The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 5, 1903, Page 2

tar e plaude Tep mittee or orgenize rep: at t org: permane e = the day . iteelf paus r The fan eLiffe chairs a ig [ &% . E ated t zation nd worn t fectionalism, ap- m Rankin read the permanent t recommended be made ad seemed to for the mo- flaming ws f the ing delegates became ng heavier still w h himse dc em of 1 I wi Once e moved, and beckoned to him a man from his own delegation, and cast his ballot with the Mason fellows. At last the hats weré reposing between knees, the ballots. were counted. Balley lowl e. Have o voted?" he msked. The wve you all 1 acquiesce: *The secretary—will call—the roll—ot the counties.” "And then intensity hung again in the air. Hale called~off the es of the ountles. Cighteen votes no!” votes a eleven votes no.” ie men clapped their hands. een votes aye! Eigh Randolph turned and knit his brows. en he smiled again. He was keeping s knee ie? R seb silence was absolute. Rankin and Carlin the one af thinking of n awaited the ally. R S i andoiph ad near retary. B . jer shelter of his he had done, he handed the airman. Bailey examined tant g instant, tion grew impatient and t [l it to us!" ' W studying the slip And af last in his fingers, he 3 this vote—the yeas aire—eighty- nd r aire eighty-two, and | was standing in the aisle, his finge lips apart, his eyes s »wed with a delight = he cried: Mr. Chairman! Mr. Chairman! A point rder ley paused and looked at him in- ng he said, wearily, “the gentle- = v state—his point of order.” 1 silence, again the interest ing between the two parila- Joint of order, Mr. Chairman, is t ndolph kept his _forefinger in polse nty cast “The delegation eighteen votes tary Ce affirmativ nodde 1 believ went on, uncover it th Mr. Chairman,” Ran- taking his time, that he his point slowly and thus more effective in the end member of the Ma- RS eminently—correct, “Then, Mr. Chairman” sald Randolph, raising his voice for his climax, “as the chair's delegation cast its full vote, the chair evidenily voted on this proposition, and the chair i not entitled to a vote on an- appeal from his own decision. With the vote the chair improperly cast elimi- nated, the result would be a tie, and therefore the motion would not prevail. Hence my point of order; which amounts to a challenge of the chair's Vote. The Sprague men began to laugh up- roariously, and to applaud while Ran- dolph stood in the aisle in his statesman- like attitude, enjoying his triumph. And as their laugh began to substde Balley's face wrinkled into a strange annoying smile. His little eyes twinkled “The gentleman—from Mouitrie—is cor- rect,” he began. And there was a shout. He induiged it to the echo, and then went on: “But unfortunately—for the gentle- man—from Moultrie, however fortunately. for the chair, this'is not—a Vote—on an appeal, but—on a motion—to lay—an ap- seal—on the table. The chair, if not mis- rformed, has the right—to Vote—on all motions—to table:—and on this motion— the chairvotes ‘aye, the motion pre- vails, and the appeal—is laid—on the tabl H the gavel up and let it fall, d rwood men began to cheer. andolph looked dazed, and was about to peak. But Bailey, striking order again with his gavel. went on “The question—now recurs—upen the motion—of the gentleman—from Polk— that the report—of the committee— be d. As many—as favor—the mstion ay—‘Avye re was a mighty shout, “Aye." many—as are opposed—will vote— he ague men yelled “No!"—an volume ves—-seem—to have it.” said Batley yes—have it, and the mo- tion The gavel The Sprague men sat dumb. “And the temporary—organization— therefore hecomes—the permanent or- ganization—of this convention,” sald Bailey, speaking as if he were merely re- £uming some sentence that all the con- fusion of balloting had interrupted, an interruption to him of no more import- a than the pauses he made in his words. Thus the Garwood men secured the control of the convention and won the first round. XII. The sun poured its ra level through the unw western windows; now on a dead hed glass of the the dust beaten out or the old floor by the stamping feet of Garwood's successful cohorts quivered in its beams. The storm, promised early in the afternoon, had inconsequently van- ished after some unvindicated mutterings of its prophetic thunder, and left the town hotter than ever. The air was op- pressed with ‘heavy humidity, and the farmer delegates, dreaming vaguely of their corn, beheld it dr: rattling its vellow leave ed courtroom the delega: ng in the heat, In the crowd- s languished in their shirt sleeves, the collars of those who still wore collars wilted into molist and shapeless m. s at their throats, The fight had beaten the life cut of them, evin those who were radiant in victory. . was put, the Some one, a Sgn‘u; man, moved an ad- Journment. ut Rankin frowned and shouted, ‘“No, no,” to his followers. He had just then an advantage he did not care to lose. And so, when the motion Flnled Cat, glancing at the solemn Jjudiclal “clock and seeing - that two hours of the afternoon yet remained, declared it defeated, and then he