Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-21
ILLINOIS POLITICS
Mr.. Cullom Has a Clear Field fM
the Senatorship.
DEMOCRATS ALL PULLING TOGEfHEB
Messrs. Morrison and Stevenson az
Presidential Possibilities.
WHAT THEIR FRIENDS SAY

The presence in town Of ex-Congressman
George R. Davis of Chicago brings up dis
cussion of the Illinois senatorship, which.
1t seems to be believed now will again go
to Mr.. Cullom without further contest. Mr..
Davis toward whom for awhile the anti
Cullom people were looking, has announced
that he is no longer to be considered in the
race, and this, as the Cullom men assert,
dlsposes of the last possibility of serious
opposition to their favorite.
The movement against Mr. Cullom had
its origin in the city of Chicago. Both of
the Illinois Senators being from Spring.
field, Chicago contended that one of the
places should be assigned to another por-
ton of the state, and that, in this division,
the claims of the metropolis were para
mount to all others. In turn, therefore,
the names of ex-Congressman Mason, Ed
itor MediIl of the Chicago Tribune and
Mr.. Davis were all brought forward. The
opposition, however. failed to crystalline
around any one of them, and each in turn
drew out of the race. Mr.. Cullom appears
now to have a clear field. The election viii
take place next month, and the new tern
will begin in March.
Looking to Gen. PaImer's Seat.
But while Mr.. Davis is no longer in Mr.
Cullom's way, 1t is not thought that he has
given over his aspirations to come to the
Senate. In two years a successor to Gen.
Palmer viii have to be selected and the
prediction is made that Mr.. Davis will be
In that rGce. The republicans of Illinois
are in high feather over their sweeping
victory last month, and are confident of
their ability to capture the Palmer seat.
Then the claims of Chicago to one of the
senatorships can be brought forward with
renewed and increased force, and Mr.. Davis
and other ambitious PARTY leaders living
fhara cot nn 80 H. A,1l
take the prize in case the republicans win
1t.
Democrats Hopeful.
But while the republicans are disposins
Of the future in this way, the Illinois dem.
ocrats have by no means surrendered. They
are emerging slowly, one by one, from last
months wreck and some of them believe
1t is possible for<he party to pull itself to.
gether in time to make a winning fight in
1896 in the sucker state. They are ambi-
tious, even, to furnish the party at large
with its presidential candidate next time.
And the very scope of the program will
insure a thorough arousing of the party
spirit in the state from the northern line
to thesOhio river.
Col. MorrisOn's Popularity.
Rumblings are already heard of both the
Morrison and the Stevenson presidential
booms. The Stars dispatch from Illinois
the other day announcing that the friends
of Col. Morrison at home were already
moving in his behalf was read with inter.
est in Washington, and, although pleas.
antly kissed off, by Col. Morrison him.
self when Intercepted on the point is still
the subject of much comment in political
circles. Col. Morrison, though not in polit-
ical office now, has large number of
friends and admirers among the old line
democrats, and there are men of in
fluence on the list who earnestly desire his
nomination for President, and are sounding
sentiment on the subject.
They concede Mr.. Stevensons popularity
and personal excellence, but they stoutly
hold that If the democracy goes to Illinois
for her national standard bearer next time.
Col. Morrison should be selected. His par
ty leadership, they claim, antedates that Of
Mr.. Stevenson, and is identified they are
fond of repe ating, with the most thorough,
though Intellectual, efforts ever put forth
by the national democracy in Congress to
revise the tariff on revenue lines This rec
ord, they believe. would prove of great
value to the party in the national contest
approaching, and, coupled with Col Nor
risons record as a soldier and citizen,
would carry the day at the polls.
The Claims of Mr.. Stevenson.
The friends of Mr.. Stevenson. on the 9TH
er hand, are unable to see how the Vice
President car be set aside for anybody II
the democratic nomination is to go west In
1896. They do not con6ne their COMPARE
sons to Illinois, but, pointing to the whole
section on the other side of the Alleghenies,
declare that on every account Mr.. Steven
son is the strongest democrat to be found
there. He is thought to be thoroughly
representative of the west, both on the
tariff and the money questions, and his
friends assert that he is not identified In
any way with any of the policies of the
administration upon which the people pass
ed adversely at the polls last month. He
3 carving himself present Office n
tirely to their satisfaction, and they are
noting at all times the shifting and the
meaning of all currents Of presidential talk
and maneuvering.
There is not, so far. at least on the sur
face, any ill-feeling between the Morrison
and the Stevenson forces but the rivalry is
growing daily, and must become in time
sharp and spirited. If II escapes becoming
more than that, 1t will be, IL Is thought.
solely because of the admirable and friend
ly pose of the two leaders themselves.