The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-22

to our actions. You can put it down that
Cleveland gets the solid forty eight votes
of Illinois"
The most sensational and dramatic
scenes preceding the democratic national
convention were Witnessed tonight behind
the closed doors of the Illinois head
quarters. The full delegation of the Prai-
RE state was In caucus and the forty-eight
votes of the delegation were the prize that
hung in the balance. Against the per-
sonal intercession of the first democratic
L. S. senator from Illinois In thirty years,
Gen. John NJ. Palmer, was placed the
presence and voice of the popular gov
ernor of New York, Roswell p. Flower,
each himself presidential possibility.
The strange spectacle was presented of
Palmer pleading against himself in the
Illinois delegation and declaring IN
favor OF New York can
-Cleveland-while Flower stood
champion tor the Illinoisan, Palmer,
proclaiming that Cleveland could not
carry New York. The remarkable charac-
ter OF the proceedings was heightened
by a solemn invocation by the New York
er of the RESPONSE biity for national defeat
next November upon the heads of the
Illinois delegates. An angry protest by
minority of the Illinois men
that they could be choked into
submission but not into silence when
the vote OF the state wac cast for Cleve-
land in the national convention, furnished
the climax. The decision, however, was
made practically irreVocable that Illinois
shall vote in the ballot for president forty
eight solid for Cleveland. The unit rule
- fax1rifa ohol ha
put forward for illinois.
The man who wrought this result was
Gen. John NJ. Palmer, who, in doing so,
undoubtedly sacrificed whatever chance
he stool as a presidential candidate.
The battle was hard fought one. and
began almost before the members of the
caucus were fairly seated. Acting under
the instructions of Gen. Palmer, and in
accordance with the plan outlined by
him last night on his arrival In the
city, resolution was promptly
introduced insiructing the chairman OF
the Illinois delegation not to permit the
presentation of the name of Gen. Palmer
as the Illinois candidate for the preslden-
tial nomination, but instead to cast the
vote of the state for Grover Cleveland.
Judge Murphy OF the Twentieth Illinois
district. who was the author OF the reso-
lutlOnS IN tue state convention, pTACIlCdllN
instructing the Illinois delegates to sup
port Palmer, was the man TO move the
adop ton of the new departure.
In fash began tho opposition that did
not cease till adjournment at midnight,
and then only with threats OF renewal on
the floor of the convention. The fight
against Cleveland was led by Michael Nc
Inerny of Chicago. one Of the famous 10l
democratic members OF the state
legislature who voted two months
for Senator Palmer, and finally won
him a seat in the Z. ;. senate.
McInerny moved TO substitute the name
of Palmer for that of Cleveland in the
resolution and proceeded to make bitter
speech, attacking the ex-president's avail
ability. McInerny was strongly supported
by F. n. Winston, ex-U. ;. minister to
| Persia. who declared that in putting up
/ the name of Cleveland the democracy
would be walking into an open grave.
Word was received at this juncture that
a New York delegation Was on the way to
/ the Illinois rooms to demonstrate the folly
/ of nominating Cleveland. Pending their
/ arrival dilatory tactics were resorted to by
/ the McInerny element and roll calls and
/ parliamentary tangles were piled cell
/ ing high. A test vote showed
/ that the Cleveland men could command
/ thirty-fiye votes in the Illinois delegation,
while the opposition had only twelve, and
/ one absent Senator Cantor, New York
| congressman, Judge Peevy. District
/ Attorney Delaney Nicholl and Gov
ernor Flower came in. one after another,
and alternately urged. begged and threat.
ened the Illinois men not TO nominate
Cleveland. Each declared unQualifedly
| that the ex-president could not carry New
| York state. and that if Hill were not ac-
| ceptable Palmer or BOles or any other
candidate except Cleveland could carry
| the state.
Governor Flower said: ave want to
| kill this republican calf and skin il, and
want the boys that do it to have part OF
the carcass and rot 60 hungry for four