The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-25
A STILL HUNT.
An Incident In Logan's Senatorial Fight
in Illinois. :
%+++++ ~ 49, = y
in Illinois,

The legislature of Illinois which was
elected in November, 1884, and which
assembled in January, 1885. was. poll
tically speaking. tie on joint ballot
OF the LAB members of the house sew
enty-six were Republicans and seven
ty-seven were classed as Democrats,
while of the fitty-one senators TWEEN
ty-fiYe were Democrats and twenty-slX
were Republicans Thus, of the 2O4
senators and members 102 were Repub-
licans and the same number were
called Democrats, although several of
the latter called themselves independ-
ents.
The Republicans organized the SEN
ate and the Democrats and independ-
ents organized the house, with an in
dependent, F. NJ. Haines, as speaker.
The most important business before
the assembly was the election OF Unit-
ed states senator, and the party eau
cuses nominated General John A. Lo-
gan. Republican, and Colonel William
R. Morrison. Democrat, for this posi-
ton
The balloting began, and while
neither candidate received the full vote
of his party it was felt that should
either receive q vote from the oppost-
tion ne would be elected. As il was,
neither could command the 1O3 votes
necessary to elect
The contest went on for some time
without result. and there seemed no
solution of the problem.
Finally a Republican state senator
died. and the Republicans broke a
quorum until his successor would be
elected. when balioting was resumed
with the same result as before. After
a while another death took place. that
of Henry Shaw of Cass county, DEM
ocrat, and the Democrats broke quo
rum until his successor should be
elected.
This was in April. Cass county was
a part of the Thirty-fourth senatorial
district, the other counties being Ma
son. Mendrd and Schuyler. The district
had given a Democratic majority OF
about 1000 at the regular election, and
no one doubted the ability of the Dem
ocrats to elect Shaw's successor
The Democrats nominated Arthur A
Leeper. a prominent young lawyer of
Virginia. TO fill the vacancy, and the
Republicans selected Captain William
H. Weaver, a we'll known auctiOneer of
Petersburg, as their candidate. His
nomination was regarded as an empty
honor, and he was not expected to even
make a show in the contest.
The election was fixed for May 6, but
no one gave much attention to it, for
fits result no one seemed to doubt.
One GNCllitlS q COdPAC Va nEChS DELOIC
the election four men were assembled
behind the prescription case in CAT
toms drug store in Virginia The par
ty consisted of Captain Reuben Ian
caster. the keeper on livery stable; c.
E. Cation. proprietor of the drug store;
DR.. S. NJ. Colliday. a we'll known ply
stefan, and James b. Black, a leading
business man.
II tell you, gentlemen, the thing can
no faf n eff or-
phatically, 81 have thought out the
whole plan, and it is feasible
II regard il as very doubtful I'M
dertaking," said DIR. Colliday, who sat
leaning back in his chair against the
counter.
Suppose we fall" said the captain;
there is nothing lost but little time"
''And some money" said Mr.. Cation.
Mo- said Lancaster. lit will not
take any money to speak Of"
Go over your plan again, captain"
said Mr.. Black. II want to under
stand it fully before committing my
SELF
Well" said Lancaster, this is about
the plan: We can get our tickets print
ed quietly and place them in the hands
of a good man in each precinct, who
viii distribute them among the Repub-
licans, with Instructions to go to the
polls just before closing time. We can
get out a pretty big vote that day, and
If we keep our intentions secret from
the Democrats they will give the cleo
ton little attention, and most of them
will stay at home"
IF we keep il secret" said Mr..
Black, there is n chance of success,
but Ct viii be in so many hands that
some one will give it away"
II think not" said Lancaster. II
have been thinking of it for several
days and 1 believe that a reliable man
can be found in each precinct who will
not leak, and he need not make a move
until the morning of election day. He
need not go to any but true-blue Re
publicans. and even if some fellow
tells. what is going on that day. the
district is so large and the voters are
so scattered that no damage will be
done outside of that precinct
Remember, the majority is a large
che to overcome. said the doctor.
tOf course ii is said the captain,
and tNt makes our success possible.
No Democrat will think of our at
tempting to elect, and you know what
a small vote is polled when there is
but one candidate
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Black
'Ruhe,s plan is worth a trial, ard / am
willing to assist in carrying it out"
so am T. said Mr.. Cation. for.
even if we fail it is worth a trial. Sue
cess means the election of a United
States senator, and failure means that
We will still be as we'll off as at pres
ent."
Count me in, then" said Dr. Coli
day.
Thank you, gentlemen said Cap
tain Lancaster Now, 1 suggest that
we go TO Springfield at once and lay
our plan before General Logan
I have a patient l cannot leave"
said the doctor
Lancaster looked at the others
II can CO." said Black.
I'm try to-" said Cation
Virginia is only about thirty miles
from Springfield, so the next day found
Lancaster, Cation and Black at the
state capital. They sought out the sit
ting Republican member from their
district, Perry LogstOn of Schuyler
county. and by him were taken to
General Logan's room and introduced
to that famous candidate
Lancaster explained his plan briefly
but clearly. The general worn-looking
and weary, listened attentively. and
then said:
There seems something in your
scheme 1 shall send for Mr.. Wheeler y
In response TO a message. from the
general, Jacob Wheeler. his principal
manager, soon appeared.
Now captain said the general,
please repeat your story" Lancaster
did SO, When he had finished, Wheeler
asked. 4tWhat will it cost?''
Not dollar replied the captain.
There viii, of course be little ex-
penses. but the men doing the work
neither the general nor the Committee
Will he called M. foy. rant