The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-30
STRUGGLE IN ILLINOIS
Mckinley Forces Away Behind
This Morning Tactical
Blunder.

CONVENTION HALL, SPRINGFIELD
H.. April So lS96--N was a night os
ceaseless activity ard anxiety on the
part of the leaders of the contending
forces in tcday's contest for State SUI
premacy and MCKINLEY instructions; and
their worn appearance as they came into
horticultural Hail this morning told it's
own story
At daylight the Mckinley leaders were
admitting that they had made what
might prove to be a vital error in tactics
by allowing the motion for adjournment,
after it had once been defeated, to be
rushed through by the Chair without
insisting upon a demand fer a roll call.
That they were taken unawares by the
snap judgment of the presiding officer
was admitted, but with leader skilled
in the arts of strategy this scheme of
the machine could have been circum-
vented and the matter of instructions
forced to vote while the majority OF
the convention was in the nnmlor But
the interregnum of fifteen hours, follow
ing Immediately upon the deals effected
IN the contest for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
gave the opposition the much needed
last chance and last word and they
have made good use of it. The entire
delegation from Knox county, so it is
reported this morning. has been won
over by the CuLomites and scattering
delegates in other instructed delegations
to a total, it is claimed of 80 or IS are
likewise ready to break away as soon
as the concerted Culomites set the ball
arolling
The decision of the Cook county dele
cation to draw out al proxy holders and
I'LL the vacancies with men of their own
selection, also deprivas the Mckinley
situation on the morning OF. the second
days session of the convention, is that
the friends OF the Ohioan, while less
emphatic. IN their declarations of certain
victory than yesterday, We're inclined to
be downcast, but are still hopeful that in
the big regiment of the uninstructed
they have still sufficient friends to over
come the secessions and to make UP the
small number short of a majority that
they lacked al the beginning of the
week. The State managers and the
opposition in general, however are more
confident than ever and are claimins.
gates.
For today's session the agreement rati-
fed by both sides provides that the mat
ter of instructions shall be taken up i'm
mediately after a candidate for Attorney
General has been nominated Three
speeches Will be allowed on both sides.
The cause Of Mckinley will be cham
Hunt, ex-Speaker Calhoun and w P.
Williams, Secretary of the Union League
Club of Chicago. The oratory of the
CppOSIttOil VIII FDS leu Dy eX-ReproS0n-
tative Charles Fuller Of Belvidere. His
associates win be decided upon at
conference after the convention is in
session, The Mckinley people announce
this morning that in the event of in
struetions being voted they are salts
fed to accept Ex-Governor Fifsr, William
Penn Nixon and r. w. Paterson three
of the opposition delegates For the
fourth David Lttler of Springfield, who
yesterday turned the majority of the
Sangamon county delegates to Cullom.
they viii seek to substitute NIay0f. Swift
Of Chicago, Ex-Governor Cglesby or Gen.
McNlIlta.
Nine o'clock was the hour at which.
under the terms OF the resolution of
adjournment, the business of the day
should have been inaugurated, but it was
forty-five minutes later when Chairman
Berry put in an appearance and called
the delegates and spectators to order. TO
prevent a repetition of the demon strations
of yesterday. when the galleries created
pandemonium whenever Mckinley
champion made himself conspicuous the
issue of general admission tickets for the
second day had been restricted one-half
and in tiers facing the platform there
were two or three thousand vacant seats
where as many faces looked down upon
the floor yesterday.
Just as the convention opened hur-
ried call was sent out for an immediate
meeting of the Committee on Resolutions
and it transDirPd that this action was
taken on the demand of sevfral of the
members who We're of the opinion that
the financial plank adopted by the com
mittee last evening and as given in the
dispatches of the United Press might be
improved. Nominations fer Secretary of
State were first called for. Speeches
were barred. Five candidates. were nam
ed-John A. Reeves of Decatur, George
G. Rankin of Monmouth, James A. Rose
of Golconda, Isaac. N. Pearson of Maeomb
and Homer ]. Tice of Greenyiew.