The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-18
VOTING FOR SENATOR'S.
Hon. Shelby NJ Cullom Elected to
Succeed Hon. David Davis.
MIR. Hoar Lacks n Few Votes In Massachu-
sets Organizing Opposition to Mr..
McPherson-The Other States.
ILLINOIS.
Governor Cuilom Elected on Joint Ballot
Sketch Of His Political Services.


Sketch of His Political Services.
Special to the indianapolis Journal,
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. Jau. 17.-Governor Cul-
lom was elected United States senator to-
day, receiving every Republican vote on
joint ballot except that of Senator Adams,
of Cook, who did not vote. His majority is
twelve in spite of all rumors OF boiling 1t
is understood he will not vacate the guberna-
torial chair for some days yet.
Governor Shelby NJ. Cullom has been one
of the most successful politicians in the
country. He is in his fifty-fourth year, hav-
ing been born in Kentucky in 1929. He was
brought up on farm, and received his
education entirely in the common schools,
with the exception of two years in the
Rock River Seminary, at Mount
Morris this State, where he obtained
q knowledge of the classics and
achieved a school reputation as mathe-
matician. He studied law afterward. He
came to Springfield in 1853, and entered the
law-oflice of Stuart & Edwards. He was in
delicate health. and was strongly advised to
abandon the law but he persisted, improved
somewhat in physical vigor and soon began
to achieve position in his profession.
In 1855 he was elected city attorney of
Springfield, and the next year he was chosen
a presidential elector for Fillmore on the
Wing ticket, and at the same time elected to
the Legislature, receiving both the Wing and
Free-soil votes of his county In 1860 he
was reelected to the Legislature, and was
made Speaker of the House He was de-
feated for the State Senate in 1862, and in
1864 he was elected to Congress by a majority
OF 1,593 in the Sangamon district, which had,
| up to that time, been l, 700 Democratic He
was reelected in 1866 and 1868, the last time
defeating Judge B. s. Edwards, member of
the firm with whom he had studied and
practiced law. During his term in Congress
he introduced a bill known as the Culom
ti-Mormou bill, which was almost identical
in its scheme with the present Edmunds law.
1t is a matter of history that this bill pro-
cured for him the distinction Of being sew
eral times burned in effigy in Utah.
He was again elected to the Legislature in
1872, and made Speaker of the House; re-
elected in 1874. and defeated for Speaker by q
combination of Democrats and Independents.
| In 1876 Governor John l.. Beveridge and
Thomas S. Ridgeway were both candidates
field against them, and was nominated on the
first ballot, and led the ticket at the election
by several thousand votes He was renomi-
mated in 1880 over Thomas s. Ridgewav, Gen.
John l. Rinaker, Gen. ]. B. Hawley and the
late Col. Greenbury L. Fort, being again
elected. This term would have expired in
1884.
Governor Cullom is wonderfully popular
at home, and is allowed on all hands to have
the most remarkably open and frank man
speaks huently, and Is the very embodiment
ners in his dealings with men.
He is not specially an orator, but
of good, sound hard sense. 1t is said that
no man in the State can approach him in the
skill with which he obiges the most puzzlng
of problems to solve themselves and furnish
their own vindication for the decision. AL
though his candidacy for the senatorship
has met stubborn opposition the final re-
suit has been reached in the utmost good
feeling, and Governor Cullom will go into
the Senate fully equipped and able to achieve
distinguished position in that body.