The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-21
cAUcUsEs HELD.
State Delegations All in Session e',,
Yesterday.
By Associated 17ressD

CHICAGO, I'LL, June 20.--Witli the
Zine occupied in caucuses Of State deie-
ratIons, which, witllaa few exceptions,
we're mere ratification meetings heli 10
4 approve State Convention programmes
the day preceding the opening OF the lte-
publican National Convention has been
z the ouietest ever known as the forerun-
nor az similar gatherings Senator'S and
Il representatives in Congress were thick
on the streets, and in the hotel lobples,
iias they are in the national capital whom
~ particularly unevcntful or dry debate
Is in progress In Congress.
Figures prominent in the political strife
of former National Conventions every
where They mingled with delegates and
L,thers not on the inside talking OF
\ everything, which promised even momen-
&tary interest.
When the leaders reached Chicago
few days ago they found nothing for,
them to do. The programme Tor the con
Evention was mapped out weaks ago and
there was a full realization that It was
8unalterablc.
The Iowa Idea.
4 The principal divisions were offered by
tho caucuses of the Iowa. Illinois ana
washington delegations Governor Cum
minis presented to the IIawkeye delega-5
ton the Iowa idea" In an entirely new
dress. 1t was in the form of plank
setting forth the idea" as declaration
for reciprocity and reduction of tariff
schedules. 1t was rejected blythe dele
4 cation and this sounded its death knell
So far as the present convention was con-
earned. W rs y
I'm the Illinois caucus, the contest was
for the chuirnlanshipson the deleEatlon.
Senator Gull ON was opposed by the Soy
crnor Yates faction, but Won OUT handtlS'
ss,sbl Is con cd that his defeat ~ould nave
5.44 4, fcvcnted his re election to the Senate.
Il the washington caucus Senator An
s lScny was elected national committeeman
s1 salnst the combined opposition Of for
lner Committeeman james M Ashton and
-. s. Mcmillan both of whom were
candidates for the position.
The Indiana Puzzle.
What has been popularity termed tho
5"Indiana Puzzle' was ono of the fea-
y lures OF the day. The members Of the
8 delegation from the Eloosier state met to
determine their course in regard to tho
boom for Senator Fairbanks for the vice.
4 presidency. Senator Fairbanks attended
the meeting and addressed the delegates.
He talked for fifteen minutes. tho meet
wiser concerning his wishes. beyond a
roiteraton of his statement that he did
not desire his State to present his name
Tor the cc-presdency,
Expressions of genuine regret at the
absence OF faces familiar at similar gath
erings four eight and twelve years ago
are heard on every side. Men who have
\ played leading roles in the art of making
tickets and platformsl 1gen whose per-
oh, W6 rac ,,.sr llof Df
persuasivencss have changed entire States
or sections Of tho country. are missed
Z In the hotel Hobbies and the various head
quarters.
Many Faces Missing.
Some Of these lave figured in Repub-
Z lican conventions for a quarter of a ce1l-
tury. Notably. the late Senator Matthew
H. Quay, of Pennsylvania, and the late
4 William j. Sewell. of New Jersey. Ono
whose absence is felt more. perhaps,
than that of any other man Is the late
. Marcus Hanna, though his debut on the
political stage Is Of more recent date
Numerous pictures of the late senator
attest his popularity But the absence of
The great men mentioned does not indi-
cate that the cast for the play which
opens at the Coliseum tomorrow has
Y been weakened In the shoes OF the men
who have passed away are politicians
equally as astutc, who have had their
4 training as nlaster-hands. They may not
be so well known In rational affairs, and
their names not so effective to con1urc
with. but they are ready and competent
10 perform any task that offers The
only difficulty is that the task is not
there. Contests worthy of tho name are
utterly lacking. The fight between the
I.afolette and ''stalwart' factions in
Wisconsin: the contest between Addicks
and the an,i-Addicks faction In Delaware;
the "IAly White" and BLACK anc tan
factions of Southern States. were dis
posed Of with so much dispatch that they
failed 10 furnish tho gossip necessary
TO an interesting convention
about al .r~t waa left to feed tn
y craving OF delegates for excitement ans
furnish topic OF conversation was the