Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-30
Illinois Politics.

Chicago Record.
Unless indications are utterly un-
reliable the democrats of Cook coun-.
ty are on the verge OF another family,
quarrel.
Ordinarily democratic quarrels in
this county have been of little con-
Germ to the general public and have
involved no great questions of i'm
portance. The present contention.
however, is given dignity by the
fact that the democracy is now in
trenehed IN the natio nal, state and
local offices, and it amounts to a
quarrel not only among local leaders,
but among the officials of the several
branches. OF government. The real
bone of contention is the United
States senatorShip. f s.t, .,--. l., Fl
The office of governor of Illinois
has been looked on for years BY am
bilious politicians as NJ ante room OF
the United States senate. Coy. Alt
geld now holds to the belief that he
is the logical heir to a seat in con-
gress. However, the policy of the
democratic party has been to de-
nounce the practice of making sena-
tors OF governors before the -expira-
ton of their terms. Gov. Altgeld is,
therefore. estopped from aspiring to
the position now occupied Senator
Cullom.
But. while the governor thinks that
he may not properly aspire to be the
successor of Senator Cullom. he looks
forward hopefully to the possibility
OF succeeding Senator Palmer. whose
term will expire March 4. 1897. a
date following the expiration of the
official term of Gov. Altgeld. His
ambition to succeed Senator Palmer
has caused an estrangement between
the democratic senator and The gov
ernor. This feeling has been shown
by the determined efforts of Senator
Palmer to prevent The appointment
to federal offices bv President Cleye-
land OF persons who have the sup
port OF friends of Gov. Altgeld.
Gov. Altgeld being out OF the race
for Senator -Cullom's seat. and the
senatorship by geographical rule be-
longing TO Chicago, the situation eX-
tends an invitation---if any invitation
was needed-for Mayor Harrison to
cutter the race. The mayor is now
endeayoring TO capture the party out
posts with view to cor trolling the
delegation from this county to next
wears state convention, which in all
probability viii nominate the partv's
candidate for United States senator.
Should Mayor Harrison succeed in
attaining the position low held by
Senator Culiom. Chicago would then
have the senator that is its due, and
Gov. Altgeld being Chicagoan, could
not hope to succeed Senator Palmer.
This state OF things has tended to
create an alliance between the forces
of Palmer, such as they are. and the
forces of Harrison, who is likely to
be potent in Cook county. This
combination is formed u make Har-
rison and Palmer the representatives
of Illinois in the United States SEN
ate. 4 " @ tf
Some doubt has existed as to whom
Gov. Altgeld and his allies desired to
elect to the United States senate in
place OF Senator Cullon. The sup
position has been that an alliance eT-
lists between the governor and Col.
William r. Morrison But the truth
is that at this time the incli-
nation of the Altgeld fiction is to-
ward x-Cungressman Benjamin T.
Gable. of Rock Island. To this ar
rangement. it is understood, Col.
Morrison willingly assents. That he
should do so is accounted for by n
conjecture that he expects TO obtain
the support o. the Illinois delegation
for president in 1896. The nominal
ton for governor will be at the dis
posal of the successful allies, and
thisctoo, may be given % southern
| Illinois. That would even up things
geographically should Gov. Altgeld be
nominated for United States senator.
The strife now beginning in the
democratic party of Illinois is not
likely to end until these questions
have been fought out and settled.