The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-01-17
HAVE SELECTED CHICAGO
BIG FIGHT M4DE FOR THE PLACE
OF DEMOCRATIC CONTENTION.

OF DEMOCRATIC CONTENTION.
st. Louis and Her Rival City of the West
Have Lively Time in Which the Windy
City Wins the Battle-Claims of New
York Were Strongly Pressed.
Washington, Jan. 16.-At o'clock the
banquet room of the Arlington, brill
liantly lighted and decorated with the
national flag in all varieties of feetoon-
ing, was thrown open to all who had
cards of admission to the democratic
convention and soon every seat was
occupied.
AT half-past three Secretary Harrity
raped for order and directed the roll of
states to be called, SO as to know defin-
itely the cities which desired to have
the convention. He stated that then
those cities would be called in their
alphabetical order, so as to have the
claims of each presented, for which
purpose one-half hour was to be al
lowed. The first state to be reached
having a competitive city was Illinois,
and on its behalf the city of Chicago
was proposed. In due succession came
st. Louis, New York and Cincinnati.
Judge Goodrich of Chicago was
spokesman for that city. He said that
Chicago claimed to be the best con-
vention city i'm the United States. 1t
had the best facilities for entertaining
vast crowds and it's transportation IA
cilities were unsurpassed. &c ntlemen,"
said Judge Goodrich, "if you want to
win come to Chicago You have always
elected and seated democratic presi-
dent who was nominated in that city
since 1856
The claims of Cincinnati, were pre-
sented by Messrs. ingalls, and Folett.
Mr.. ingalls, said that Cincinatti had
had no convention since 1880. She had
the best hall in the world for political
conventions and she had ample trans
portation facilities and fine hotel ac-
commodations.
Mr.. Follett said that if the convention
was held in Cincinnati the delegates
would be SO well cared for that they
would be loathe to leave the city.
J. Waldo Smith, president of the New
York Grocers' association, presented
the claims of New York city in hu-
1norous speech. He mentioned the many
attractions of the great metropolis, and
said that a week spent in New York
and liberal education and a university
course in itself Madison Square Garden
was the best hall on earth for the pur-
pose of the convention. 1t would hold
10000 and would seat Is, 900 persons com
fortably.
Mr. Smiths remarks excited much
laughter.
Simeon Ford, proprietor of the Grand
Union hotel in New York, was the next
speaker and he also kept his audience
in continuous laughter. He declared
that New York's hotel accommodations
exceeded the combined accommodations
of st. Louis. Cincinnati and Chicago,
and were the finest in the world The
hotels would not increase the rates
The claims of New York were further
urged by Mr.. Crane, ex-city chamber
lain, and by Colonel John r. Fellows
The latter said it was the spontaneous
desire of the entire people Of New York
that the convention should be held in
that city. New York had never given
her vote for any but democratic can
didate and she pledge the next demo-
Ex-Governor Francis of Missouri then
advocated the claims of st. Louis. St.
Louis, he said, had public hall that
would accommodate $4,000 persons. st.
Louis had been tried as a convention
city and had proved equal to the task.
Missouri for twenty-five years had cast
her electoral vote for the democratic
nominee.
Nv. al 4l,1
were claiming the state. He asked that
the convention be held at st. Louis in
order that the democrats might be in
spired with that enthusiasm which
would carry the state by 10000 ma
jority.
Mayor Walbridge of st. Louis said
that st. Louis was the only city of
which it could be truly said that she
knew no seconds, nothing but the broad
domain of the nation. Governor Stone
of Missouri said that they wanted the
democratic convention in ST. Louis. Not
because they needed it there to carry
Missouri for the democracy; because
they would carry it anyhow. The ora
tory was closed by a fervent speech in
favor of st. Louis by Senator Vest.
In the course of his speech he said:
'sYou expect to lose Illinois. You ex-
pect to lose Illinois. You expect to lose
Ohio. You may lose New York But if
you lose Missouri you break that solid
phalanx of democratic votes which has
stood like granite wall before the
attacks of the republican hordes and
YOU will be in the hands of the re-
publican enemy for an indefinite time
to come.
AT the close of Mr.. Vests speech the
audience room was cleared of all but
the members and officers of the ma
tional committee and the balloting for
the choice for the convention city be-
gam
1t was not until IL o'clock that the
final and decisive ballot which gave
Chicago the convention was taken.
That Chicago finally secured majority
was due in part to personal considera-
tions. Certain members of the commit
tee were indifferent as to the location
of the convention. They decided that
Chicago possessed superior accommo-
dations in the matter of hotels and
this undoubtedly influenced a sufficient
number to give the Lake city the ma
jority. 1t is also asserted that the
strong support which the silver men
gave to st. Louis created a prejudice
sraipS+ that place among certain Of