Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-03-20
General John NJ. Palmer Elected
Senator From Illinois

The Senatorial fight at Springfield, ILL.,, Is
over, John NJ. Palmer having been elected
United States Senator by the Legislature on
The 154th ballot
The result was brought about by the ex-
oected detection OF MeSsrs. Moore and Cock.
-ell, the Farmers Alliance men, to the
Democratic ranks. The Republicans held a
inal caucus that morning TO see x matters
could be arranged TIE Republican COM
nlttee held consultation aud sent for Rep
resentative Moore and offered him the solid
Republican vote o. 100 ifhe and his two con-
freres, Cockrell and Taubeneck, would Join
them.
This offer, II accepted, would defeat Gea-
aral Palmer; il rejected it would put the
farmers in the anomalous position of refusing
10 help elect a FARM.
Moore, however, refused in few words
anl said that he had decided to support
Palmer.
This ended the matter, and the mseting
adjourned TO attend ths joint session. A few
minutes botore the meeting OF the Joint
Assembly the Republicans joined in chorus
Of Aud Lang Syne,' amid great applause.
The Democrats also struck up melody. In
the mean time every available inch OF space
in the chamber ops1 TO the public had been
occupied by throng intensely eager to wit
ness the closing scenes in this memorable
contest.
The roll was called and its verification
showed every Republican voting for Lind
ley, every Democrat for Palmer, Moore and
Cockrell for Palmer and Taubeneck for
Streeter.
'tOn this the l5ith ballot" said Speaker
Crafts, the whole number of votes cast is
204: necessary 10 q choice, 1913 of which John
VI. Palmer has received l0j votes, A. j.
Streeter | vote and Cicero J. Lindley 700
votes, and hereby declare John NJ Palmer
duly elected Unite1 States Senator 10 re-
present the State of Illinois i'll the Congress
OF the United States for the term Of six
years.
Deafening applause from the Democratic
side aud galleries greeted this announce
ment.
When Representative Taubanecks name
was called he voted for "A. ]. Streeter,
nominee of f. NJ. B. A. party" and dropping
to his seat, burst into tears
His sincere sorrow no one doubted and
cheer after cheer from the Republican sids
rewarded his loyalty to his party nominee
John McCauley Palmer was born in Eagle
Creek, Scott County, KY, September IL,
1917. He moved to Illinois in 1882, and iu
1889 settled in Carlinvlle Although seventy.
five old, he has all the physical vigor Of
strong man of fifty. He has been closely
identified with Illinois politics for forty
years having been leader in both parties
and by each given all the honors it could be-
stow. Up to the opening of the war Palmer
was Democrat but had never he'd Office
He went into the war as n colonel and came
out as a major general After the war h,
affiliated with the Republican party AMI in
1868 was elected Governor.
In 1872 General Palmer's term as Cover.
nor ended and about that time he ceased all
connection with the Republican party and
~oon after openly joined the Democracy.
Since then, while always active in the couu
ellis of that organization, he was little seen in
public life, quietly practising law in Spring
field until 1888 when the Democrats nomi.
nate him for Governor. During that cam
paign he made speeches in every county in
tho State He was beaten by Governor
Fifer, by only Il, 900 votes while President
Harrison had a majority of over ~, 900.
Last year he was nominated at the Demo
cratic State Convention for the United
States Senate to succeed Senator Far well,
the idea being that such a nomination came
as close to electing a Senator by popular
vote us can be gotten at under existing laws.
The General again took the stump as can
didate Of his party and canvasSsd the State,
rs he did three years ago when running for
Governor
In final conference with the representa-
tives of the +. NJ. B. A. he said, although
his health was admirable, he had nearly
reached the limit of political activity and
would regard his election to the United
States Senate as the crowning honor.