Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-26
Trouble Likely in Choosing Senator
Palmer's Successor.
KNOWN CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD
William E. Mason, Alderman Mad
den and the Chicago Machine.
MAY BE TWO CHOSEN


| legislature which meets in January will
| choose a successor to John NJ Palmer It is
| overwhelmingly republican in both branch
| IS and the caucus nomina lion will insure
election. The candidates are numerous cid
the contention Is becoming a very otter
| one. Whoever is chosen the scars are
likely to remain and to be shown in future
| campaigns. The national administration
that is soon to be has a delicate task in
keeping from being drawn into the con-
| test.
The course of opposing politics has for
| the last six years given Springfield both
| Senators. When Senator Cullom was re-
| elected two years ago there was an implied
understanding that II the republicans Tad
| the legislature when Senator Palmer's
| term expired his successor should be from
| the northern part Of the state. BY the
northern part the Chicago politicians I'M
derstood Chicago. Those from the cut
lying counties did not SO understand 1t.
Moreover, they had a lively notion that
the rival ambitions in Chicago might pre-
vent any agreement on one man ami in this
| contingency 1T might happen that the
country members would end the bicker-
ings by indicating preference for an out
slider. So 1t comes that the field is not
| limited to the big city.
The Known Candidates.
! men VIM. E. Mason and George E. Adams.
ex-Gov. John NJ Hamilton and Alderman
| Martin B. Madden Of Chicago; Congress
men Joseph G. Cannon, Robert R. hitt
| and A. J. Hopkins, Clark E. Carr, ex-
minister to Denmark and w. J. Calhoun.
Mr.. Calhoun is q townsman of Reprasen-
| tative Cannon and his candidacy is condi-
| tional. The same might be said of Rep
resentatfve Hopkins, who Is waiting de-
velopments to see whether the Chicago
mac hine, with which he has maintained
| friendly relations though 1t opposed him
| for governor. will be able to agree on its
| man The other men are in the fight re-
gardless of contingencies.
The opposing factions at present are
most clearly shown in the candidates. OF
Mason and Madden. When President Har-
| rison declined to appoint BILLY" Mason
| to the federal bench because his tempeca-
ment was unsuited to the judiciary Mr..
Mason announced that he would wipe out
| the stigma Of being joker by handing his
| name down to posterity as Senator VIM
| E. Mason
He has been at it ever since. and has
| campaigned in every township In the state
He opposed Senator Culom two years ago.
| and, when beaten. opened his canvass for
| the succession to Senator Palmer. Mr.
Mason enjoys great personal popularity as
a speaker, and is a general favorfte with
Illinois republicans. Many OF the conven-
| lions. in nominating members of the legfs-
| lature, Endorsed him, while pledges were
made by the nominees Of conventions which
passed no resolutions on the senatorship.
Outside of Chicago he has more supporters
than any two of the other candidates. In
| the city, however. he is weak. He also
lacks the faculty of political organization,
| and it has usually been The case that his
| forces melted away under the influence Of
more skillful politicians. This year he has
| a stronger backing Of public sentiment. A
newspaper ballot shows that he is the
favorite, and his strength may hold to-
| Qether better Mr. Mason VIC ha mir
of McKinley'S nomination, and was the
| author of the saying that nobody was for
| Mckinley except the people" That say
| ing had peculiar effect in Illinois, where
the people moved down the leaders or
| bosses.
| Madden's Ambition.
! Alderman Morton B. Madden is a man of
| great native force. He is strong in munich
| pal affairs. but is without experience in
| national politics. 1t is dizzy leap up
ward from the Chicago common council
to the United States Senate. yet Alderman
Madden does not hesitate to attempt 1t.
He is one of the cogs in the Chicago repub-
! hcan machine, which in its sphere is a
| more marvellous piece of political mecnan-
| Ism than Ia Tammany. The combination
was formed six years ago. With the ex-
ception of Madden. its leaders have all
gained the objects of their ambition. VIM
| Lartmer is in Congress, and is the most
| pow erful factor in local politics. T. N.
Jameson is the Illinois member of the ma
| tional committee. and has recently been
elected to lucrative Office Henry L.
Hertz Is state treasurer-elect while other
| men who were in the original movement
| are filling the best places which are to be
had Mr.. Madden alone Is waiting to pluck
the fruit which he has watched ripen and
| mature.
1t is an open question how hearty the
disposition Is of the machine to carry out
the aldermans ambition. In a political
hn rtCx &c
! and reform elements in the city are bit
| terly opposed to him. There is also pointed
opposition within the party. which is fos-
| tered by the riva. candidates. If he is
| nominated by the republican caucus the
probability is that the tension will be too
| great to be sustained, cAnd the loss of a
republican mayor Of Chicago IN the spring
will be almost inevitable. An opposition
| will grow up which may permanently divide
the party. and which will be certain to
| embarrass Governor Tanners state ad-
ministration. Mr.. Tanner owed his nomi-
| nation to the Chicago machine The in
| huence of his administration viii be exerted
| to the election Of its candidate for Senator
| and this influence will be very great In the
legislature. A hint has been thrown out
| that Tanner will antagonize Madden hut N
finds few believers. The most he could do
would be to remain passive and whatever
! his other faults, Mr.. Tanner is not the
man to ignore his political obligations He
probably sees the danger incurred in PRESS
| ing Alderman Madden against the sentt.
| ment of the Independent republicans Mr
Tanner himself ran $1,000 behind McKin-
| ley at time when state and local issues
| were almost lost sight of in the intensity of
| the national contest. Nevertheless, IL the
Chicago organization wills that 1t shall he
Alderman Madden, Governor Tanner win
| stand by Madden.
Madden May Withdraw.
Some observant politicians believe that
ultimately the Chicago leaders will per-
| suade Mr.. Madden to withdraw his candf-
| dacy. 1t is easy for the boys who have
| had plum pudding to explain to a hungry
| companion that moro plums will be bad
| for their digestion, and he must appease
his hunger at some other time. Those who
believe this kind Of persuasion will be at
tempted successfully with Mr. Madden are
| figuring on other candidates. Ex-Congress
man George E. Adams has the BACKING Of
the business interests Of Chicago. and is
strong with the republicans of the state
though he lacks organization. He wouId
come nearer making the ideal Senator than
his competitors from the city. Ex-C;ov
ernor Hamilton has stood midway between
the factions. yet he is not a decisive factor
and there would be little politics in choos.
ing him.
Hit and Cannon.