The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-14
CONTEST FOR GOVERNOR
CAUSES THE TROUBLE
Great Convention Hall Contained TO-
900 Men-Chalrman cullom Calls
for Order Through Big
Meeaphone.

Springfield, ILL.,, May 1S-After contin-
uous session of over twelve hours, the
Illinois republican convention at 1923
O'Clock tonight took a recess until 10
o'clock tomorrow morning without hav-
ing named a candidate for governor
During the long hours the great body was
in session it was in a practical deadlock,
and when, by general consent the recess
was taken tonight. neither of the seven
candidates has secured an advantage of
any moment, each of them holding prac-
tically his original strength. While the
| tiresome balloting went forward, the par
ty leaders conferred in fruitless efforts
to get a compromise, but all of their eff
forts went for naught and there is moth
ing in the situation tonight to warrant
the prediction of a break tomorrow The
convention was at once the largest and
country. The great convention hall was
/ packed with fully 10000 persons during
the session, and at times the scenes were
most turbulent.
Only the good nature of Speaker Cam
| non who presided prevented him from
| adjourning the convention to the hall of
representatives and excluding the public
the damndest crowd l ever saw" he de-
clared.
The organization of the convention was
effected without difficulty.
Performs Daring Feat.
A daring young Yates adherent scaled
one of the stringers in the roof of the
convention hall, and from his perilous
position suspended portrait of the gov
ernor. Immediately follower of Deheen
duplicated the performance with a half
dozen pictures, while Warner and Ham
lin men, even more daring, carried great
canvass banners to~other points of want
age above the heads Of the delegates.
Speaker Cannon called the convention
to order with a great megaphone
through which he announced that unless
order was maintained he would adjourn
the meeting to the hall of representatives
and exclude all except the delegates and
delegations of the press.
Candidates for governor were named
as follows: Frank o. Lowden, Charles S.
Deneen Rowland ]. Hamlln, Vespasian
Warner, Richard Yates and L. H. Sher-
man.
The first ballot was then ordered the
method OF voting being a roll call by
counties.
AT the afternoon wore on and ballot
after ballot was taken. the excitement
| reached high pitch. Several times the
votes Of this or that county were shifted
by astute managers trying to start a
break but these attempts were invariably
met with like strategy on the part Of
other candidates, with the result that the
total vote was only slightly changed dur
| ing the first twelve ballots. Previous to
the announcement of the tenth ballot,
supporters of the various candidates be-
gan number of demonstration in the
rear of the hall. and marching forward
invaded the speakers stand with their
banners, struggling for points of vantage.
The press seats were overrun and 1t was
necessary to cali upon the police to clear
the stand. The widest disorder prevailed,
! and for time 1t appeared that there
would be bloodshed, With characteristic
good humor Speaker Cannon shouted:
Calls Them to Order.
THE boys in the press gallery will
please be in order" and the laugh which
followed cooled the heated blood of the
contending shouters, who gave way be-
driven from the stand. When quiet had
been restored, the eleventh ballot was or
dered.
The effort to stampede the convention
had no effect on the eleventh ballot.
In the absence OF any privileged mo-
tion, said Chairman Cannon "a roll
call will now be in order" and the
twelfth call was entered upon.
Before the chair could announce the
twelfth ballot. the shouters in the hall
again made an effort to stampede the
gathering and the rival demonstrations
threw the great crowd into a scene of
disorder such as Is seldom seen in con-
vention. The tumult continued for fully
half an hour and 1t was impossible to
end it. In the midst of the excitement,
two policemen attempted to stop a negro
who was carrying a Lowden banner The
negro resisted and the police sergeant
George Brghtman struck him over the
head The negro retaliated and knocked
the policeman over. the officer falling up
on Mrs Richard Yates, who was occupy
ing a seat In the Morgan county dele
CATION. The negro was then hustled out
OF the hall He was armed with revol-
yer.
The fifteenth ballot resulted:
Yates, 495; Lowden, 409 9-66; Deneen,
81 57-66; Hamin, Ill; Warner, 36; Sher-
man, 81; Pierce, q.
At 1923 p. m. the convention on mo-
tion Of Senator Berry took recess until
10 a. m. tomorrow.