried | by nearly two to one. The committee on res- olutions then reported platform which is too long for printing, this week. In the original | platform there was no mention of civil service reform, but no sooner did the matter come up in the convention, than MT. Barker of Massachusetts offered the following addition al resolution:
 | The Republican party, adhering to the prin- 1 ciples affirmed by it's last national convention of respect for constitutional rules governing | the appointment to office, adopts the declara- tion of President Hayes that reform in the civil service shall be thorough, radical and complete. To that end it demands the co-op- eration of the legislative with the executive departments of the government, and that con. gress shall so legislate that fitness acertained by proper practical lasts shall admit to the public service. That the tenure of admins. q distinctive policy of the party in power shall be carried ouD shall be permanent during good behavior, and that the power of removal for cause, with due responsibility for the good conduct of subordinates, shall accompany the power of appointment.
 Flanagan of Texas, said his State had had enough of civil service reform, and took his stand squarely upon the position that. Ito the victors belong the spoils." Another delegate proposed smothering the resolutions by recon. initial. MT. Goldman said that would net do. The matter had already been voted down in committee and they wanted to vote upon it in the convention. The last sentence (regarding tenure of offlce) was struck out by amendment, and then demand was made by those in ia. yor of the resolution for a call of the roll. Their opponents did not like to be brought up to the record, and finally withdrew their objec- tions and allowed it to be adopted.
 A national committee was then chosen of one from each State (Marshall Jewell from ConnecticuD who were empowered to fill l vacancies.
 Nomination of candidates was then in order. MT. Jay, of Michigan, nominated Blaine, Mir. Pixly, of California, secending the proposit- ion. These speeches were not effective, and are conceded even by the Tribune to have been very inferior. Conkling followed with an eloquent, satirical, able presentation of the name of Grant. Bradley, of Kentucky, seconded the nomination. Mir. Garfield then brought forward the name of Sherman in a 1ne address and was seconded by Elliot of South Carolina Edmunds and Washburne were then nominated and the convention ad. journed at midnight without taking a ballot
 On Monday the first ballot was had with the following result
 Grant, BOA
 Blaine, 2S4 Sherman, 93
 Edmunds, 34