Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-24
LED BY ALTGELD,
And Making Free Coinage Of Sill
Yer Their War Cry,

Yer Their War Cry,
THE PRAIRIE STATE" DEMOCRACY
YIN ny Onso 1Gsgo 20 Wrese n froa the
R4pahassaa coa1nn-The 0overnor Asks
~ - 1xe.sed. bst ths Convention WIN
Net Have n aad Neminates Him for .
oeosaa Term with 1ashusiasm-The Fun
Tishst, WhisA AItgeld says WIN wi..
PEORIA, June sA-With . mighty roar
Of 'hyes' John p. Alteeld yesterday after
noon was renominated BY exclamation for
governor of Illinois BY the Democratic
state CONVENTION No other candidate was
mentioned for the place. Altgeld was
clearly the unanimous choice Of the dele
gates from the start His nomination was
vention met He had prepared . speech
declining the honor ON the ground Of III
health and the press Of his private bust
nesa. But his friends wouldn't have it
that way. They laboFed with him assidu-
ously and ex-Judge Mcconnell pressed the
point that the governor could not con-
sistently decline to serve his party ut the
very hour when he was looked upon as the
only man able to rally the friends of free
silver and the union working men to the
support Of the Democratic ticket.
Fighting Chance 60 Win the Race.
II was pointed out to the governor that
with one Of Chicago's daily Republi-
can newspapers openly and bitterly oppos-
ing John Il. Tanner and with the disaf-
fectlon in certain portions of the state
caused by the nomination of Tanner, u
strong Democratic candidate for governor
would have q fighting chance to win.
That strong man was John p. Altgeld. So
tho governor reluctantly consented to ac-
cept the nomination If it was the unnn-
tmous wish Of the convention. In conse-
Quence Of Bells inability it was decided
to abandon the original programme of
making that gentleman permanent pre-
siding officer, and c. X. Ladd, of Kewanne,
was chosen for that position.
Remarks Of the Temporary Chairman.
The first session was called to order at
ESD p m, and tho convention duly opened
with A. n. Bell as temporary chairman
His speech eulogized Altgeld and apostro-
phized free silver. In the latter connec-
ton he said: I'VE are told by some Of our
friends that we must have harmony in the
party. and that for harmony's sake we
must compromise, we must conciliate, we
must straddle. There will be no strad-
ding this campaign. The line will be
sharply drawn. We must bc 16-to-1 men
or gold men. When our national conven-
ton declares for 16-to-1 bimetallism what
will be the resu1tr God only knows But
this question must be settled, and settled
right"
Put In Some Time, spcaking.
The usual preliminary business was
thm attended to and the usual recess taken
and on rcassembling Ladd wasthen made
permanent chairman and George Hunt, OF
Macoupin county, permanent secretary,
and then the convention was ready for
business. Committee reports not being
| ready speeches were in order and were
made by Judge WorthingtOn, Of Peoria
| and E. p. Stubbs, of Iowa. During
Stubbs' speech Governor Altgeld Dcame
upon the stand and received q magnifi.
cent ovation, the audience standing and
cheering Justify. Governor Altgeld came
to the front Of tho platform at the conclu
sion of Stubb's speech and received anoth
CT ovation.
The Governor Declines Once.
Governor Altgeld traversed the issue of
| the day-the silver question-after he had
made a reference to the Democracy's mis-
sion and some comments ON the tariff,
which he said,must be reasona BILE one
mot SO high as to stop all importation
and will therefore supply the treasury
| with revenue. But We must look else
where for the cause Of that paralysis
which is destroying our country''-whici
was the governor said, demonstration OF
silver. He roasted President Cleveland
| in the caustic style for which he is noted
and at the end Of his speech declared h.
was not candidate and did not desire tc
hold Office. He was ready to do his duty
but wanted some one else to take up thu
| fight this time.
Other Reasons for Declining.
Other reasons why he did not want o
nomination were: II am not in a oondi
tiOn to stand for reelection. My health
has been SO badly broken that 1t Is neces
sary for me to get out of the intense strain
| that have been under for several years
| Again, at the time Of my election had
large property interests, but was greatly
| in debt. Since then property has been
constantly shrinking in value and be
comes less and less productive This
added to the fact that have had to ne
| glect my affairs to some extent, has re
duced me to a situation where am moi
financially able to make a campaign and
| where justice to my creditors requires tina,
| should give my time to my own affairs
| rather than to the public"
GOV. ALTGELD GETS AN OVATION.
Convention. Proceeds to Nominate IT
I1cket and lndorsc Free Silver.
It was 4:1O O'Clock in the Afternoon
when Altgeld began his address and a.
he proceeded the throng Of people became
more aud more inspired by his utterances
until 1t times Il seemed as although They
would 60 mad In their efforts to demon
strate their approval When he reached
that portion Of his address whers he said
he vvaa in NO condition tn ynaka anoxl,o,