Evening star., 1898-01-12
HINRICHSEN LEFT OFT.
hunter to Represent Illinois on the
Congressional Committee

hunter to Represent Illinois on the
Congressional Committee,
andrew j. Hunter of the ninth district of
Illinois. was today elected the Illinois mem
Der OF the democratic congressional com
mittee. The election ends a vigorous fight
tnat mas been waged within the ranks of
the democratic members of the Illinois dele
cation. Before the meeting Representative
Jett had long parley with Representative
BAKER, populist, urging him to Join the
meeting. The latter, however, refused to
take part. Mr.. Hinrichsen, who had here
tofore been a candidate for the member
skip and had been confident of the chair
manship of the congressional committee
made a speech asking for support Two
ballots were taken.
AT the first Mr.. Hinrichsen voted for Mr.
Jett, Mr.. Jett for Hinrichsen, Campbell for
Hunter and Hunter cast no vote. In the
second ballot, Messrs. Campbell and lett
voted for Hunter, Hnrichsen for Jett and
Hunter cast no vote. Judge Hunter, hay
ing received the majority Of the quorum,
was then announced elected. All the mem
bers OF the democratic congressional COM
mlttee have now been elected except the
tennessee member. That delegation will
make its choice next week,
Mr.. H1nrichsen said afterward to a Star
reporter, regarding the action Of his col
leagues:
Il understand that these gentlemen claim
10 De carrying out the wishes Of certain
prominent democrats in Illinois, l know
thls 10 be untrue as to the great mass Of
the democracy of the state including the
leaders: L received telegram yesterday
from the secretary of the state commit
tee, saying that every member Of the COM
mlltee was Tor me. ! have received letters
and telegrams from hundreds Of the promi-
nent democrats Of our state expressing the
wish that l succeed. Nearly all the demo.
cratic newspapers in our state, if not all.
nave commented favorably upon my can
didacy for chairman In the House fully
four-hfths of the members were for me-
ana tWenty-one members of the commit
tee, being clear majority, were pledged
10 my support In fact, it was conceded
that l would be elected and there would
probably have been no other candidate for
the craftsmanship before the committee
>, All these facts were laid before the IL
ilnols delegation, and were fully verified by
proofs. yet Mr.. Hunter and Mr. Campbell
nave CHOSEN to antagonize the wishes not
only OF the democracy in our state but
the democracy in Congress. They were ap-
parentiy for me SO long as the question Of
craftsmanship was in doubt but as soon
as 1t became evident that I would be Sc
lected Tor that position they, by their
action. took the craftsmanship away from
the state of Illinois. l can stand it If they
can. The democracy will iudpe hot uaan
US.
senator Faulkner of West Virginia stated
positively today that he would not be
candidate for reelection to the chairman
snip OF the democratic congressional cam
pa1gn committee, which post he now holds
1t was against his wish, he said, that he
was reelected to that position in 1896, and
his duties as chairman had prevented his
giving the attention needed to the interests
or his party in his own state. For the first
time In twenty-three years West Virginia
was last season lost; to the democratic
party, and he felt 1t the duty Of every DEM
ocrat In the state to devote his entire ener-
gies to reforming the broken ranks of the
party organization. Concerning his prob
able successor as chairman Senator Faulk-
ner refused to make any prediction.