The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-12

X
The retirement of John II. Oberly from
the position of chairman Of the State Demo
cratic Committee withdraws from the list of
active Illinois democrats very efficient and
active democratic worker and organizer
MIR Oberly occupied the position Of chair
man of the state committee during the CAM
paigns of 1882 and 1884, and in both demon
great abilities as an organizer. The returns
for the election of 1882 showed one state
nominee of the party elected and another
one very nearly. The reduction of the re-
publican majority in 1884 as compared with
that of 1880 was very material, and had the
national committee furnished Mr.. Oberly
with the aid that was Illinois due, Mr..
Cleveland, and not Mr.. Blaine; would have
received the electoral vote of this state, and
this too despite the bad management of
affairs in Cook county by the Chicago local
managers. The democracy of Illinois are
largely debtors to Mr.. Oberly, and it is to
be hoped that some day they will demon
strate their appreciation of his valuable
services.
The selection of Hon. Alfred Orendorff
of Springfield, for the position of chairman
of the State Democratic Committee to sue
coed Hon, John II. Oberly, resigned, is in
every respect wise one. Mr.. Orendortf is
young man Of energy and talent, whose
reputation is not confined to Sangamon
county, but is state wide. lie belongs to the
best school Of politics in the democratic par
| ty, and in his views of public questions is in
thorough accord with the President. The
democrats of the state under his management
may not carry the stae in the ensuing cleo
ton, but it is certain that nothing will be
done that will tend to lower the standard of
party management. Heretofore Mr.. Oren-
dorff has rendered services of an eminent
character to the democrats of the state. His
canvass for state treasurer in 1882 was phe
nominal, and it was only through the merest
accident that he failed of an election
The selection of Mr.. Orendorif to succeed
Mr.. Oberly was eminently proper and the
democracy of Illinois is to be congratulated.
Mr.. Blaine has again been called upon. to
deny, or rather has taken upon himself the
task of denying, that in his recent Portland
home rule speech he used certain discour-
teOus language relative to Lord Salisbury
Mr. Blaine says the stenographer's notes of
his speech are incorrect, and the stenographer
asserts that Mr.. Blaine knows nothing about
his notes, and that he reported the speech
lust as it was delivered. II is an unfortu.
nate thing for Mr. Blaine that he constantly
finds it incumbent to make so many denials.
He is always denying something-acting up
on the theory that there is general con-
spiracy among the people to break down his
reputation for truth and yeracity. In this
assumption the warrior statesman" from
Maine is mistaken. The people have never
attempted to destroy his character for truth
fulness and integrity, for they would rather
for the sake Of the country have his charac-
tier good than bad. If Mr.. Blaine is really
anxious to look upon the responsible party
in the affair, all he need do is to walk up to
a full length mirror and look straight ahead
|, The most popular person at the Ottawa
Strestcr lawyers base ball game on Wednes
day was Master George Nickel. of this city
whom Circuit Clerk Taylor took along as hi:
"mascot" and to run for him. BY com
plete failure on the part Of Mr.. Taylor to
get his bat sufficiently near the ball to dis
turb its course from Pitcher Ryon to Catcher
st. Clair, George services we're not required