Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-04
Democrats of State Meet
at Springfield
June H..
Committee DECIDES
Friends of j. r. Williams
and w. r. Hearst
Active.

Chicago. Feb. 1.-THE democratio
state convention will be held at
| Springfield June H. This was decided
| by the state committee of the party
at a seven-hour session at the Sher-
man house i'm this city Yesterday af-
ternoon and evening. The meeting de-
veloped lively contest among friends
of Congressman James Il. Williams
and William Randolph Hearst. Argu-
ments in favor of each candidate for
the presidential nomination were in
tr6duced in speeches, but when adj
iournment was taken ii was impossi-
bic to discern who had secured the
advantage.
The committee was called to order
at , o'clock promptly When the roll
was called it showed Thomas McNally.
of the LIST district; Thomas Carey. of
the 4th, and II. s. Tanner. of the 18th,
absent and unrepresented. John Me-
Gillen had a proxy for Thomas Ga
han. of the End district: Morris Ma
loney. for r. " Haskins. of the 12th:l
Mayor c. j. Dittmar for W. o. Wright,
of the 18th: l.. ~ Petefish. for j. f.
Robinson. of the 2Oth. and James II.
IIcllels. for Ben r. Cable. committees
at-arge.
Mr.. Eclels presented resolutions
commenting William {. Whitney,
secretary of the navy under Presi-
dent Cleveland, who died Tuesday.
The resolutions We're adopted unani-
mously by rising vote.
Roger {. Sullivan introduced the
civic federation resolutions calling
the attention of democrats through
out the state to the constitutional
amendment giving Chicago new
charter, which will be voted on al the
fall election. Two of the committees
men voted against the resolutions.
Peoria and Springfield Compete.
When the chairman asked for the
presentation of the offers of the cit-
les seeking the convention Represen-
tative jefferson Il. Boulware. Charles
Woolner and Charles II. Farrell Offer
ed the bid of Peoria. They agreed to
pay all Legitimate expenses of the
state committee. 10 provide conven-
ton hall, and to pay all printing and
telegraph bills. Mr.. Farrell. who rep
resented the hotels, insisted that the
rates charged the visitors would not
be eXorbitant.
States Attorney William T.. Shut,
of Sangamon county; Mayor Dever-
eauX and John T.. Hogan spoke for
Springfield. They offered to duplicate
all that Peoria had agreed TO do. and
i'm addition submitted guarantee by
the Springfield Business Mems ASSOC
citation that everything should be
done as outlined.
When the roll was called on the two
cities the committee decided by II
vote of 21 TO 10 hold the convention
in Springfield. and on motion of ID. j.
Hogan the time was made = o'clock
Tuesday. June II.
John T.. Hogan moved that the APP
portionment he one delegate to each
400 votes or jor fraction thereof
cast for William j. Bryan for presi-
dent in 1900. This would give the COM
vention Approximately 1.25s delegates.
Some Of the members raised the
question regarding the standing of the
counties having the primary system,
but it was agreed there should he no
changes. ali the counties faring alike
in the apportionment.
Chairman Hopkins said then the call
of districts would begin. as the COM
mittee was desirous of learning the
sentiment in the different parts of
the state. II was during the roll call
that the speeches were made by
friends of the opposing candidates,
Former Comptroller Eckels. Congress
man Williams and NJ J.. Dunlap TAX
ing prominent parts.
The only names brought before the
meeting in connection with the guber-
material nomination were those of T..
w. Hurst, of Rock Island. and Mayor
W. II. {. Crolius, Of Joliet.