Louis to Springfield in 1835 to become Cashier of the State Bank of Illinois. William
Barret Ridgely was educated in the public schools of Springfield and at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New \ ork, from which he graduated in 1879 with the
degree of Civil Engineer. After leaving school he was successively Superintendent,
Secretary and Vice-President of the Springfield Iron Company, was President of the
Springfield Gas Light Company and of the Wilmington and Springfield Coal Company
and also the Springfield Coal Association, and for several years second Vice-President
of the Ridgely National Bank. He was appointed postmaster at Springfield in 1897
ana resigned in 1899 on account of his leaving Springfield for Chicago to become the
district manager for the Republic Iron and Steel Company, which had absorbed the
Springfield Iron Company. He was elected Secretary of the Republic Company in the
same year, and, in 1901, was elected N'ice-President of that company, which position
he held until appointed Comptroller of the Currency.
Mr. Ridgely early became active in political life, taking a prominent part in the
campaign of 1888 by organizing protection clubs composed of both Republicans and
former Democrats. In 1894 and again in 1896 he was largely instrumental in the
reorganization of the party in Sangamon county, in both of which years decisive vic-
tories were won. For two terms he was Secretary of the Illinois League of Republican
Clubs. Ever since his entry in politics he has been closely identified with the political
fortunes of Senator Cullom and has been prominent in all of the contests in which
the Senator has been engaged in recent years.
Mr. Ridgely was married in 1882 to the eldest daughter of Senator Cullom. Mrs.
Ridgely died in 1902, leaving two daughters, the elder of whom, Miss Catherine
Ridgely, is the head of Mr. Ridgely's home in Washington and takes a prominent part
in the social life of the capital.
In September, 1901, a few days after the death of President McKinley, Mr.
Ridgely was appointed Comptroller of the Currency — his appointment, with that of
Dr. Rixey as Surgeon-General of the Navy, being the first made by President Roosevelt.
Since his accession to the office of Comptroller he has delivered several notable
addresses en financial subjects, including the addresses before the American Bankers'
Association at New Orleans in November, 1902, and at San Francisco in October, 1903,
besides numerous addresses before State Bankers' Associations.
Mr. Ridgely is a member of the University Qub of Chicago, the Metropolitan and
Chevy Chase Clubs of Washington, D. C, and the Sangamo Club of Springfield; also
of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain, the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers, and the American Institute of Mining Engineers.
212
THE BREAKING OF THE DEADLOCK.
except to announce that a glee club " without factional bias "
would sing.
Thus the evening dragged along until 9:25, when there was
a stir on the chairman's platform, and it was observed that Con-
gressman Lorimer, John M. Harlan and Andrew Russel were
From a photograph by Alderman Frank L. Race, of Chicago.
THIRTY-FIFTH WARD (CHICAGO) DELEGATION IN FRONT OF HOTEL.
in conference with Chairman Cannon. They informed him that
the Credentials Committee had taken a recess until 1 1 :30.
Chairman Cannon arose and said : " The Chair recognizes
the chairman of a subcommittee of the Committee on Credentials,
who will make a statement."
There was complete silence as Mr. Lorimer, in clear, deliberate
tones, addressed the convention :
" Mr. Chairman : Mr. Harlan, Mr. Russel and myself have
been appointed a subcommittee of the Committee on Credentials
to notify this convention that it will be impossible to make a report
until half-past 12 or i o'clock, and probably not then."
PART TWO: THE CONVENTION. 213
"What is the pleasure of the convention?" inquired Chairman
Cannon.
Lieutenant-Governor W. A. Xorthcott moved that the con-
vention adjourn until lo o'clock the following morning. The
delegates did not wait for the motion to be put. Before the
words had been spoken by the Lieutenant-Governor, nearly all
of the delegates were on their feet on their way for the exits,
and the announcement of the Chairman that the convention
stood adjourned was not avidible beyond a radius of ten feet.
And so ended the first day of the convention. The delegates
hurried over to the hotel. The candidates for Governor went
into conference with their lieutenants, making plans for the day
yet to come.