drawled: Nominations—of candidates—for repre- ;:?gguve—m Congress—aire now—in or- ‘When he had sajd this, he seemed glad to sit down, though he alone of all the others was unperturbea by that awful heat, and wore his fll-fitting coat as though he would preserve the decorum of the occasion, as Napoleon, for example to his men, wore his un.iorm buttoned to the chin while he led them across the hot sands of Egypt. The tired and exhausted delegates set- tled down gloomily to hear the nomin ing speeches. Some of them showed a intention of slipping out of the court- room, lured by thought of the cooling drafts of beer in the saloons that pre- sented their fronts eagerly to the very face of the temple of Tazewell County justice, but the b of either side, fearing some advant might be taken of their absence, he d them to their posts. And so they listened to the impassicned speech into’ which Randolph was able to work himse'f in placing ‘n nomination the name of “that profound jurist, that able statesman, that honest man, Conrad Sprague! 4 Then followed Dorsey. whom Rankin had chosen the honor of naming his candidate ery one knew of course whom Dorscy was preseniing. and yet he treasured his name as a hid n su e g sentence: in which he epi- “the tall Sycamore of the for his clos tomized him as Sangamon, whose eloquence still rever- berates in the hal's of national legisla- tion, whose fame is growing brighter and fairer as the days ge by, in_honoring whom the peop.e of the Thirteentn District, representing as it does the pride and glory of Central Illinois, are but honoring _themselves — that champion of popular rights, that man of the common people, our present repre- sentative, the Honorable Jerome B. Garwood ! There were speeches seconding these nominatiol and _applause following them, carefully apportioned by the sup- porters of each, and then when all had done, when every one thought the last word had been spoken, when the Singed Cat had risen, leaned over the desk and inquired: ““Aire there—any other—or further— nominations? Grant Knowlton of Lincoln arose and said: “Mr. Chairman.” Because it was unexpected, the common phrase fell upon their ears with a dra- matic force, The delegates scraped about to face the new speaker. “The _gefitleman—from Logan,” sald Singed Cat. “Mr. Chairman,” Knowlton began, “and mnlr-mar of the convention: Old Logan Brings ybu from her ripening corn fleide from her sun-kissed prairies, from her populous towns, the name of her favorite son. She comes, Mr. Chairman, bring- ing vou a man who,ranks foremost in the affections of the cilizens of the thriving city which off wit that now repo wreat Emancipator himself s own chain and compass, as_honored relics in his hallowed ‘tomb in Springfleld, the town to which he gave his own name, who has never sought the consideration of his neighbors but has always had it; who stands to-day among her leading men, who, in the great hour of national peril when the skies were dark, went forth to help strike the shackles from the bieed- lnf limbs of four milifons of human beings, who Iu"llnc- served his country wel a equally it in a humbler capacity. nowlton poured forth his sentences so rapidly that the delegates scarce could follow them, and filled with curiosity as they were, they could not determine from his mixed relatives whether he was about to nominate Abraham Lincoln himself, or some man of a later and If not abler at least liveller generation. The young lawyer felt that he had at last his op- portunity, and he was selzing it. e had cleared a space among the chairs about him, and in this he strode back and forth, waving his arms, and shaking his head so fiercely that black locks flapped, and his face became a mere red blur. The young man had a deep resonant voice, and its tones vibrating to his own passion thrilled at last the hearts of the men who listened physical manifestation in which is to be found doubtless the suc- ss W oratory. So he was =<opt on fire by cheers. But at last, the curi- csily to know who was this new Rich- mond who took them by nch surprise and so thoroughly destroyed their cal- « tions, grew beyond m ry. and the youth’s periods were marred by cries of: Name him! me him! The interruption did not fluster the young orator. Men all about him were straning to catch the first accents of t name of this dark horse from Logan County, farther away old men placed their hane hind their ears to aid their 1 8. still farther. off delegates leined ixiously forward, with brows knit in a painful intensity. Young Knowlton taok it all as a tribute to his oratory, and his real v fine voice, a volce that would car- ' ¥ man far in public speaking, roiled 1o the ceiling of the old e troom. The Singed Cat alone remained impassive and cold. Rankin and Randolph stood and hung on his words, trouble written ‘in their s. But Knowlton was exhaust- ing hims His deep voice grew husky, the perspiration streamed from his iace his ‘breath came -in a vapor from hi mouth, hot as the atmosphere was. At last it was plain that he had worn him- self out “Shall 1 name him?" he gacped. “‘Shall I name