The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-22
The Situation in Illinois.
Henry L. stoddard's Chicago Letter in Philadelphia


Henry l.. stoddard's Chicago Letter in Philadelphia
Press.
There are some features OF the movsm emit for
Judge Gresham that will seriously smbarrassa any
ment, especially when the delegates from all
parts Of the country get together for delibera-
ton. The most important that has come to my
attention is the fact that his greatest strength
comes from quarters which do not repre-
sent the sentiment of the party on the
tariff question. the issue on which the cam
paign will be fought. The Tribune. for instance,
which, while attempting to dictate the nominee
OF the Republican party next month. heartily
indorses President Cleveland's free-trads policy,
10 the foremost champion of Judge Gresham's
candidacy, and the Pioneer Press OF St Paul
has recently come to his support The tariff
views of these papers do not reflect the opinions
of Republicans out this way. and l doubt
whether they voice the sentiments OF Judge
Gresham on this question. Unfortunately. how
ever. no one il able to deny their
that they do, for the Judge has not taken the
pains to correct their misrepresentation, II such
they are.
It is scarcely necessary to.say to those who fol-
low the drift of the party that the nominee next
month will be, above all, . sound and thorough
protsctionist, and no candidate can exp ect to
get the support of the convention coming to It
with such credentials - Judge Gresham now
possesses.
True, the Republican State convention which
instructed for Gresham also adopted . sterling
tariff plank; but il 10 . fact that the instr uctions
were smuggled through the convention by the
Chicago delegates, backed by the Medill free
trade influence, which also ttempte to smother
the voice OF the party on the tariff question.
The interior counties were generally in favor Of
keeping quiet about Gresham and having an
outspoken plank ia the platform for protection.
This will undoubtedly have its influence on the
national convention whom that body comes to
weigh Judge Gresham's availability as . candi-
date. and the doubt it will cast on his attitude
on the great ISSUE of the campaign will not aid
him any in his canvass for votes.
TIE Gresham vote 10 going to be Q
delicate one to handle in tho convention. he
will start with about . hundred votes. Forty
four Of these will come from this State, a mum
Der from Minnesota. a few from Massachusetts,
and some from west Of the Mississippi. On the
second ballet some Wisconsin votes will be
added to his column. IL he can hold the Illinois
creas:ng, but there will be greater surprises in
the convention than that some Of the Illinois
men should change to Senator Cullom, and thus
show to the convention that Judge Gresham
was not the unanimous choice of the Stats
that adopted him after his own had fixed
its vote on another favorits son. Sen.
ator Cullom's friends Arc not ~ all pleased
with the Gresham candidacy. On the contrary
there 10 every reason to believe that they do not
want II it to succeed. and have scquissced in II
because they see an opportunity 20 present Sen
ator Culiom TO the convention II the contin,
Rcncy should arise when . dark horse could
capture the prize. No one doubts that they
could pick several votes out Of the Gresham col
umn II they should see TT to do it, and the re-
suit would be disastrous ia its effect on the 9th
or delegations. Besides the Culom antsgonisu
there 10 no secret OF the fact that Senator Far
well docs not take co the Gresham collar which
the convention puts around his neck, snd v sth