The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-20
A BIG LEGISLATIVE DRUNK.
Interesting Informal Proceedings of
the Illinois Legislature.
The Bradwell-NIcNally Contest Causes the
Most Disgraceful Scenes Ever Wit
messed in Springfield.

When the Twenty third General Assembly
convened in January last the Republicans
organized by electing Speaker, and, in ODE
dience to the voice of the people, assumed
the control of affairs. To-day, when party
contest was sought to be made, the Republic
can party of Illinois, as represented in the
House, found itself lacking. Last night it
was announced that seventy-seven Republic
cans, constituting a constitutional and
parliamentary quorum, would show up
in the House this morning, and that
the Bradwell McNally election contest
would at once DE settled by the GUST
ing of McNally and the seating of Brad
well. When the roll was called it was
a small shortage, but large enough to insure
defeat. Studer, of Richland county, had
paired with Democrat, who, as a prominent
Chicago Democrat announces, is sick and
will not return for some days. Studer is
low-license, and Bradwell being high-license,
Studer don't feel inclined to vote to seat
man who will vote in favor of the Harper
bill. Jesse J. Rock, OF the Eleventh district,
Chicago, is also a recalcitrant Republican,
and refuses to vote for the seating of Brad
well. He wants a fair count of the ballots
His absence from the House this morning
when the roll was called created considera-
BILE connection on the Republican side. All
sorts of rumors are in circulation in regard
to his action. Joseph Machin secretary OF
the Democratic State central committee, has
him in charge and IS now busy whispering
in the ears of Democrats, "Rook will stick. !"
This election contest has very much impeded
legislation, and in general way has cost the
people of the State not less than 100000 1t
should be settled, and speedily, one way or
the other. After the adjournment the mem
bers of both sides stood about in groups dis
fha fofA Nf of nd eel n
their views on the conduct of the malcontent
from Cook.
THE BALANCE OF POWER.
Hon. Jesse Rock, Republican member from
the Twelfth representative district. is just
now receiving more attention than any other
gentleman in Springfield The Democrats
and Republicans are vieing with each other
in looking to his comfort. His refusal to
appear in the House to-day, and vote with
his party to raise the deadlock and seat
Bradwell, has caused a connection in the
Republican camp. The seventy-seven Re-
publicans were in the city this morning
when the House convened, and had they
been on hand and voted a unit the dead
lock would have been broken and Judge
Bradwell would have been seated, and to-
night the Democrats, instead of the Repub
licans, would be bowling This afternoon
Fellows and Sheridan, Democrats, got Rock
into a carriage for ride and after seeing
the sights of the city, steered for the Chicago
q Alton and Wabash junction, two miles
south of the city. the intention being to get
Rock on the h-bound train at o'clock.
The Republicans got wind of the scheme
and dispatched Cleveland, of Rock Island,
Wood. of Cork, and Erwin, of Williamson,
to intercept them, which they did
just as the train was approaching the juno
ton. At the same time Purnell, of Adams,
and Jos. Mackin, secretary of the State CEN
trail committee, rode up. and for few min
utes battle was expected Erwin jumped
ont and declared that Rock should not
board the train unless by his own free will.
Mackin said Rock, you are twenty-one
years OF age, and can leave on this train if
you desire, and no man has a right to inter-
fere." Cleveland stayed at the door of the
hack and said no party of Demo-
Gratis should kidnap Rock, ana any such
effort could only be accomplished over his
dead body. Rock said he was having too much
fun to leave Springfield just at present, and
believed he would return to the city, which
he did in company with the Democratic
steering committee, declaring all the while
that he would stick and never vote to GUST
his friend McNally and for the seating of
Bradwell. The party drove to Kennedy's
restaurant where a sumptuous supper, COM
posed principally of solids, ETC., was ordered.
The Republican steering committee now
have him in charge, and will endeavor to
keep him within their grasp until the House
meets tomorrow. The town is full of men
tonight who got beastly drunk trying to
keep Rock sober.
PAINTING THE TOWN RED.
The scenes enacted in Springfield tonight
would disgrace an assembly of breech-couted
Hottentots, much more an assembly of al
large-sized tick, and attended by mob of
Democrats who egged him on, and body
guard of Republicans who went along to see
that he wasn't spirited away, made the
rounds of the town from saloon to saloon,
from bawdy-house to bawdy- house. Spring
field hackmen never had such picnic before
Early in the evening Rock gravitated toward
one noted resort and remained there for an
hour or two. The Republicans got in first
actually chartered the place for the night, and
barred the door on the Democrats, but Rock
wasn't satisfied, and in order to humor his
sudden within, dance was improvised at
noted dance-house up the street. He soon tired
of that however, and nothing would do him
but to take in the town. He and his COM
panions thereupon took in the said town,
and at II O'Clock were still engaged in paint
ing it red. Shortly afterward the Republican
bodyguard, with a few of Rocks chosen
Democratic comrades, returned to the bagnio
originally chartered, got in, and then barred
the doors on the general mob. Thereupon,
certain Democratic statesmen, including two
well-known senators, swore and CRASHED
their teeth, and threatened to break in the
big front door. The landlady promptly
threatened to shoot the first legislator who
crossed the threshold, and they rapidly got
out of range. Rock was finally put to bed,
several degrees drunken than lord, to sleep