National Republican., 1880-05-25
GEN. GRANT IN ILLINOIS.
A Chat with the Chairman of the
Convention.
His Views on tho Farweli Ebulition--InsId
History of tho Springfield Convention
Tho Majority Stalwart aud for
Grant-No Fear of Perma-
manent Split-ResuIt Sat-
isfaotory TO All.
Commissioner Raum on tho situation.

Commissioner Raum on tho situation.
A reporter OF THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
found General Raum, comm issioner of informal
revenue, busily engaged at his desk yesterday
morning, and asked him IL ho had seen Mr..
Farwoll's pionunciamonto TO the republicans
of Illinois.
"oh. yes" said he; 81 saw it yesterday in a
Pittsburg paper"
"You notice how ho puts II that Grant only
carried tho state by an apparent majority,
through tho desperate oxertious of Senator
Logan yourself and Your collectors, and tho
disgraceful interference of national officers in
primaries and county convontions2'
"Yes, l saw that" replied the general.
"There are no facis,to justify Hr. Farwell in
making such sweeping change against the
officers and republicans OF Illinois, Tho con.
vention was composed Of 603-Seegates--I bo-
lieve every one of them was present. II was
in every. respect representative convention,
composed of men of high character and influ-
ence. 1t is idle 10 talk of such body being
controlled by few Office holders. j recall the
pames of just four delegates besides myself
who held offices under the executive depart
ment of the government. There may have
been more, but am not aware OF it. From
the very moment the convention was called
10 order it was apparent that General Grant
had majority, whether tho full anti. i.Grant
delegation from Cook county wcro admitted or
not. We had four test votes by yeas and
nays, which gave General Grant over hum
dred majority each time"
The reporter referred to Mr.. Farwell's state.
mont that the convention was packed from
the start, that the chairman was ordered TO
recognize only certain persons, aud that de-
bate was cut of and parliamentary law over
ruled
"Those statements are not warranted by
tho facts" said General Raum. II visited
Springfield to witness the proceedings Of the
convention and to attend to some private bus
iness. i WAS not n delegate to the convention,
and would have taken no part in its proceed
ings but for tho fact that several Of the can
didates for governor expressed wish that /
should preside, and when my name was pro-
sented to the state central committee 1t ro.
ceived unanimous vote, including that OF
Mr.. Farwell, whereupon delegate from my
county gave me proxy. During the debates
tn, minority were always given more time
than the majority. On the chief question
which agitated tho convention, as to the mode
of raising a committee to select delegates to
the national convention, the minority, led by
General Hurlbut, made eight speeches to
the majority's two be fore The previous question
was called, and on an appeal from the decis-
ion of the chair the chair was sustained by a
yea and nay vote of SAT to 49, At the close
of the convention all the leading members OF
the minority publicly acknowledged the i'm.
partlality of the rulings made"
Roporter-"Mr. Farwcll states that the anti.
Grant districts have appointed district delo-
gates and would present them at Chicago. Do
you think there will DO contest in Chicago
over the Illinois delegation 2"
General Raum-"I do not; and if made, II
cannot possibly succeed. To my personal
knowledge the usage of both political parties
in Illinois since 1856 has been to select dele
outas N Tho national conventions " tha al n te
conventions. No congressional district in Ili-
nOis ever sent delegate to u national convon-
ton who WAS not selected by and bore the
credentials of n state convention. In the re-
publican conventions of 1850 and 1864 the con.
gressional delegations nominated the delegates
TO the convention, and their selections were
confirmed. In '6S, '72 and '76 select commit
toes nominated by tho congressional delega-
tions were raised one from each congressional
district and named tho delegates, aud the del
egatcs so named were confirmed by the con-
ventions; but in none of these conventions
wore tho delegates selected otherwise than
upon tho order of the convention"
RepOitor-"Do you think tho forty-two del
egates from Illinois will cast a solid vote for
GrantY
General Raum-"Ycs, sir; / do. The mpjor
| ity of the convention wera in favor of the
nomination of General Grant and they be.
lieved they had the right to give expression to
| their wishes in the national convention, and
for that purpose they proposed to select men
| who were in favor of carrying out their in
| structions. During tho convention leading
members of the minority said they would not
be bound by instructions for General Grant.
In view of that condition of things the friends
| Of General Grant felt that it was their duty
| to select men who would obey the instructions
| of the convention. 1t bas been the habit OF
republican conventions in Illinois to instruct
their delegates, and delegates so instructed have
power yet failed to observe their instructions,
In 1860 and 1864 they were instructed for
Mr. Lincoln, aud voted accordingly, In 1868
aud 1872 they were instructed for General
Grant, and voted for Grant. In 1876 the Hi.
nois convention was strongly for Blaine, but
the delegates went instructed and upon tho
| first ballot four refused TO vote for him"
Reportor--"If Grant is nominated, do you
| think Illinois will support him Z"
| General Raunl-"I do After the delegates
| had boon selected and instructed resolution
plcdgiag the republicans of Illinois to support
the state aud national ticket was passed by n
| unanimous rising vote, and this vote restored
| good feeling TO the convention, which wound
up in harmony and enthusiasm. If General
Grant is nominated, am perfectly satisfied he
| will carry Illinois by largo majority"
NT,,sE .,a.N a aIs.k.u