Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-15
ROGER SULLIVAN,
NOTED DEMOCRAT
DEATHS VICTIM
Illinois Man, Prominent In
State Politics and Well
Known Throughout the
Nation, Passes Away.

'BT MORNING JoJSAAI SPECIAL LEbsEp W'REI
Chicago, April 14.-Roger Sulli-
van, former democratic national
committeeman from Illinois and
prominent in state politics for
years. died here today.
Mr.. Sullivan returned to Chicago
recently from Hot Springs. Ark,
where he had gone for his health
after spending part of the winter
at Palm Beach, Fla, and at WASH
ington, where he conferred with
political leaders.
Mr.. Sullivan planned to enter
the democratic national convention
at San Francisco as the leader of
the Illinois delegation of fifty
eight with the avcwed intention of
making that his last appearance as
a political leader.
Roger Sullivan, condemned I'M
his own state by his opponents as
boss" and more than once read
out of the democratic party by
William j, Bryan, led the move
ment that finally resulted in max
ing Woodrow Wilson president of
the United States.
Switched Vote to Wilson.
1t was Sullivan who headed the
democratic delegation from Illinois
at the Baltimore convention in
1924 delegation pledged to
Champ Clark--and who after suf-
ficient ballots had been cast to dis
charge his obligation to Illinois,
switched the vote of the state to
Wilson and made his nomination
possible.
Roger Sullivan had been a par
ticipant in every democratic con-
vention since 1892. and in at least
three of the seven he attended he
had been commanding figure.
His clashes with Bryan and with
the Carter Harrison and william
r. Hearst faction of the party in
his home state. which brought him
the title of BOSS" from his politi-
cal enemies. made sullivan a dem
cratic figure throughout the coun-
try.
Successful in Business.
Roger Sullivan as a business man
had been no less successful than as
a politician. Coming to Chicago
in 1879 to work in the railroad
shops as an apprentice machinist
at $1.25 a day, he was reputed to
have accumulated more than ST.
100000.
He was born on a farm near Bel
videre, ILL.,, February 2, 1861. His
education was Obtained in the pub
lie schools and he was first en-
ployed as a farm boy at SIS
month.
Four years after coming to Chi
cago, Mr.. Sullivan attended his
first political meeting, a ward eau
Gus and from that day dated his IN
terest in politics. In 1890 he was
elected to his first political office,
a clerk of the probate court. Dur
ing the Cleveland administration he
was appointed government gauger.
These were the only pubic OFFICES
he ever held. In 1914 he was the
democratic nominee for United
States senator, but was defeated by
Senator L. Y. Sherman. President
Wilson opposed Sullivans election.
Two years later his friends pro-
posed his name for vice president,
but he refused to enter the race
and insisted on the nomination or
Thomas r. Marshall for a second
term.
Helped Nominate Bryan.
In 1900 he helped nominate Bry-
an at Kansas City. Four years
later Sullivan was elected to the
democratic national committee,
thereby laying the foundations for
one of the bitterest political fights
in Illinois democratic history.
Bryan opened, the battle in 1903
when he served notice on the DEM
ocratic state convention that he
would not accept the support of
the Illinois delegation unless the
convention adopted a resolution de-
manding Sullivan's retirement from
the national committee. sullivan
defeated the resolution and then
introduced a resolution endorsing
BRYAN. which was passed. Sullivan
remained a member of the national
committee until 1916 despite re-
peated efforts to oust him.
Mr.. Sullivan lIade his fortune in
Chicago gas companies and in the
cracker business. Mr. Sullivan and
Miss Helen NJ. Quinlan were mar
ried at Chicago in 1885 and to
them were born one son and four
daughters.