The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-15
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN OF 1890

/
year of the administration ends.
-
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN OF 1890.
The Illinois Democratic state com
mittee had full meeting at the
Palmer house in Chicago on Thursday
and transacted some important bust
ness in the way of formal opening Of
the political campaign of 1890 in Hi
nois. 1t decided to call a state con-
ventiOn Of the party to meet at Spring
field, June t. the basis Of representa-
tion in the body being one delegate
for every 400 Democratic votes, or
fraction over 400, cast at the election
of 1888; and the committee being Of
opinion that it is eXpedient, in order
to bring the election of U. S. senator
as close to the people as possible, that
the convention should name a candi-
date for that Office, ask the various
counties and districts, in appointing
their delegates to the state convention,
to instruct them, first, as to the ex-
pediency of making such nomina-
ton, and, secondly, if the decision is
affirmative, as to the candidate they
prefer.
The meeting of the committee was
held with closed doors, yet no secret is
made as to the tone of the few speeches
that were made or the high confidence
of success with which all the members
of the committee were inspired. One
reliance, to inspire such confidence, is
on the fact that the Democrats are
right on the tariff question, and that
it was evident the farmers of Illinois,
who are beginning to understand how
they are hurt by the present method
of levying customs duties, are rapidly
coming over to the democracy on that
question. "Not only the farmers"
Frances Hoffman, jr., is reported as
saying, 'are dissatisfied with the pres
ent high protective tariff, but the
artisan and merchant as well; and
judging by the recent expressions of
public opinion in Wisconsin and Min
nesota as we'll as Illinois, and the late
election in Iowa, it was safe to claim
that the day was near at hand when
the entire Northwest would be COM
posed of Democratic states" Mr..
Hoffman, proceeding, cordially APP
proved of the plan to nominate can
didate for the U. S. senate and eX-
pressed his earnest preference for
John M. Palmer as such nominee.
The mention of Governor Palmer's
name was greeted with applause, and
then Chairman Campbell said he had
written to General Palmer on the sub
ject of nominating candidate for
senator aking his advice on that ques-
ton as well as several Others of party
policy. In response he had received
the following letter:
SPRINGFIELD, Mar |, 1880.
Hon. John G. Campbell, Streator, H.:
DEAR SIR have your letter OF
the 22d, and would have answered
earlier, but have been both busy and
sick. am satisfied that the conven-
ton ought to meet In June. Any dayin
that month would be suitable. | saw
Mr.. Wright, of Petersburg, few days
ago and expressed my views to him
fully. | cannot be in Chicago on the
9th on account of urgent engagements.
! am anxious to meet the committee
for personal reasons, which is, desire
to be clearly understood with refer
ence to the senatorial question. l
wish it clearly understood that l am
i'm no sense a candidate for the senate.
All | have ever said is that | think
the state convention ought to adopt,
as the permanent rule of party action,
the nomination Of candidate for the
senate, and that, if my view of party
policy in that respect is adopted, /
would accept the nomination and
make a canvass, but | would greatly
prefer that some other person be nomi-
mated.
The motive that leads to this sug-
gestion is that do not desire to be a
member Of the senate, and will only
consent to be candidate before the
people in order to vindicate the princi-
pie of electing senator by popular
vote as nearly as possible. wish to
be understood as not urging my views
upon the party. On the contrary, II
there is any considerable opposition to
the plan l suggest, l would, for the
sake of harmony, advise that it be
abandoned. We will carry the legisla-
ture If we make a united, energetic
canvass. Let nothing be done that
will divide us or dampen the enthusi-
asm of the party. Respectfully,
JOHN M. PALMER.
What wear or two 400 ,r1s Senator