The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-09
TIE ILLINOIS STILL HUNT.
How the Republican Victory in the
Thirty-FOurth District Was Won.
An Ably Planned and Brilliantly Executed
Strategic Moyement-The Democrats
Delay the Canvass of the Vote.


OF the special election IN the Inlrty-Iourtn us
trict last night was removed to-day. Complete
returns from all counties in the district show w.
a. Weayer's election over Leeper, the Demo-
cratic candidate, to fill the unexpired term OF
she late Representative Shaw by a safe major
ity. This result has taken every one by sur
prise. Very few Republicans and no Democrats
knew that there would be any opposition to
Leeper, who had behind him Democratic ma
Iority of 1000. So confident were the Demo
crats of the district that they did not seek to
make an organization, depending upon their
natural majority and the surface indi-
cations that the Republicans would
not name a candidate Anticipating
victory without trouble. Morrison vent down to
Washington to help dish out the Illinois patron
age in his own interest, and while he was plot
ting to Dust Postmaster Palmer and seat his
friend S. Corning Judd in the Chicago postoffce
the wires were being laid here in Springfield and
in the Thirty. fourth district to more than dis
count the eject of Judd's appointment. Morri-
sons ROOM at the Leland hotel in this city has
been No. IA all winter. When he went to Wash
ington he turned over the key SO as not to be
charged in his absence About this time few
Republicans began perfecting plan to make a
straiegic movement to capture the successor to
1f(r Shaw and settle the senatorial question
E1thout further ado. 1t seemed almost hope
less, but Dan Shepard and Sam Jones, of Spring
GSld, put their heads together and determined to
make the effort. The New Orleans junket helped
Them out by attracting attention in that direc-
ton quartet of leading Republicans after
frequent consultations, concluded to try the
s:still.hunt" plan and spring candidate about
o'clock the afternoon of election day. Then they
sent out for a representative Republican in each
Of the counties of Cass, Menard, Mason and
Schuyler. which compose the Thirty-fourth dis
tfict They came Thursday, and the conference
was held in the Leland while the junketers were
preparing for their raid on the South. By a
queer coincidence the hotel clerk, when requested
to assign room for conference gave the Re-
publicans who were preparing to beat Morrison
the key to Room IA, where the Democratic can:
didate had made his headquarters during the
winter SO that while he was in Washington his
aid headquarters here were being used as the
place in which to plan for his downfall. The
plan formed was to bring out w. II. Weaver of
Msnard county, as candidate Weaver is an
insurance agent and he was selected be-
cause no could make the rounds
of Menard county, and get out the
Republican vote without attracting attention.
1t agreed not to allow the Democrats to
know Republican candidate would run until
the afternoon Of election day. Secrecy was the
main element of success, and 20 preserve secre-
cy required shrewd management, because it was
absolutely necessary that the Republican leaders
sp all parts of the four counties should be mott
fed. The Democrats never dreamed that any
Ehing was being done. Several leaders, includ-
ing Judge Bagby left the district election day,
without voting, believing that it was unnecessa-
ny. OF course they were unprepared for the re-
suit and they refused to believe the first reports
showing Weaver's election The Republicans
varn M frcf ipcr dun Init vbor
they discovered that the result was the
elimination of welllaid and skillfully executed
plans they rejoiced over the success of one
of the shrewdest political moves ever made
As the news came in this morning. and con-
4lrmed the report of Weayers election, the en-
shusiasm Of the Republicans knew no bounds.
IN the House they were especially rejoiced, and
continually interfering remarks about the great
victory, one of them asking for unanimous con-
sent to paint the State-house dome red in honor
Of the great victory. Oyer in the Senate the
same signs of general joy were apparent. while
the Democrats Were bowed down with grief.
About noon they conceded Viewers election and
attributed the cold wave which swept over the
town to-day to this result The disheartening
news seems to have reached Morrison at Wash
ington about the middle Of the forenoon. He at
once telegraph Bob Willbanks, clerk of the
House, asking if there was any hope for the
Democrats, to which Willbanks is said to have
sent the brefbut forcible reply: ''Not id
Bit. The Republicans have carried it."
There was u general inquiry among the Demo
Gratis as to whore the responsibility for their
tremendous defeat lay, and every one agreed
that Morrison must shoulder it. State Senator
Darnell said he had done his best 10 arouse the
Democrats of his own county Schuyler but he
t2ould not make them believe a Republican can
Aidate might be sprung Langford, the colleague
OF Shaw, was on the New Orleans junket, and,
along with others, was encouraged to 90 by Nor
rison. When some of the Democrats iii the leg
islature some time ago suggested to Morrison
shat the district might require attention he told
chem decisivey that they need not bother, as he
gould look after it, Among the anti Morrison
Democrats there Is an illexpressed exulta-
tion over Morrison's downfall. They
say the Cleveland administration will
finally be convinced that Morrison
has no claim to be considered aleader among the
Illinois Democrats. A great many anxious tee-
grams were received this afternoon from Wash.
ington Democrats, but the uniform answer was
Shat the Republicans had triumphed, and there
vas no longer any possibility of electing Dem
9cratic senator. Haines and his crowd were also
made the recipients Of many sarcastic messages
General Logan received numerous kilograms,
congratulating him on the superb management
Of the still hunt, and on his prospective election
rs senator The result of this election complete
ly changes the political character Of the General
Assembly, and places the election of United
Dtates senator entirely in the hands of the Re-
publicans 1t breaks the political tie which has
heretofore existed, and gives the Republicans one
majority in each house and majority of two in
tho joint convention. Already the talk is heard
that the Legislature can now go to work on the
appropriations with the certainty of adjourning
when they are finished. They Democrats admit
that they will now be in the minority, the joint
convention standing 1O3 Republicans to IOi
Democrats, the Republicans having majority
Of one in each branch of the Assembly They
pin some hope on Sittig helping them in flibus-
terng tactics, but their leaders do not encourage
ahis idea. Sttig took the noon train for Chicago
so-day, telling ali inquirers that he was wait
Eng to get authentic information of Viewers
election. Last night Sittig declared, as on
former occasions. that he was ready to vote
FOR Logan whenever his vote would elect, and
shat the time has now come is admitted by the
Democrats.
The vote cast was not one third of that cast in
November last. 1t is averred by some Demo
Gratis that intimation of what was going to be
sprung on them was learned the night before