The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-07

udHieu ny sUHit otnoA 5Sh'ioah' uo"cV
if should now present her claims. And
yet our city has more of the desirable
elements for the convention than any
other in the state. There is as much room
indoors and out, as. any of her neighbors
can boast We have hall that will seat
$1,000 above ground, and l don't know
how many below, and hotel accommoda--
lions that are ample and excellent. The
best thing you can do is to come with the
convention to Danville and see for your
selves. Applause Danville is like
Peoria. Democrats aud republicans all
want the convention. AT Danville you
will escape the charge of following in the
tracks of the republicans; but I don't
care for that; am in favor of following
them right into their own holes, and when
we join them we shall break them up.
MR.. E. L. MERRITT,
of Springfield, was then called to close
the debate, He spoke at great length of
the advantages of the capital city, at
tempting to prove that it was the best
place in the state for holding the conven-
ton. We have there great state house,
owned by the people, designed for
and adopted for such uses, with
assembly rooms. and all other necessary
rooms under one roof 1t is building
that will accommodate, on one floor, any
convention of the state. The tendency of
late has been to throw gatherings into
Northern Illinois, and neglect Central and
Southern Illinois. The chief strength of
the democratic party of Illinois is in the
central and southern portions of the state,
and the party could not afford to slight
| them or do anything to dampen their
ardor. The speaker dwelt for considera-
Bile space of time on the charms of Spring
| field, and did his best to enlist the com
mittee in her behalf.
After the speaking the state committee
retired to their private apartments, where
vote was taken The ballot showed
eighteen for Peoria and eight for Spring.
field, and fixed upon the I'd of July as the
time for holding the convention. Follow.
ing is the way the members voted
For Peoria-John II. Oberly, of Bloom.
ington; S Corning Judd, Gen. Herman
Lieb, Joseph Mackin, II Hildreth. T I
Quincy, and S P Chase, of Chicago; Mr.
Fitzmaurice, representing J " Coppinger,
of Alton; R W Corbett, of Aurora; W 3
Mitchell. of Freeport; ] NJ McConihe,
of Princeton; A j O'Connor, of LaSalle
W T Dowdall, of Peoria; Chas H Whitta
ker, of Macomb; A J Pryor, of Charles
ton; Geo W Fithian. of Newton; VIM S
Forman, of Nashville; 5 l. Dwight, OF
Centralia.
For Springfeld-W HGreen of Cairo
W J Mize, of Sullivan; E B Buck, of Car
linville; T NJ Bridges, of Carrolton; B
Irwin, of Pekjn; VIM Fuller, of Clinton
W E P Anderson, OF Cerlinvilie; Thomas
F Bouton, Of Jonesboro.
The basis of representation agreed or
was one delegate for every 200 votes cast
for Hancock and English electors, an(
one delegate additional for each fraction
Of 100 votes and over This will bring
the number of delegates up to about l..
$50. which will make an enormous con-
| vention.
Three was sort of love feast in the
hotel during the afternoon, while the
committee was in executive session.
Speeches were made by number of prom
inent gentlemen, and general
good time had, The prevailing choice
was the "old ticket" and Carter H. Har,
rson was unanimously favored for gov
ernor Hon. E. L. Cenkrite, of Freeport
was prominently mentioned in connection
with the lieutenant goverRorship, and il
is evident that he has many followers.
| Altogether it was an suspicious gather
ing, and served to show that the demo
cratic party of Illinois feels hopeful OF
the outcome in the coming campaign.