The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-20
Lorrimer and other Candidates With
drew and the Hon. "BiIIy" Was
Selected by Acclamation.
TWO DELAWARE CLAIMANTS
KENNEY CHOSEN BY "REGULARs'
AND ADDICks BY "RUMPERS.v
Plate, PenrOse, Vest, Teller, GalIinger,
HansbrOugh, Jones and Pritchard
Successful in Their States.

6fRlNGt1ELD, H., Jan. 19.-Ex-Con-
gresham William T. Mason was nominated
for Emitted States senator at the Republican
joint caucus tonight after one of the most
bitterly fought battles in the history of the
Republican party in Illinois. Although he
had been canvassing the State as a sena-
torial candidate for two years, Mr. Mason's
selection was regarded by machine poll
ticians as an impossibility up to within two
hours of the time of his triumphant and
unanimous nomination, the choice being the
result of sudden withdrawal from the race
of Congressman William Lorimer, who had
held the almost solid vote of Chicago and
Cook county. The contest had been so long
drawn out and the battle so fierce that the
legislators were in a mood to be stampeded
at any moment as the hour for the caucus
drew near. and the sudden shifting of the
Cook county forces 10 Mason carried the
other candidates off their feet. The tide
turned towards the ex-congressman with a
rush that carried everything before it and
the nomination was made without the most
feeble show of opposition.
Mr.. Masons selection was a distinct de-
feat for the combination of politicians
known the machine" and a clear vic
tory for the Mckinley forces of the State.
Martin b. Madden, the Chicago alderman,
who was at the outset the machine candi-
date. and who, until little more than week
ago, seemed to be certain of nomination,
lost his hold on the legislators and was
forced to withdraw, largely the result
of the belief that his selection was opposed
by the President-eect. Maddens with
drawal was hailed by the ant-machine ele-
ment as a death blow to the combination,
but the organization Immediately re-en-
tered the field with Congressman Lorimer,
who regarded even more of anti
administration man than Madden. Lorimer
showed much strength at the start, but his
friends became discouraged to-day, believ-
ing the Mckinley element of the State too
powerful to permit their man to win, and
at caucus of Cook county members, held
at 6 o'clock tonight. Mr.. Lorimer an
nounced his intention to abandon the fight
and throw his strength TO Mason. A stam-
pede to the ex-congressman followed.
When the joint caucus assembled in the
Statehouse at o'clock everybody assured
everybody else that it was all over, and il
soon was. The only apparent contest was
that of the supporters of the various can
didates to be first to withdraw the names
of their favorites. In rapid succession were
withdrawn the names of ex-Congressman
burg, Congressman a. ]. Hopkins of Au-
rora, Congressman Robert Hit, Congress
man Joseph Cannon and Samuel w. Aller-
ton, the Chicago packer. The Withdrawals
were all in favor of Mason and were
greeted with enthusiastic applause. A mo-
ton to declare Mr.. Mason the nominee by
acclamation was met with a score of sim
ultaneous seconds and adopted with n
roar which the galleries and the crowd
joined with zest. Several of the defeated
candidates addressed the caucus and Mr..
Mason made a brief and happy speech of
acceptance.
William L. Mason was born July T. 1850
in Franklinsville. n. Y, and is the young
est of family of fourteen children, nine
of whom were boys. In 1856 his parents
moved ~ Bentonport la. After passing
through the public schools with great credit
at the age of fifteen he began teaching. AT
the same time he attended the college at
Birmingham. Ia. At nineteen he was grad
uated with honors and went to Des Moines
where he became a teacher in the high
school He continued i'm this position until
twenty-one, devoting his spare time to the
study of law and shorthand. He then went
into the law office of Thomas Withrow and
when, a year later. Mr.. Winthrow was
made general solicitor of the Rock Island
Ralirodd MI mason came with him to Chi
cago as his clerk. Having perfected him.
self in shorthand. Mr.. Mason became a
court reporter and subsequently formed
law partnership. In 1873 Mr.. Mason mar
ried Edith NJ. White, of Des Moines Seven
of their nine children are living. Mr.. Mason
was twice a member of the Illinois House
of Representatives and once of the State
Senate. He was also member in the Eif-
tieth and Fifty-first Congresses. Mr.. Mason
enjoys the distinction of being the cham
pion campaigner Of Illinois, having during
the past eight years addressed more peo-
pie in that State than any other one man
during that time.