The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-30
SUCKER POLITICS
Hot Struggle for the Endorse
ment of the Il;nOis Republic
can Convention.
The Great DOmed Building
Filled With ShOuters for
the Cause.
Some Incidents That Caused EY.
citement-- Chairs in the
Air.

SPRINGFIELD, Ills. April 3O.-Illinois
capital city was alive at daybreak. Pol.
iticians, weary and worn from the
struggles and contentious of the last
three days, were on the alert with the
lark, but in no mood for singing. It
was all business with them. They and
the candidates were putting the finish
ing touches on the plans they had been
mapping out for the big fight. There
was a wild scramble among the laymen
for tickets, but Notwithstanding the
big domed building will comfortably
hold nearly 10, 900 people, tickets of ad.
mission were hard to get and hard to
hold.
An Immense Crowd on Hand.
Long before the hour for calling the
convention to order, the vast audito-
rum of the great domed building,
which attracted so much attention at
the worlds fair, was full. Every seat
was occupied. Never before in Illinois
politics has there been such a crowd at
state convention. There was not
much excitement at the beginning.
There was sort of subdued hush
which many took as the foreboding of
violent storm. Occasionally some
enthusiast would break out with a
shout for his favorite, but the shouting
was not contagious. The vast throng
seemed to be in serious mood, awaiting
the decision whether Illinois was to
support William Mckinley of Ohio fer
president of the United States or
whether Hon. Shelby M. Cullom. who
has been honored with three elections
to the United States senate. should be
her choice.
1t was a few minutes past noon
when DR.. T. N. Jameson, chairman Of
the state central committee, called the
convention to order. Every delegate
was in his seat and the galleries and
aisles outside the space reserved for
delegates and alternates were thronged
and visitors outside the hall were
struggling to get in. When he had
formally called the convention to Or
der, he named Alderman Martin B.
Madden Of Chicago temporary chair.
man. Mr.. Madden was greeted with
tremendous applause. He spoke
briefly.
When the applause following Tenn
porary Chairman Madden's speech had
died away, a resolution naming tempo
rary secretary and his assistants was
adopted. Another resolution was then
presented which referred all resolutions
to the committee on resolutions with
out reading, save the resolutions in
structing the delegates at large to vote
at the national convention. This resolu-
tion was to be made special order i'm.
mediately after the nomination Of At
torney general, and debate on it tshould
be limited to thirty minutes on either
side. D. T. Littler of Sangamon want.
ed to know why this resolution should
be given the right Of way over the bus
mess of nominating the trustees of the
state university. Mr.. Calhoun of Liv.
ingston county replied that the ques-
tion Of instructing the state delegates
was matter of too much importance
to be put off at the closing hour, when
everything might be in confusion.
Loud and long applause followed and
the resolution was adopted without oh.
| lection. The names Of the various
| committees were then announced,
after which recess was taken until 1
o'clock.
Permanent Organization.
| When the convention reassembled,
the committee on credentials and per.
manent organization reported. There
were no contesting delegations. q. r.
Berry Of Carthage was named for per.
marent cha rmar. He was introduced