The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-08-22
PARADOX At PEORIA
illinois Democrats lndorse Bryan,
but Also Indorse Roger
C. Sullivan.
HOT FIGHT IN coNvENTIoa.
Delegates Indulge In Pusilistie En-
counter and Are Dragged Out by
PoIice-Anti- Sullivan Speaker How'll
ed Down-Bryan's Name Tumultu-
ousIy Cheered.

Peoria, ILL.,, Aug 22.-By a vote Of
1,0a8 to $40 the Democratic convention
placed upon the table the request Of
William J. Bryan for the resignation of
Roger Sullivan from the national COM
mittee. Despite the fact that Mr.. Bry-
an had declared that he did not wish
to be indorsed unless Sullivan was re-
pudiated, the convention declared him
to be the one and only man capable OF
leading the Democratic party to victory
in 1905. The Endorsement of Bryan
and the tabling of the motion calling
for the resignation of Sullivan came at
the close of most exciting session of
the convention, In which there were
several fights and throughout which
confusion reigned supreme.
. A plank in the platform which re-
ceived much applause was that declar-
ing in favor of governmental owner,
ship of telegraph and telephone lines.
Bryan First and Last"
The Bryan resolution was worded as
follows:
For president of the United States the
Democrats of Illinois, first and last, have
but one choice, and that man is William
Jennings Bryan.
In this period of official hypocrisy, po-
litical corruption and cowarGtt surrender
of principles to expediency whenever Re-
publicanism holds sway William Jennings
Bryan towers above all Americans fitted
to lead in the fight to rescue our govern
ment from the hands of special interests
and restore 1t to all the people The De-
mocracy of Illinois eagerly looks forward
to 1908 for the opportunity to join with
her sister states in nominating and tri-
umphantly electing him president of the
United States.
The time calls for president of Bry-
ans honesty, sincerity and political phi
losophy.
The reading of this resolution, which
called forth terrific applause, closed the
platform. Mr. Kern then announced
that resolution had been submitted
to the committee calling upon National
Committeeman Sullivan to resign. The
committee had declined to embody it in
the report, but it had been agreed that
the resolution should be presented from
the floor and each side allowed forty
five minutes for discussion.
The first speaker was Judge Owen
Thompson of Jacksonville, who read
the Sullivan resolution, as follows:
Resolved That. this convention does
hereby request that Roger C. Sullivan re-
sign his position as member of the ma
tional committee from this state.
The instant the reading was conclud-
ed pandemonium broke loose in the
convention. There We're loud cries OF
No, nor Hurrah for Sullivanl'' The
uproar continued for several minutes
Judge Thompson declared that Mr..
Bryan had asked the resignation Of
Mr. Sullivan and said, In the face of
this are you going to indorse Sulli-
van?'
Certainly YES, yesr came from
all parts of the hall.
Sullivan lntervenes.
Judge Thompson continued to dwell
upon what he called the outrages Of
the last convention, and the confusion
became so great that Roger Sullivan
arose and said, Il hope my friends
will keep silent and allow Judge
Thompson to finish his speech
Wild cheers followed Sullivan's re-
marks, and when his voice could be
heard Judge Thompson said, '.Ir. Sui
livan having given his orders, l hope
we may now continue Kisses and
cat calls greeted this remark, and
Judge Thompson repeated it with de-
liberation. emphazing the word "or-
ders.' He was again hissed by the
convention, the cheers of his friends
mingling freely in the uproar The
speaker closed with an earnest appeal
to the delegates not to turn down Mr..
Bryan.
When he had concluded Roger Sulli-
van took the platform in his own de-
fense. He was greeted with tumultu-
Gus applause. He said in opening:
"You have witnessed the spectacle on
this platform of an individual trying
to crafty his personal grudge and
drag it into this convention He came
here to crafty his spleen, hatred and
malice against me-
Police Drag Fighters Out
You're liarw came from the Du-
page delegation. Instantly Sullivan
delegate sprang for the speaker, and
it took half dozen policemen to stop
the fight. Order was finally restored,
and Just as Sullivan commenced to
speak two men, clutching each other by
the throat, staggered through the door
on the opposite side of the hail. They
euffed each other without mercy, and
it took platoon of police to drag them
out of the hall and put them on the
sidewalk, where they started the sec
ond round. Sullivan concluded his adj
dress by declaring that he wished to
make no trouble, and if he was not
wanted as national committeeman the
matter could be adjusted two years
from now
Ex-Congressman T. J. Kern closed
the debate by moving that the anti
Sullivan resolution be laid on the ta-
Bile. Instantly there was great confu-
sion, dozen men clamoring for recog-
milton amid wild cries for roll call.
The roll call proceeded amidst great
confusion. Cook county voted 500 yea,
which meant to lay the motion on the
s.e-