At midnight, when the delegates began to seek rest for the
night, the candidates were stili as much at sea as they had been
twenty-four hours before. The statements they made that night
for the newspapers did not differ materially from those given
out the previous evening. The six candidates were interviewed
during the evening, and here is what they had to say :
Charles S. Deneen : " They say delays are dangerous. In this case I
do not think so. As far as I am concerned, my strength is gaining steadily.
I will make no claims to-night, except to say that I am more hopeful than
ever of winning the nomination."
Governor Yates : " I don't think any man who attended the conven-
tion sessions to-day can doubt that the spirit of the delegates, or rather
of the overwhelming majority of them, is a Yates spirit. I am more con-
fident to-night than I have been since the moment I began the fight for
renomination — more confident, indeed, than I have been since I first took
up the Republican standard two years ago. My support grows with every
delay. I will win and win early in the balloting. I feel as I have always
felt, that the delegates pledged to me will stay with me in spite of all
attacks and that no candidate has such warm personal support."
Frank O. Lowden : " There is very little to say. If I state that my
friends are staying by me it implies a doubt that I do not feel. I am more
confident than ever of the result."
Lawrence Y. Sherman : " My men are all ' stand-patters.' They are still
solid with me, and my chances are growing brighter. The postponement
helps me and all day I have heard of a sentiment in my favor among men
who on first ballot will stand for some one else. We will stand pat and
win."
Vespasian Warner : " I do not recall ever having witnessed such a
demonstration before in my experience. This certainly is the noisiest ses-
sion ever held by Illinois Republicans, but the noise is rather the expres-
sion of outsiders in the convention than of delegates. You will notice that
the majority of delegates are quietly awaiting developments. When the
time comes they will speak with their votes."
Rowland J. Hamlin : " I am confident of success. I have no reason
to have any other feeling. The postponements have given many delegates
a chance to drift in and tell me that I am their second choice. I have lost
none and have gained several from reports."
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PART TWO: THE CONVENTION. 215
CHAPTER V.
THE SECOND DAY, FRIDAY, MAY 13 — CANDIDATES' NAMES
PRESENTED — BALLOTING BEGINS.
The morning of Friday, the 13th of May, found the pubHc
interest in the convention even greater than it had been at the
opening on the previous day; for it was the universal supposi-
tion that this was the day that would finally end what was
already the most picturesque and by far the most notable contest
for the Governorship that had ever been waged in Illinois. The
convention was not to meet until 10 o'clock ; but at 8 :oo crowds
gathered at the entrances, to be ready for the first opportunity to
gain admission. The doorkeepers, assisted by a force of Spring-
field policemen, battled with the crowd for more than an hour.
At 9:15 the doors were finally opened and men and women
began a frantic rush for the inside of the large building. Many
there were who presented themselves without tickets, and in
most cases they were compelled to turn back, though many made
their way past the doorkeepers and got into the galleries or
crowded upon the floor.
For another hour the hall was filled with the hum of voices
and the ceaseless clatter of feet as delegates and spectators
crowded in. The workers for the candidates were busily engaged
in putting up more lithographs and placards. The first excite-
ment was occasioned when a man climbed out upon one of the
steel girders that spanned the building, and hung from it a large
picture of Governor Yates immediately in front of the chairman's
platform. It was but a moment until other men were creeping
out upon other girders and unfurling huge portraits of Deneen,
Hamlin and Warner. As each picture appeared, the partisans of
the candidates broke into cheers.
Ten o'clock was at hand, and still the crowd was growing,
becoming more dense with each passing moment. At 10:15, Gov-
ernor Yates entered the hall at the south or main entrance, and
as he made his way through the closely packed crowd and walked
down the aisle to the front he was given an ovation which con-
216
THE BREAKING OF THE DEADLOCK.
tinned for several minutes. Five minutes later, Judge Hamlin
came in, closely followed by Colonel Lowden — both receiving
enthusiastic ovations.
It was now past the time for the convention to open. The
candidates and the party leaders were all in their places, ready
for their respective parts in what they supposed to be the closing
act of the great drama. Chairman Cannon was in his place on
the platform. Distinguished leaders of the party sat around
COL. JAMES R. B. \ "AN CLEAVE.
(SPRINGFIELD.)
PROMINENT IN POLITICS ONE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF THE STATE CONVENTION
OF 1904 CALLED MOST OF THE ROLLS ON BALLOTS FOR GOVERNOR.
