The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-08
SEVENTH DISTRICT.

That is the number of our congressional dis
ltrct and as ordinarily it gives from three to
six thousand republican majority, the polite
ians of that lk are beginning TO take quite
, lively interest in the fact that in few months
there is to be another congressional election.
While few papers, notably the Kendall Conn.,
Tn Record, Joliet Republscah and Morris Herdtd,
suggest the fairness of giving the present in
cumbent, Gen. Phil. C.. Hayes, second trial,
there are somewhere from dozen to forty
aspirants in the district that scout the idea as
absurd. Mr. Hayes, it is true, has conducted
himself with some prudence and thus TAR maze
"A fair record, committing no more plumbers IN
the matter of appointments than some of his
ADLER predecessors, and but one conspicuous
blundcr in cOngress-that of voting for an IN
genious amendment contrived by its enemies
to kill the silver BILL from which, however, he
made a hasty If not graceful retreat. Yet his
rivals say he was nominated two years ago only
as n makeshift because the convention was
unable to reconcile the differences between
ADLER and better men, and the understanding
was that he should be treated as such. There
fore Mr. Hayes may regard his denomination
as out of the question: unless, indeed, the disa
greements of his rivals shall again be the
making of him on account of his supposed in
significance
To name all his rival asprants for congress
ional honors would occupy more space than
we can afford to give the subject, as it would
require the publication of the names of large
proportion of all the republican voters OF the
district 1t happens that the district is, so to
speak, phenomenally barren of anything like
available leading mcn-so that, taking grade
or so above Gen. Hayes, the district has hun
dred or more aspiring republican politicians
who occupy intellectually nearly dead level,
any one of whom has right to regard him
self as Just as good as the other and with as
good right to run for congress. OF this "in-
Vulnerable throng" the following are slightly
lin advance of the others in stepping to the
front
/. Col Ralph Plumb, of Streator He was
a prominent candidate two years ago, and in
the hope of lettering his prospects "ate dirt
to the grcenbackcrs that did him more harm
than good As he has in no wise repented OF
that folly, it is drag on him still He has also
a railroad record, which, whether justly or
not is no matter, will be used effectively against
; him.
I ., DR.. J. C.. Corbus of Mendoza. Rather a
flight weight, and badly damaged in his race
with Fawcct Plumb four years ago for the
state senate. Hardly available even as amake-
SHIFT
3 /. g. Crooker, of Mendoza. "Loosh' is
not without ability, and is personally one OF
the most popular men in the district. But his
rivals say he lacks dignity
4. O. A.. Marshall, of Will county. He is
the present state senator from that district, and
as such occupies position of respectable me
docrity He is not regarded by his rivals as
y dangerous"
5. John A. Gillian, of Kendall county. John
in announcing himself as a candidate month
ago had the imprudencc to set out his platform
which never having been endorsed by a ma
tional convention of the party nor likely to be
. Injuries his prospects by leaving the faithful il
. doubt as to his orthodoxy. Still John is quite
= lawyer, and IL few years ago, in some SHARP
forensic encounters in the Kendall court witt
Tom Bowen, George Blake, and other notabIi
9 ties of the Ottawa bar, manifested considerable
g courage as well as gumption.
- 6. This category would be incomplete with
:, out the mention of William Cullen, of the OF
llt, wv N
), embarrassment; for, if we depreciate his oh
vious claims and merits it will be charged tC
>, professional rivalry; while if we do them jus
! ticc we shall be censured for overriding thu
= thing from professional esprit or pride. o
course editors have just the training needfu
to make good congressman, yet the trouble IL
. this case is, that the argument ID as good fo
Phil. c. Hayes as for Cullen, though the fac
>, that the latter is a veteran, while the other il
not should make some difference.
: There are few other republicans in the dis
trict, such as Judge McRoberts, Judge Ell
dredge, Cairo ID. Trimble and Charles Blan
chard, but being Of grade considerably abov,
IS tire "innumerable throng" above limited at
Il are hopclessy unavailable except on condition
q of stepping down to the level and entering int
"a a bitter scramble with that mob which o
~ course they won't think of.
i In the National G. b. L. Party" of the dis
if trict happily there is no such multiplicity o
: asplrants and conflicting claims to reconcile
d They have "old grcenbacks" himself, the Hon
d Alex Campbell, among them, and while HI
q lives no rival need apply.
y We shrink from the responsibility Of men
n tioning the names of respectable democrats il
Il this connection, and therefore defer any re
~ marks rs to the probable candidates on tina
IN side To another occasion.
= JOyESS DREAM.