Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-12


- Y
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, March 1.-The
long fight over the United States Sena-
tOrShip ended to-day.
Gen. John NJ. Palmer was elected on
the 154th ballot.
IT appeared to be a foregone tonclu-
sion this morning that Mr.. Palmer
would be elected, but the Republicans
were not ready to go down without
struggle. They held caucus to see if
they couldn't at least kill off the Demo
cratic candidate, and the Steering Com
mittee was empowered TO handle the
matter as it might think best. That
committee sent for Representative
Moore, one of the f. NJ. b. A. men, and
offered the solid Republican vote OF 100
| If he and his two cOnfereeS, Cockrell
and Taubeneck, would join them. This
offer was considered good politics in
any event. If accepted 1t would defeat
Gen. Palmer and put the +. NJ. b. A.
men under decided obligations to the
Republicans: if rejected, 1t would put
the farmers in the anomalous position
OF refusing to help elect farmer. II
was 4 tempting lure, but Moore did not
lose his head, saying that he had decid-
ed to vote for Palmer.
\ few minutes before the meeting of
the Assembly the Republicans Joined in
the chorus OF
"AULD Lang SYNE,"
amid great applause. The Democrats
also struck up melody, but OF a more
cheerful nature. In the meantime the
Chamber was occupied by an eager
throng, ond when a call of the roll was
ordered there was intense excitement.
As the members responded shouts went
up from the party each represented, and
when Cockrcll aud Moore voted for
Palmer the Democratic cheers were
deafening. Representative Taubeneck.
when his name was called, voted for
"A. J. Streeter, the nominee OF the F.
NJ. 4. 4. party and, dropping to his
seat, burst into tears. Sincere sorrow
moved him, and cheer after cheer from
the Republican side rewarded his 10y
atty to his party nominee.
THE BALLOT.
When the ballot was completed the
yeritication OF the roll showed every
Republican voting for Lindsey, every
Democrat for Palmer, Moore and Cock
rcU for Palmer, and Taubeneck for
Streeter. "On this, the l5ith ballot,
said Speaker Crafts, "the whole num-
| Der of votes cast is POI. Necessary to a
choice. 1913, of which John NJ. Palmer
has received 1903 votes: A. j. Streeter
vote. and Cicero J. Lindsey 100 votes,
and hereby declare John NJ. Palmer
duly elected United States Senator to
represent the State OF Illinois in the
! Congress OF the United States for the
term OF six years.
Deafening applause from the Demo-
cratic side and the galleries greeted this
announcement. The Democratic repre-
sentatives cheered themselves hoarSe.
and. mounting their desks, threw hats
and papers and baskets in the air, and
several members blew horns.
When the tumult subsidized, Senator
elect Palmer was introduced. and made
an address, in which he thanked the
members for the honorS conferred upon
him. The Assembly then adjourned
Siac die.
Ills LIFE.
John Macauley Palmer was born in
Scott county, KY, in 1877. During his
infancy, his father, who had been
soldier in the war lsl2, removed TO
Christian county, Ky, where he re-
mained till 1881, when he emigrated to
Madison county, Ill. Young Palmer
received little schooling during the
summer of 1888. He formed the ac-
ouaintance of Stephen A. Douglas,
then making his first canvass for Con-
gress. Young, eloquent, and i'll polltl-
cal accord with Mr.. Palmer, he won the
latter'S confidence, fired his ambition,
and fixed his purpose to enter upon the
study of law, and he was admitted to
practice x 1899
From that time on Mr.. Palmer was
much interested in politics. In lsi3 he
became Probate Judge, and in lsi1 he
was elected to the State Constitutional
Convention. where he took leading
mart. In 1852 he was elected to the State
Senate. He ran for Congress In 1859,
but was defeated. In 1850 he was Re
publican Presidential elector for the
State at large. In 1861 he was appoint
ed one of the five delegates (all Repu0-
licanS (sent by Illinois to the Peace Con-
greSS at Washington.
When the civil war broke out he Of
fered his services to his country, ana
was elected colonel OF the Fourteenth
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and particl-
pated in the engagements at Island NO.
10. Pennington. Chickamauga and Stone
River. and for his gallantry at the lat
ter place was made major general.
Under Gen. Sherman he was assigned
to the Fourteenth Army Corps, and par
ticipatcd in the Atlanta campai gn. In
February. 1868. he was assigned to the
military administration OF Kentucky.
Gen. Palmer was nominated for Gov
crnor of Illinois by the Republicans IN
lSfS. and elected by large majority.
His political course during his term was
surb as tn alienate him from his party,
and he became Democrat. which he
bascyer since been, but, though force
in uolitics since then. he has renamed
in private life. He received the en-
Idorsement of the Democratic State Con
vention. held in June last, for the ONCE
of United States Senator, and the IN
structions which every Democratic SEN
lator and Representative elected IN No
vember last received were considered as
obligating him TO vote for no one else
for United States Senator