New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-28

ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS UNITED AND
HARMONIOUS
VICTORY IN ELEVEN DISTRICTS REGARDED AS
Assl'RED-FoUR DEMOCRATIC AND
SEVEN DOUBTFUL.
[nY TELEGRAPH TO THE rarsuxE.I

marked the politics OF Illinois Tor some years
rast-fuctuations due in part to general causes
in part to the enormous evanston OF this city's
voting power. with It's varied and nl-digested
clements Of population. No great municipality
can show among its voters more diversties %
origin and nationality; in none is the task ~
assmating the elements OF citizenship more
exacting and incessant with party pluralites
IN this city and county varying as much as
a hundred thousand votes within four years 1t
Is not surprising that the equilibrium OF politics
In the State should be so rudey and frequently
disturbed. In 1892 Cook County gave Mr.. Cleve-
land a plurality over General Harrison for the
Presidency Of 33.3j0-about six thousand more
than the plurality by which the Democratic cleo
toral ticket carried the State. Two years ago
Major McKiney's plurality in this county
69.913-a change Of 10000 votes. Gains In the
rest Of the State were only 3S,VoO, swelling the
total Republican plurality to $4,000 In the
four years from 1892 to 1896 the number OF
votes cast here for President had risen from
281. 800 to 19GOs-a total 1000 greater than
that reached in 1896 in the city and county OF
Ncw-York.
Such sudden and unusual additions 10 any
''0ting population must have settling ef-
fo,. on politician effect which has been felt
her, in recent years In violent reversas Of SEN
general election has been held since 1895.
that the drift Of political sentiment for the last
two years remains in great measure underlined
The election of a Democratic Mayor last fall
has been taken by some to fOreshadow local
anti Republican reaction this year. But the
forces which gave the Republican electoral
ticket its victory in 1896 were wholly divided In
the Mayoralty campaign of 1897. and the Free
Silver Democratic candidate owed his success
TO the appearance Of no less than three anti
silver rivals in the field.
no DIsSENSIONS AMONG REPUBLICANS
Conditions this year. both in the city and
throughout the state, seem not to differ ma
terially from those observable all the
Middle West. The Republican party in Illinois
was never more united and harmonious. thor
oughy satisfied with the policies and conduct
Of the National Administration, and confronted
with no serious or active Democratic OF position.
TIL. chief dangers which threaten party sue
cess are overconfdence and apathy. The Re-
publican managers In this city had genuine
scare ten days or more ago when they discovered
that on the first of the two days Of registra-
ton only 1888 voters had put their names
on the polling books Two years ago over
2g3 900 had registered the first day BY
special effort some of the shrinkage was made
up last Tuesday when l30061 denquents went
to the polls The total registration-726I AS.
only $4,000 less than that Of 1s.'6-has sent
Republican spirits up again, for II seems to
indicate that in Cook County. at least. an in
terest is felt in the coming election. rather I'M
usual in a political of year" So far few
political meetings have been held in Chicago.
but Governor Tanner and other Republican
leaders are making an 1--WE stumpng CAM
opd horn n
State.
The Democratic organization is divided into
two factions-one, under Ex-Governor Altgeld.
seeking 10 keep alive the free-coinage issue.
and the other, under Mayor Harrison, trying
10 bring newer and more coorless questions to
the fore. In most Of the Congress districts.
however. in which there IS a prospect OF Demo-
cratic success the free-coinage wing has man.
aged to dictate the nominations
Under the Apportonment act of 1871 Illinois
elects twenty-five Representatives In the lower
house Of Congress. In 1894 twenty Of the Rep
resentatives chosen were Republicans and two
were DerIocrats--one of the latter losing his
seat subsequently on recount OF the votes. In
the present House the delegation is composed OF
seventeen Republicans and five Democrats
Normally the Democratic share OF representa-
ton should be from six to ten seats, so that the
loss next month Of two or three districts now
held by Republicans need cause no astonish-
ment The Republican managers will be salts
fed. indeed. If they retain fifteen of the twenty
two seats at the approaching election.
THE CHICAGO DISTRICTS.
Seven districts. practically. are included in this
city and county. All were carried by Republi-
can nominees two years ago. but at least four
OF them are now classed doubtful. In the
lid Hugh r. Belknap son Of the former Secre-
tary Of War. has only been elected by slender
pluralties. A recount gave him the seat In 1874
and in 1896 he beat his opponent by only oO
The chances are heavily against him In this
campaign. William Lorimer had plurality OF
nearly 1000 two years ago in the lid. West
Side district. But the constituency is an I'M
certain one and Mr.. Lorimer has been forced
to make as hot a fight as possible for reelection
He has an excellent prospect Of success
At a bye,electon last year Henry s. Boutell
carried the With District by a plurality of So2
He is again a candidate. and has an even
chance to hold mis- seat Daniel w. Mills. in the
WITH District had margin Of 2llO votes In
1896. The registration has fallen Off this year
however in the chief Republican ward. the
Twelfth and the result Of the fight there Is now
somewhat In doubt. The Ist, Vth and With
districts represented by J. Il. Mann George r.
White and George f.. Foss. are consistently Re-
publican by safe pluralities.
REPUBLICAN sTRONGHOLDs.
The With. IXth. Xth. XIth. Xllth, Hlllth
and XIVth districts. embracing practically mo
northern half OF the State have long been he-
publican strongholds. From them have come
chiefly the who have given the ILLINOIS
delegation in the House its character and inhu-
ence. The With has returned Alfred J. HOP
kins to Congress seven times: the lAth mas
~ 81
years; from the XIIth Joseph O. Cannon mas
been coming to Washington, with single III
terval since 1872 Long experience has given
these veterans status and leadership Mr. Cam
non having risen TO the Craftsmanship OF the
co.n.,,ittoa IN Annrnnri lions Mr. uitt 10 The