Born at Knoxville, Illinois, October 9, 1853, and grew up in tlie atmosphere that
surrounded that headquarters of the " Underground Railroad." He was educated at
Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, and upon leaving that institution traveled through
the South during the HayesTildcn presidential campaign as correspondent of the New
York Herald and the Chicago Times. lie helped to organize the original Blaine Club
in Chicago in 1880 and was secretary of that organization. After the nomination of
Garfield in that year, Mr. VanCleave took charge of the records and acted as Mr.
Garfield's secretary at Mentor, Ohio, until the regular secretaries took charge. Mr.
VanCleave was enrolling and engrossing clerk of the Senate during the Thirty-second
General -Vssembly and acted as secretary for the late Senator William J. Campbell.
He was elected City Clerk of Chicago in 1891 and served one term. He was appointed
State Insurance Superintendent by Governor Tanner in 1897. He retired from that
office in 1901. He was also a member of Governor Tanner's military staff.
PART TWO: THE CONVENTION.
217
him — Senators Cullom and Hopkins, former Governor Joseph
W. Fifer, U. S. Marshal John C. Ames, U. S. Marshal Charles
P. Hitch, U. S. District Judge J. Otis Humphrey, U. S. District
Attorney S. H. Bethea, Comptroller of the Currency William Bar-
ret Ridgely and several others. Of the six candidates for Gov-
ernor, only one took a seat on the platform. This was Colonel War-
ner, who occupied a seat near the chairman, and looked placidly
out over the convention.
From a photograph by Alderman Frank L. Race, of Chicago.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT \VM. J. COOKE, C. LICHTENBERGER, JR., AND COLONEL WM. J.
MOXLEY ALL OF CHICAGO.
The other candidates for Governor were scattered here and
there through the convention. Governor Yates, as on the pre-
vious day, sat on the aisle with the Morgan county delegation,
on the front row of chairs. Back of him, perhaps a dozen rows,
with the Douglas county delegation, sat Attorney-General Ham-
lin. Mr. Deneen, Colonel Lowden and Mr. Sherman, in the
opening hour, were moving hither and thither through the hall.
218 THE BREAKING OF THE DEADLOCK.
Most of the time ^^Ir. Deneen was in the room which had been
assigned to him as an ofifice or conference room, in the south-
east corner of the hall ; occasionally he moved about on the outer
edges, conferring with delegates or with his lieutenants. Colonel
Lowden mixed freely with the delegates. Judge Sherman, when
not moving about, sat with the AIcDonough county delegation
half-way back from the front, and off to the Speaker's left.
John H. Pierce, who had not yet committed himself as to
whether or not he was to be a candidate, sat with the Henry
county delegation.
"UNCLE JOE" GETS A MEGAPHONE.
It was 10 :20 when " Uncle Joe " Cannon at length arose to
convene the convention. The experience of the previous day —
the immensity of the hall and the confusion that had prevailed
much of the time — had seriously taxed his voice : and now
he stood before the convention with a megaphone in his hand.
Pounding with his gavel until the buzz of conversation had died
away, he lifted the megaphone to his mouth and commanded
the convention to be in order. Using the megaphone was evi-
dently a new experience for the Speaker of the National House,
and there was occasional laughter as he accidentally talked out-
side of it. Speaking through the megaphone, he said:
The Chair desires to say that in the crowded condition of gentlemen
upon the floor and spectators in the galleries, the enthusiasm of all could
be manifested later on for the respective candidates of their choice — that
the enthusiasm of men where the delegates ought to be alone must be
curbed, so that the vote may be given and the business of the convention
transacted.
The Chair desires to say that if it shall prove, during the progress of
this convention, that order can not be maintained so that the delegates of
the convention can transact its business in order and in an orderly manner,
the Chair will exercise that authority that resides necessarily with the
chairman of all great bodies, to adjourn upon his own motion the delegates
composing this convention to the hall of the House of Representatives, with
the order that nobody shall be admitted except the delegates, officials of
the convention and the press. Let us move off, gentlemen of the conven-
tion, and do our business wisely and according to our best judgment, not
forgetting (and this is without regard to an^-body's candidacy) that this
is but one means of presenting a ticket to receive votes next fall.
