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Caption: Book - History of the University (Nevins)
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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY WINS 39 the backers of the canal project then pending for the improvement of the Illinois-Michigan canal and its extension to the Mississippi near Bock Island. He also redoubled his entertaining in Springfield, and he had his committee hire a special train to take the whole House over to Urbana-Champaign to inspect the proposed site, and entertained it there at dinner. His use of money bred a general whisper that he was guilty of bribery, and Prof. Turner, in angry desperation, finally came to him and threatened to have him called before the bar of the House and put upon his oath that he was not using improper means. Griggs stoutly denied any illegal practices, and the Jacksonville members, seeing how impolitic unsupported accusations would be, restrained Turner. The culmination of the contest came on the afternoon and evening of February 20. Epler first put Jacksonville's fortunes to the test by moving that section eleven be stricken out and one for the- location of the University in that center substituted. The motion was defeated. That night the halls and galleries were full, and when the debate reopened, Gov. Oglesby and Attorney General Ingersoll, in an impressive pause, entered and took seats near Griggs in token of their support of him. The amendments for Bloomington and Lincoln were successively called up, and defeated. Griggs then moved that the bill for Urbana-Champaign be put upon its passage, and, after,he had spoken briefly in its favor, it was carried by a vote So heavy— 67 to 10—that not merely the Governor and others, but even the members from Jacksonville, crowded around him to congratulate him. Passage in the Senate, where Tincher of Danville had the measure in charge, followed as a matter of course, though here one bitter member
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