this peerless son of old n. who in every hour of public need has been ready to answer the call of public duty? He is)kngwn to vou all, he is Known to every one in the seven counti that compriee this agricuiturai empire of the Thirteenth District. Ave, his fame has spread beyond her confines, it is writ- ten on the pages where are enrolled the glorious names of those who fought the nation’s battles, it is emblazoned in the falr temple of civic triumph. We bring vou a leader, Mr. Ch all your differences. old party for march to victory irman, to harmonize to cement the grand another mighty onward who will plant your flag as he has panied that proud embiem of a free people, the glorious stars and stripes, on the ramparts of the roated and flying enemy Nominate him, gen- tlemen, and in the ides of November, when the ballots come down as still As_snowflakes fall upon the sod; But execute a freeman's will As lightning does ‘the will of God, he will be found to have been elected.” And Knowlton sank into his chair, sasping for breath, his chest heaving with the violence of his exertion. The delegates looked at him and at one an- other a moment in surprise, and then they began to cry all at once: “What's his name?” You didn't name him!" ‘Give us his name!" Name him!" Knowlton €prang to his feet; for an in- stant he stood and looked helplessly around. His face flamed a deeper crim- son and he saiu in a hoarse tired voice: “Our candidate, gentlemen—his name is General William M. Barrett.’ The anti-climax produced a laugh which relieved the tensity of the situation. Knowlton sank into his chair again and was mnFRIng his neck with his handker- chief. The members of his own delega- tion pressed about him in congratulation. Moist hands were thrust at him from all sides.” Rankin himsélf strode back and offered his felicitations. Knowlton smiled, and shook his head in depreciation of his own effort. Some one thought to second the nomi- nation of Barrett, and the Singed Cat arose. 3 “Ajre there—any other—or further— nominations?”’ he asked. “If not—the nominations—aire now—closed. The dele- gates will- prepare their ballots—and the secretary — will call — the roll — of the counties.” The interest tightsned. Delegations as- sembled close to their leaders, and hats were passed for the ballots. The supreme moment -had come. % Knowiton thought to crate a sensation by his speech; Le created a greater by his nomination. The Logan County dele- ation had been promised to Rankin by Slm O’'Malley, but when at the county convention in Lincoln O'Malley had been unable to secure a Garwood indorsement, Rankin had feared the result there, and his fears had been confirmed when he could not induce, the full delegation to cast its solid vote for Lis plan to make the temporary organization permanent. Their action in dividing on that question had placed their twenty-four votes in the doubtful column, and now that they had seen fit to spring a candidate at the last moment, they had injected.an uncerta element ‘Into the calculations of both sides that perplexed the leaders. Rankin had hoped to hold his eighty-three votes to- gether that afternoon and nominate Garwood or tbe firet ballot. Now he saw that this would be impossible. A long, stubborn fight was before him, and he pad a candidate, as he recognized self, though by no means would he admit it, who would not gain in strength as the hours passed by. At that moment he felt that he was stronger than he ever would be again. That was why he had refused to let the convention adjourn General Barrett m the Logan County delegation had thus brought out, was, while not al Tha that Knowlton had ‘described him, nevertheless Lincoln's leading man. He wa own community. He ha not strictly in his practice he opportunities that g n, a comfortable comy gone to Lincoln led a regiment come out of th a brillia r ) ger tribution of brevets immediately ing the close o mighty conflict had sitared to the extent of an hor brigadier-generaiship. He hac then home to resume his quiet life carefully pursuing a middle c things, and avoiding the enemies, he had gradu utation for honesiy -a made him a ideal figure the less, eminentiy respectabie servative citizen. He had not an aggr »r Logan ggle with in conve the name of General W knowing that he would nc long as he was not nom no one else object. He 1ever been 4 to an office of profit, and he had een an avowed candidate for any t 1 he had served on the school board and on all the public committees dition to being invited to deiive on Decoration day. yet he was ever in a calm and receptive mood, and while Lo- gan County delegations had never gone so far as fo nominate him for anything he seemed er to doubt tne sinceri of th upport. But there comes a time in the career of the men whose names are continually before conventions when the lightning strikes them, and both Ran- kin and Randolph saw (hat the present hour was charged With just such a pos- sibility The delegations had voted and now sat awaiting the delivery of the first ba lot. Hale Degun to cail the roll of the counties )eWitt?" Hale called lighteen votes for Conrad Sprague.” *Logan?" O’ Malley was up. “Mr. Chairman,” he said, “on behalf of the solid delegation from Logan County I have the honor to cast her eighteen votes for our present able Congressman, Hon- orable Jerome B. Garwood!’ nd Rankin started a cheer. “Moultrie?” Randolph was standing prominently in the middle aisle, or what had been an aisle early in the day. “Mr. Chairman,” he said, tones, “Moultrie County gives her fifteen votes to our next Congressman, Hon- orable Conrad Sprague.” in heavy And’ then the Sprague delegations cheered. Piatt?” the roll-call proceeded. Sprague fifteen votes! >olk 7" Rankin had taken a seat his fat elbows on his fat knees. He had been_keeping the count in his mind. as Randolph had been Keeping it on a scrap and sat with of paper. He knew what he had, and o knew that when Sprague received the twenty-three votes rusey would delivec to him, Sprague would be in the lead Pusey had passed his old straw hat for the ballots, and it had ground Rankin to have to drop his awn vote in it, held as it was by the m#h who now usurped the lace In the Polk County delegation he Bad held for sa many yeurs. Puser arors and his thin voice piped: d o THE SUNDAY OCALL Polk “Mr. Chatrman, Polk Coutly, g twenty-two vot - L twenty-three for Barre Rankin look ed up, Randolph, who had been PIEDPE ing to order a volley candidate, stood stric came as a surprise more than all to the They were nonplused nated Barrett with & haps, than their usual si to ev Logan temporar had merely gone to him = - |v;‘d order to put themselves a _ controlling position other two cand been counted for held the balanc up as if there had last Ranki ®smote his gavel down - be—in order. t p conv on- wll!. I-call—proceed. zewell o p ty votes for Carweod. n while Hale was ruozmqluh" ymns, conversation z the delegates. 5 & tracing his mysterious t of his le med agair ta dow by Hale's n smiled > sald ulders ex cated, Mis tee ant grin. result n & Bailey died It presen hundred = showin, Hale of pa the it up to Suitias satd, with a Rankin the change " recognized eman—trom Polk.” I move that the con until to-morrow ck. prevailed. The sup was a (i ow bevond the river r was the hottest isey was sitting inkled jaws and pu oba as inserutab eif might hava tobacco. would bearinge that had n. I ., hearing from Pekin delegation had taken pardonable Ii es with his name at the conven arrived on an evening tra quiescent absence Wou supporters better, the he old station with as as they could generata morning The mo he chewed to find that aftern General that his cot tice. The general drove to the hotel in a carriage and when ho entered the office bowed seriously, playing well the part of the distinguished and r spectable leader whom the voice of tha peopie had summoned. To Cowley interviewed him when his headquarters had been opened, said_ sole tha he was in the hands of I red this a fair field and an . and esteemed his own opport favorable as those of #i her d guished and able ca. dates. All through the hot night the rooms of the three candidates blazed. Deiegates hung it th as the nocturnal bugs wheelin heavy wing from darknes tered around the oil ligh all of them stuck as clos: that had brought them thitk )8« hapless ins whose matted their wings last to b gene wood had - where the pub and participate fre of campaig xe3 on the cen Garwood sat on the tumbled bed fn his inner room, pale and haggard. A cig fumed constantly in seth. A tra whisky glasses lay the table. 1V Garwood were R d Balley. T had gone tion again aga Dele e had b led in to interv ngressn every argument persuasion, e threat that the three men could de had been ey made preciable sen votes and they f ou them, for Rankin vouched for the two men from Polk, the singed calmiy certain of his eighteen votes Mason, and Hale scouted ea of gne of the thirty Tazewell fellows falling The remaining votes were so evenly that vided between Garwood's opponents t each would hesitate to go to the at Any coalition with the Sprague men was impossibl they were as determine » Garwood's own They mu ook strength to the Barrett following. T considared and the twenty-t . votes he controlled ‘an’'t you see him, Jim? Garwood gested to Rankin. The big man spat and shook N It i do no good fer to I'd hate to speak to the le ¢ 1. look here, Jim, you mustw't let al feeling stand in the way of our s rwood snarled. He was grow ing peevish from the heat, the straim, t anxiety. Rar laughed, as if at ¢ whim a ch He had bout me Jerry. © night wore L agree- Balley saw as wily, he - ot his rwo should mor clared truces, a Their click all the . some of them we ut und sky of with br west. the m along t ing S Ay r and diseolor the feculer AVY with smoke. acrid s " breatning s darke v cleared all the wh nounced w nereased ballots which Hale e same And Garwood. Sprague. Barrett Dewite . 5 g 18 = - 8 ® = X1iv * Thursday came and another with its oppressive heat ang even more op pressive suspense wore away: aun® el another came and wore away like the o before It. The week was = marching hy nearer a cholce gan. The con- and the delegat.s w than when they