[Laughter.! The next thing in order will be a report from the Committee
on Credentials. [Applause.]
Judge Elbridge Hanecy, chairman of the Committee on Cre-
dentials, was already on the platform and as Chairman Cannon
recognized him he arose and read the report of the committee.
PART TWO: THE CONVENTION.
219
the substance of which was already known to the leaders. There
had been humors of a contest over the adoption of the report of
the committee, but if opposition had been contemplated, it bad
been abandoned ; for when Judge Hanecy finished the reading
of the report and Chairman Cannon, after a brief pause, put it to
a viva voce vote of the convention, there was not a single nega-
tive vote, and the report was declared unanimously adopted.
The report of the committee with regard to the several con-
tests confirmed the action of the State Central Committee in seat-
ing the Yates and Lowden delegates in the eleven counties which
HON. JOHN H. MILLER.
(mc'leansboro.)
speaker of the house in the forty-third general assembly prominent in
politics.
Born near Enfield, Illinois, and graduated from Lincoln University with the class
of '71. For a number of years after his graduation he taught in various schools in
Indiana and Illinois and in 1879 embarked in the hardware business in Enfield. He
later removed to McLeansboro, continuing in the same line of business. In 1893 he
organized the People's Bank, of which institution he is now President. He has been
chairman of the Republican County Central Committee for eight years and a member of
the State Committee for si.x years. He was elected to the House of Representatives in
1900 and reelected in 1902, serving as Speaker of the House during the session of 1903.
220 THE BREAKING OF THE DEADLOCK.
had sent contesting delegations. The language of the report
regarding these contests was as follows :
That your committee took up the contests in each of the said last-
mentioned counties separately and heard the evidence and arguments of
the respective parties in interest, and after hearing all of the evidence and
arguments of representative counsel and parties in each of said cases, by
a majority vote finds that the sitting delegates from each of the last-
mentioned counties as listed by the Republican State Central Committee
for the temporary roll-call of this convention are the duly elected delegates
from said last-mentioned counties.
The temporary roll of delegates, therefore, became the per-
manent one. The committee found, however, that Cook county
was entitled to three more delegates than had been accredited it
in the call for the convention — one in the Third Ward and two
in the Third Commissioners' District.
The adoption of the following resolution was recommended
by the committee and embodied in its report:
Resolved, That in case a vacancy occurs in this convention, the dele-
gates present in such delegation shall cast the full vote of such delegation.
The convention then proceeded rapidly to perfect its per-
manent organization. The report of the Committee on Permanent
Organization and Rules was presented by H. D. Judson, of Knox
county, its chairman, recommending that " the temporary organi-
zation of this convention be the permanent organization, and that
the rules of the National House of Representatives govern its
proceedings." Mr. Judson put the motion to the convention,
and it was carried without a dissenting vote.
S. H. Bethea, of Lee county, chairman of the Committee to
Select Delegates at Large to the National Convention, and Presi-
dential Electors at Large, reported the following:
Delegates at Large — Senator Shelby M. Cullom, Senator Albert J.
Hopkins, Speaker Joseph G. Cannon and Governor Richard Yates.
Alternates — Hon. W. A. Northcott, Col. A. C. Matthews, Paul Mor-
ton and Samuel Insull.
Electors at Large — Lot Brown and Wm. J. Moxley.
The report of the committee was adopted.
Then ex-Congressman Walter Reeves, chairman of the Com-
mittee on Resolutions, was recognized, and presented the plat-
form, which, as he stood alongside of Chairman Cannon, he read
to the convention. The reading of the platform elicited some
enthusiasm. There were cheers at the mention of the names of
Roosevelt, Cullom, Hopkins, Cannon and Hitt. But the biggest
PART TWO: THE CONVENTION.
221
demonstration came with the mention of the name of Governor
Yates, his followers rising and sending forth deafening cheers.
When Mr. Reeves had concluded the reading of the platform,
he said :
I am directed also to state informally that in the matter of the adop-
tion of a constitution for the party, such as has been prepared by a com-
mittee of gentlemen, to say to you that the Committee on Resolutions
could not take up that matter at this time, for want of time to consider it.
We have no recommendation upon that subject to make, further than to
suggest that it would probably be well for this convention to appoint a
committee to consider that question and report to the next State conven-
tion. I move the adoption of this report.
