Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-28
MYSTERY SOLVED.
One That Puzzled the Ohio Po.
Iitical Wiseacre.
POUR PARLERs' OF THE LEADERS

Takc Place at Cleveland and Give the Cos.
sips Much worry-Conferences That Had
for Their Object the Selection Of the Del
egatcs to the National Convention
Stories Of Political Knife Grinding DE.
eiared False-Politics In Illinois.
CLEVELAND. Jan. 2S.-There was mys-
terious gathering Of politicians here yes
tcrdny. Early in the morning Charles L.
kurtz, chairman of the Republican state
committee dropped into town and regis
tered at the wcddell House. He was
soon followed by Colonel a. l. Conger.
Of Akron. Both are well-known friends
Of Senator-Elect Foraker. and it was ut
once supposed that they were here for q
purpose. Kurtz fitted about most Of the
day, seeing several Leading Republicans.
He spent some time in the Office Of NJ A,
Hanna. who is recognized as the closest
friend Of Mckinley The conference last.
oil for moro than an hour. Last evening
Kurtz was in conference with Colonel
Myron 4 Herriek, also one of McKin.
lcys supporters. When asked the pur.
pose Of his visit to Cleveland Kurtz de-.
clincd To go into details. He said that
hu had been attending to some business
matters
Met to Select Dcioga,es-at-Large.
II was learned from another source that
his talk with Hanna was of political ma
turc; that in fact the makc.up Of the dele.
CATION at large from Ohio to the St Louis
convention was considered. The choice Of
the delegates in the various districts was
also discussed 1T was proposed" said
this gentleman, "and practically settled
SO far ~ this preliminary conference can
~sAttlc it-that W. A. Hanna and James H.
Hoyt. Of this city, and Senator-clect For.
akcr and General Bushnell will be the
delegates at-largc. There is no doubt that
Ohio Will bc united for Mckinley and the
purpose now Is to provide against future
friction and conflicts between the two ele.
ments Of the Republican party in tho
state
Divided Between Mckinley and Foraker.
There seems to be no doubt that the con-
fcrcnccs hero were held with the full
knowledge of both Mckinley and Foraker,
and that the meetings were arranged with
their full consent. II tho dclcgates-at-
large are agreed upon as suggested both
Mckinley and Foraker will have arf equal
representation, and the matter being set
tied in advance there can DO no contest at
the state convention. Hanna was seen
last evening. He said that he had re-
ccivcd a call from Kurtz during the after.
noon, and thnt they had discussed various
matters connected with the candidacy of
Governor Mckinley. lie declared that
there was u perfect agreement between
them.
Nobody Grinding Ills Knife.
~ want to say" said he. "that the
stories about divisions in the ranks of
the Ohio Republicans are the rankest
nonsense The party is united today ~
1t was never united before and Mckinley
l. stronger in the state than he has ever
been. The people who are trying to create
discussions are simply making themselves
ridiculous" IL was stated last night that
General Grosvonor was likely to be selec.
ted rs one Of the delegatcs.at-largc, with
Governor Bushnell. Senator elect For
aker and Hanna. 1t Is probable that the
state convention will be held late in
March or the first week in April. The cx.
act time has not yet been agreed upon, al
though nll the Republican leaders ara