The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-29
Chicago Platform Democrats Want
the Convention Held in Chi.
cago on January 10.
GOLD ELEMENT IS OPPOSED.
Seeks 10 Have the Session in
Springfield. January 1-Rcpub-
licam Clans Will Gather in
the Metropolis To-Day.


Springfield H.. Dec. 2S.Ail the political
troubles in Illinois are not confined to the
Republican side for tn" Democrats are in
process of settling a little difficulty that is
likely to become Il factional tight iii the next
State Convention.
Ostensihly it Is n contest between the So
called Gold Democrats and the Chicago and
Kansas City platform Democrats, or be-
, tween the Cleveland and the Bryan Demo-
Gratis. John i. Hopkins, former Mayor Of
Chicago. is at the head Of the former and is
a candidate for chairman OF the State Com
mittcc. IT is not easy to discern the leader
, nf the opposition faction. Sometimes it Is
Carter Harrison. then cX-COngrrssman Hin
! richsen, ami frequently II is NJ F. Dunlap
and Chairman Walter Watson is also mem
toned.
Mr.. Hopkins claims twenty out Of the thir-
ty-one members Of the State Committee The
other side. while making no claims will not
concede majority. The subject matter will
come to a focus early in January, when the
new committee meets for organization.
The Illinois Democratic organization ope-
rates under n constitution adopted by the
state Convention in 1894. The members Of
the State Committee elected at the State
Convention this year take charge of the
books and affairs in January of 1901 and
conduct the next campaign in the election Of
1872. IL has been usual for the chairman Of
the old committee to call the new committee
To meet for organ'Z itiOn at the St Nicholas
Hotel in Springfield. on the first Monday in
January. Whether this is in pursuance of Il
clause of the constitution | cannot say
This year there seems to be a diversity Of
opinion regarding the date and also the
authority to call tho meeting. The constitu-
tion cannot be found.
Party Differences.
The Bryan section of the new committee
to which are attached IIarr rison. Dunlap Hin
richsen and Watson. it is said. propose to
call the meeting for January 10 at Chicago
The Hopkins section has asked for sigma
tures 10 call for meeting On January at
the 81. Nicholas Hotel. Springfield.
1t IS said that the Harrisun-W Watson fac
tion expect TO bring the new committee be-
fore Mr.. Eryan at the annual jackson Day
banquet. which occurs in Chicago on Janu-
airy 5. and that he will use his persuasive
eloquence to defeat the programme of Mr..
Hopkins
In the meantime It Is presumed that in
cividuai Democrats throughout the State
viii not hesitate TO inform the members of
the new committee OF their wishes
Mr.. Hopkins and he leaders OF his fac
tion have engaged rooms at the st. N.cho-
las Hotel for January !. and there is no
doubt that there will be a meeting at that
time Of at least u mart Of the COM |
mittee. Should majority of the commit |
field. the meeting of the other side. now |
scheduled Tor January 10. in Chicago, would |
hardly count as a legal organization.
Therefore ii will be the endeavor Of the |
Harrison-Watson or so-called F1yan fac
ton. to prevent members from gathering |
in Springfield on January :. If a majority |
is lacking i'll Springfield il goes without 1
say ying that a majority will he in evidence |
in Chicago. and the organization for the /
next campaign will hinge on that fact.
The feeling that has been ensenderei eX- |
tends to almost every county in the State
and presages fierce fight in the county |
primaries preceding the next State Con-
vention.
Republican ROund-Cp.
Tomorrow for the last time the Re-
publicans will gather in Chicago 20 open |
up their menagerie. There will be u great !
roundup of big and little bears and Gle
plants and wolves and panthers. But there
isn't 4 lion tanner in the bunch. There will |
not he one among the crowd whose leader
ship is recognized superior TO the others.
The senatorial candidates will all be there |
Tanner, Culom and Hit with head
quarters in a hotel. and Cannon with head
quarters lin a clubhouse. where the expense
is light.
Congressman George W. Smith of Muir
nhyshoro, after consulting in Springfield
for u couple of days with those eminent
statesmen and politcians-Postmaster
Welch. BERTHE Burr and Charley Ritter. all
of Murphy ysboro-and presumably having
been advised that he is Il great man and fit |
for Senator. departed this afternoon for
the metropolis. Whatever action Mr.. smith |
takes will be along liEes suggested by these
fast, firm friends of his cause.
The Tanner contingent has mapped out |
q new course of action. They are stiffenins
the backbone of Congressman Hitt. Doctor |
Jameson is the father of interview |
given cut to-day. IN which he appears to lie |
frightened at the terrible inr ads Mr.. Hit |
has made in the strength of Culom and |
Cannon.
1t is HIT" maintained Doctor jamie
son, whom Governor Tanner has to fear |
now and henccfoTth.' and he pictures the |
coEg Ssman towering above everybody
excepting Governor Tanner.
or course. Governor Yates will be there. |
He has said he would, and he never breaks
his word. He will be asked to announce
Neville and McKinney-in
their fight on Sherman for Speaker of the
House. and he is expected TO say that he
has no knowledge OF any such movement,
o. else divorce himself from the Shanahan
movement by "A word. Ho is beaten if he
persists in allowing the fight on Sherman
I" continue-at least the springfield polir;-
clans believe much. and the best he can
do is TO crawl out Of the hole as grace |
fully as he can.
Ii is promised that a good many things
will be settled in Chicago tomorrow.
J. l.. PICKERING.
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