JUDGE ALONZO K. VICKERS.
(VIENNA.)
A MEMBER OF THE HAMLIN STEERING COMMITTEE-
PROMINENT IK POLITICS.
Born near Metropolis, Massac county, September 25, 1853. He received his educa-
tion in the common schools of Massac county and in the Metropolis high school. At
the ape of nineteen he began teaching school and followed this vocation for six years,
reading law meanwhile under the direction of Judge R. W. McCartney of Metropolis.
In 1879 he moved to Vienna and established the Vienna Times. In 1886 he was
elected for a term in the State Legislature and five years later was elected _ to the
circuit bench in the First Judicial Circuit, being reelected without opposition in 1897
and 1903. In the latter year he was assigned by the Supreme Court to the Appellate
bench of the Second Circuit. He has taken an active and influential part in politics in
Southern Illinois for many years. He was a strong friend and supporter of Judge
Hamlin in the gubernatorial contest and at the State Convention was a member of the
Hamlin Steering Committee.
222 THE BREAKING OF THE DEADLOCK.
The motion to adopt the platform prevailed unanimously.
Then the chairman recognized John J. Brown, of Fayette county,
who offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the congressional districts be called in their order for
the presentation of candidates for the respective State offices, according to
the call made by the State Central Committee, and that as the names of
such candidates shall be presented there shall be no speeches made.
The reading of this resolution was received with applause.
There was evident satisfaction with the provision cutting out
nominating speeches. It had been customary from time imme-
morial for eulogistic speeches to be made in nominating candi-
dates for the high office of Governor. But the convention was in
no mood now for oratorical displays. Any forensic tribute would
have been meaningless and impressionless and an unpardonable
waste of time. If a half-dozen of the greatest political orators
that the State ever had produced — Ingersoll, Oglesby, " War
Governor " Yates, E. D. Baker, or any of the brilliant galaxy
that had given fame to the oratory of the Prairie State — had
appeared in the convention and made the most eloquent appeals
of w'hich they were capable, they w^ould have evoked applause
and cheers — but not a single vote would have been changed. It
was the universal feeling in the convention that this was a time
for action, not for the flowers of oratory.
PRECAUTION AGAINST A "STAMPEDE."
Nor was there to be a " stampede " to any candidate, such
as had been witnessed occasionally in former conventions. It
was recalled that four years earlier at Peoria the convention had
been stampeded to Richard Yates through an extensive changing
of votes before the announcement of the result of the third bal-
lot. Nobody now was anxious for a stampede — not even the
Governor himself, who had been the beneficiary of the historic
stampede of 1900. There were, therefore, only a few faint
" noes " when the following resolution, offered by Judge Richard
S. Farrand, of Lee county, was put to a vote and declared adopted :
Resolved, That no change of vote shall be permitted by any delegate or
delegates during the roll-call, or after the same, and that immediately upon
the close of such roll-call the secretary shall announce the vote ; and
immediately upon such announcement the secretary shall again proceed
to call the roll in case no nomination has been made.
PART TWO: THE CONVENTION.
223
At once the secretary began the calling of the Congressional
districts, beginning with the first, for the nommation of candi-
dates for Governor. The candidates were placed in nomination
as follows :
Frank O. Lowden, by Judge Henry D. Laughlin, of the First
Congressional District (Chicago).
Charles S. Deneen, by State Treasurer Fred A. Busse, ninth
district (Chicago).
From a photograph by J. Ellsworth Hare, staff photographer Chicago Inter Ocean.
GOVERNOR YATES ENTERING CONVENTION HALL.
L. Y. Sherman, by State Senator O. F. Berry, of Carthage.
H. J. Hamlin, by Walter C. Headen, of Shelbyville.
Vespasian Warner, by Judge F. M. Shonkwiler, of Monti-
cello.
Governor Richard Yates, by Mayor John R. Davis, of Jack-
sonville.
The nominations were seconded by a number of districts.
The roll of the counties was then called for the first ballot.
224 THE BREAKING OP THE DEADLOCK.
On the first call of Bureau county the vote was two short of the
number to which the county was entitled. A delegate from
Bureau challenged the vote, and the roll of the individual dole-