New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-12
AT CHICAGO.

S~@-
IN STORE FOR TIE FRIENDS OF GRANI-PREPA-
RATIONs FOR THE CONVENTION.
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
CHICAGO. April 9.-Mr. Blaines friends in this
State believe that they have prepared surprise for
the managers of the Thrd-Term cause and the whole
country The results of O very thorough canvass
inst completed are of nature to convince them that
n decided majority of the Republicans of Illinois are
opposed to the denomination of General Grant, and
as Washbume is now practically out OF the way
the whole strength of this opposition wlll' II IS
thought. be concentrated on Mr. Blaine. Some OF
the circumstances which seem to confirm this bellef
are herewith given as they were related by ono OF
the members of the Executive Committee Of tho
Illinois Blaine Club.
The canvass referred to was made on the plan Of
that prosecuted so successfully by The TRrBUSE in
Pennsylvania The books of the State Central
Committee were obtained and copied; lists of oil
the County Committeeman and of all other persons
with whom the State Central Committee carried on
n correspondence during the last campaign were
nrepared; circulars we're addressed to all the
names on these lists No mention was made Of the
Blaine Club in the circulars The committee cx-
utessly omitted explanation of their intentions and
tho source of their authority. as they desired to
obtain answers from Republicans of all shades OF
belief and to have them strictly unbiased, in pur
suing their investRations. In response to the cir
culars from 800 to 500 answers have already been
received. Being roughly classified, tho estimates
show, first, that the Republican counties are gen
orally for Blaine and the Democratic counties for
Grant: next, that the devotion TO Blaine of the Re-
publican counties is curiOusly prOportOned to the
size Of the maorties and finally. that about three
fths of all the counties in the State, Republican
and Democratic are for Blaine. One correspon-
dent, himself Grant man. sent word that the
people in his neighborhood were strongly for
Blaine and couldn't be controlled and this letter
is significant, as the writer Of il supposed he was
confding o campaign secret not 20 the Blaine
Club, but to the State Central Committee Several
correspondents testified to the alienation of tho
soldier element from Grant in consequence of his
veto Of the Equalization of Bounties bill.
The Greenback element which is very large in
parts of this State and is on the verge of coming
back into the Republican party en- masse, will have
nothing to do with Grant Many committeeman
reported deep-rooted hostility to Grant, aud the
expressed determination of voters in their neigh
borhood, ordinarily Republican. not to vote for him
under anv circumstances Nearly all testified to
the fact that the majority of the machine politicians
are for Grant. but the farmers and mechanics are
reported as being strongly opposed to the Third
Term, and resolved TO defeat the movement in that
direction if possible.
The conclusions of the Blaine Committee are for
tilted in O very remarkable way by the action Of
the four County Conventions which have up to this
date been held.
A Grant man of Champaign County said in bis
dispatch: "Either by accident or design, q major
| ity of the delegates chosen are for Blaine"
The present count gives 101 Blaine delegates
obtained without struggle, and without ILL.,
Guiding Cook County. which alone has 81
| delegates. There will be about 700 delegates in
| the State Convention, and of these rather more
than one-quarter arc already secured for Blaine,
and IL thero is any Grant strength it has not yet
made itself known. Counting by Congressional
Districts. the Blaine men feel perfectly confident
| of carrying eight outside of the city. and if the
| three city districts are obtained, as the wisest
politicians believe will be the case Blaine will
| have control Of the Convention and majority at
least of the delegation TO the National Convention.
1t is proper to say offset to this that persons
| who have been through the southern and middle
sections of the State represent the sentiment among
the Republicans there as being strongly for Grant
and predict that the Democratic counties, with the
Logan strength, will be able to carry the State Con-
| veutlon for the great captain.
The Blaine organization in this State is much
| more complete than in Pennsylvania or New-YOrk.
| Two members of the Blaine Executive Committee
are also members of the State Central Committee.
In Cook County, of the ninetyfOur delegates TO be
chosen, seventy or eighty will be for Blaine, and
nearly all the remainder for Washburne. The Blaine
Club have attractive headquarters ut the Grand Pa
cfc Hotel. and two secretaries may be found there
| constantly Mt work. The tone cf the letters re-
ceived rs most encouraging, and visitors confirm the
Information received by mail AT least it is certain
that the opposition to Grant will be strong and vg
| liant.
| A word about the accommodations for the Conven.
tion aud delegates in Chicago. The great ExpOs
ton building is now in tile hands Of the workmen
and its interior will be transformed before the
Convention meets. An immense amphitheatre is Il
be constructed, and it Is thought all who haye nny
right or special interest in being in the hall vii
| find good places in which 10 see and hear Thl
crush 81 the hotels, however, will be very great