Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-12
SNUBS GOVERNOR ALTCELD
Illinois Late Governor offered an Affrout
by the Legislature =
SHUT OFF FROM MAKING A SPEECH
Speaker Refuses to Recognize Anyone
in the Illinois Joint Assembly TO
Make n Motion Giving
Him the Privilege,

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Jan. 1.-THE in
auguration Of Governor Tanner today de-
vcloped q sensation at the close of tho state
house ceremony when the retiring governor
John p. Altgeld, was not permitted to deliver
the farewell address which has been one
of the features of previous inauguratIons
in Illinois. Governor Altgeld had prepared
his speech, 1t had been given a place on
the printed program. and much interest had
centered in its anticipated delivery. The
snub was made the more painful to the
ex-governor and his friends from the fact
that Mrs. Altgeld occupied a seat beside
him on the stage and shared the confusion
resulting from the affair.
Early in the course of the exercises it
was moved that MIR. Altgeld be requosted
to address the joint assembly preseat at
the Inauguration. Speaker Curtis of the
lower house declared the motion out of order,
and subsequently refused to recognize any
democratic member who attempted to ad-
dress the chair. The majority of the mem
bers of the joint assembly and the large
audience did not appreciate the significance
CT the coulse until a motion to adjourn
carried and put an unexpected end to the
ceremonies without letting the governor have
an opportunity to deliver the address which
he carried with him to the stage. Much
indignation was expressed at the snub, and
the democratic members tonight are bitter
in their denuncation of what they term
an Outrageous result" while the repub-
lican leaders declare that the whole affair
was nothing more or less than an oversight
on the part of the speaker in falling to call
upon Mr. Altgeld for his speech. EN-
Governor Altgeld left the state house i'm
mediately upon the conclusion of the in
auguration ceremony, and returned to Chi
cago without permitting himself to be in
terviewed upon the affair. HIS friends were
very indignant
CHICAGO, Jan. 11.-Willam j. Bryan ar
rived in Chicago early this morning on a
business trip A representative of the AS
sociated press tonight asked him If he had
read Of the slight offered to Governor Alt
geld by the legislature. He replied: 81 have
Just noticed in an evening paper that they
refused to hear the customary address from
the retiring governor If It is true that the
republicans did this in order to show their
dislike for Governor Altgeld, it will probably
result, as such insults always do, in more
harm to those who offer 1t than to the people
against whom it was directed.
THE fact that Governor Altgeld ran ahead
of the national ticket in this state is evil
dence that his defeat was not due to per-
sonal hostility to him, and ! hardly think
the people will approve of any slight offered
to him in his official position"
Questioned about the defeat OF the Pacific
railroad BILL Mr.. Bryan said IL am very
much gratined to know of the defeat of that
bill Its purpose was to fasten heavy bur-
den upon the western states for eighty years
to come and the people in those state have
reason to rejoice at this, their escape from
so unjust measure" v...-