Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21
TO NAME FIVE CANDIDATES
Main Interest Fight for State Party
Control.
SULLIVAN THE BRYAN BUGABoo
Nebraskan's Followers Resisted In
dorsement Of Their Leader Unless
Committeeman Was Repudiated.

PEORIA. ILL.,. August 21.-The democratic
state convention met today for the pur-
pose Of nominating candidates for state
treasurer. state superintendent Of public
instruction and for three trustees Of the
University of Illinois,
In reality, however. the convention was
more OF fight for the control Of the
state party machinery between the faction
headed by National Committeeman Roger
c. Sullivan Of Chicago and the immediate
followers of William ]. Bryan.
Mr.. Bryan in successive letters from
abroad has asked the resignation of Sulli-
van from the national committee on the
ground that the position was improperly
obtained two years ago.
Sullivan has not only refused to resign.
but he and his friends resent what they
term the interference OF Mr.. Bryan in their
state politics. Before the convention both
sides predicted success. Sullivan claimed
that he controlled 1,4OO out Of the ,665
delegates.
The Bryan followers. headed by Judge
owen Thompson Of Jacksonville and Repre-
sentative William T. Rainey, gave no fig
ures. but asserted that they controlled the
situation. They declared that unless the
convention followed the wishes of Mr.
Bryan and repudiated Sullivan they would
fight to the last against any Endorsement of
Bryan by the convention. Sullivan de-
clared. on the other hand that Bryan would
be Endorsed whether Bryan liked it or not
A Hot Fight Anticipated.
The indications before the opening Of the
convention were for a long and hard fight.
The first fight was expected over the eelec-
ton of chairman. The Sullivan forces
brought forward Judge c. c. Boggs Of Fair
field.
The Bryanites favored Representative
RfQn met hoFo %ka
ever. the Sullivan faction agreed not to
oppose the introduction of resolution in
the convention condemning Sullivan and
asking for his resignation from the ma
tional committee. This was satisfactory to
Rainey and Thompson. and the chances Of
hard fight in this direction were obviated.
we do not propose to make any trouble"
said Sullivan. They can bring in any sort
of resolution they want. What will happen
to their resolution is another mater. We
and we propose to do it. When it is over
there will be no complaint about gag rule
and the overthrowing OF the will Of the
majority Everybody will get all the
chance he wants"
Although the hour set for the opening of
the convention was II o'clock. 1t was an
hour later than that before one-half Of the
delegates were in their seats. The length
OF the county caucuses held just before the
convention was the chief cause Of the delay.
The convention was called to order by
Chairman Boeschenstetn of the state CEN
trail committee.
Chairman Rosschenstein announced that
the state central committee had selected
for chairman Of the convention Judge Car
roll C. Boggs of Fairfield and for secre-
tary Edward Cahill of Springfield.
Representative Rainey who has been af-
f1ltated with the antiSulivan forces and
who was their choice for chairman, an
nounced that while several counties had
been instructed for him he desired to say
that he approved the choice of the state
central committee and asked his friends to
vote, for Boggs. A motion was made that
selection for Boggs be made unanimous
but the chairman ordered roll call
Boggs Elected Chairman.
Despite the request of Representative
Rainey that his friends vote for Boggs,
a number of them persisted in voting for
Rainey. The total vote was for Boggs,
1 1884; for Rainey. 90.
Judge Boggs. upon assuming the gavel.
was greeted with loud applause. He said
in part:
You will be much better satisfied with
your choice for chairman when l say that
have no set speech to deliver, and If the
gentlemen who voted for Mr.. Rainey had
known this have no doubt 1 would have
received their votes also"
Among the business that the chair hopes
ton OF this convention" said Chairman
Boggs lis an endorsement of that native
son Of Illinois. that great commoner, Will
lam Jennings Bryan" Amid loud applause
following the name OF Mr.. Bryan, which
closed his speech. the chairman announced
that the convention was ready for business
The chairman promised that all delegates
should have an equal opportunity to be
heard and that roll calls would be granted
when asked for.
A motion that all resolutions be referred
to the committee on resolutions without de-
bate caused a little furry, which was finally
allayed by Representative Rainey who as.
sured the convention that ample opportun-
ity would be given for debate on all reso-
lutions.
The convention then took recess till 3
pm.