The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-27
BOOM FOR MORRISON.
Claim That the Great Tariff Reformer
Is Really the Choice Of
Illinois.
The Sucker State Delegation WIN
Vote Once for cleveland
and Palmer.
Then swlng In Solid PhAlAnx for MIR
Morrison-Othor States Expected
to Join.

CHICAGO, May c6.--Col. William X. Nor
rison, chairman Of the interstate commerce
commission, and for years chairman OF
tho ways and means committee Of thu house
OF Representatives, has suddenly forged to
the front as . somewhat formidable presi-
Dental candidate and his friends assert he
will DO presented to the convention a. tho
choice OF tho Illinois delegation in CASE
Cleveland is not nominated by storm In tho
early enthusiasm Of the convention. Tho
meeting OF the new committee in the o'sy
Monday was the occasion for the Kathering
of most of the Illinois delegates and of pol
iticians from all parts of the state, and
was productive Of not a little surprise
when the presidential preferences OF dele
gates were canvASscd.
The forty-sight delegates from Illinois
are instructed to vote rs a unit In the
national convention and recommended TO
favor the nomination of Senator Palmer in
case it should be deemed expedient to come
west for a presidential candidate. IT
appears certain. however, that Co Morri-
son, and not senator Palmer, is the choice
of a very decided majority of the Illinois
delegates. md that after u primary ballot
ZOE NA0VoluAN 0AA q SoAhp ~No
Palmer it ia tho intention of that majority
to throw the solid support of the forty.
eight votes Of Illinois to William r.. Morri-
son. Under the unit rule, imposed by the
state convention, this can very easily DO
done. and as evon the friends Of Col. Pal
mer conceds that Col. Morrison has a
majority Of the delegates in the delegation.
there is little doubt this plan can BE- carried
out.
It was perhaps by no prearranRed COIN
oidenco that Col. Morrison himself was in
the city on his way to attend a meeting OF
the commission at Minneapolis. but how
ever that may be, he was busy most OF the
day receiving visitors and holding confer
ences with political leaders of the state.
To the press the great tariff reformer main
tanned a discreet silence as to bis Intentions
and presidential prospects. but his TRENDS
were quite enthusiastic, insisting that he
would receive the support of Missouri, A.
kansas, Texas, kentucky and, indeed,
nearly all the solid south. whenever the
Illinois delegation should present his ma me
to the national convention.
ut is our belief" said State Central Com
mitteeman Brinton. leader Of the Morrison
forces tonight, that Col. Morrison is the
inevitable heir to the Cleveland vote, when
dent seems impracticable. In the first place
he was the pioneer in the great tariff re-
form movement, and, while many believed
at that time he was in advance of his party,
the day has come when the cnief issue Of
the party is every principle which Col.
! Morrison hrst promulgated and ag-
gressively advocated. I will be frank
enough to say that We expect Morri-
sons first great support to come from
the southern states. where he has al
ways been strong. and where he is thu
choice of the party next to Cleveland
Then. too, Morrison's excellent military
record will add to his availability as a can
didate. He is . two-war veteran. H.
served with valor in the Mexican war, ane
several decades later was shot almost *
pieces in the great civil war. In addition
to that he has always been right on al
great public questions. We expect and be-
lieve it proper that the Illinois delegation
in the interest of harmony. should cast it,
first ballot for Cleveland. its second TO
Palmer. and then give it's solid supper
for Morrison. In this way all faction
will be harmonized and good feeling
preyail.