Evening star., 1898-11-03
ILLINOIS SITUATION
Republicans Will Elect Fourteen of
Twenty-Four Congressman.
FIVE CONCEDED TO DEMOCRATS
Three Districts in Doubt and Claimed
by Both.
LEGISLATURE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE REPUBLICAN

and if is a good wear for indications In
the congressional fight the chances are now
that the republicans will lose not more
than two of the districts they now hold,
and they may be able to pull through with
out losing them.
Chcagos congressional battles are prob
ably more interesting than any in the
state. congressman here is frequently
rated lower in the scale of politics than an
alderman, while out in the state he ranks
next in Importance to the governor Many
times in Chicago the nominees for Congress
have been really inferior to those named
for aldermen. There are seven districts,
six of them almost entirely in the city, and
the other taking in one small adjoining
county. These districts were shaped by a
democratic apportionment. 1t was planned
to make five of them democratic, the other
two overwhelmingly republican. They are
all represented by republicans at present.
The first district is designated a silk
stocking neighborhood In 1894 it gave
21,O0o majority. and in 1896 2S,000 for the
republican nominee James R. Mann has
duced majority. Rcliin B. Organ, his op-
ponent, is a gold democrat-one of the two
nominated by the local silver machine. Or
gan is making d hOuse-to-hOuse canvass
and fighting as though he haG show to
win. This canvass is one of the features
of the campaign.
The second district was intended to he
democratic, but for the last two terms Will
liam L0rmer. the head of the local repuh-
lican machine, has held the seat. In 1896
he won by 1000, and in "a by 5000. This
year c. Porter Johnson. young democratic
lawyer, who made a good record for him
self in the legislature, but who has changed
his politics nine times in three years, is
giving Lorimer the fight of his life Lor-
inner will carry this district by from 1,0l9
to 5000. although it is normally democratic
by 5000.
In Bclknap's District.
The third was four years ago, considered
an absolutely safe democratic stronghold.
1t was then represented by Larry McGann.
Young Hugh Belknap asked the republicans
for the nomination and got it. When the
returns came in they showed McGann had
won by 30 votes Belknap contested the
seat, and when 4 recount showed - ma
jority for BelknaD, McGann promptly
signed and the republicans had the district.
Two years ago BelknaD won again by
about 800 votes. This year he is making a
hard fight. but the county and state or
ganlZat1onS have been unable to assist him
financially. and the district will proba bly,
go democratic again George p. Foster,
for years a police magistrate, and fairly
able lawyer, will get the seat. His major
itv will be small. however.
The fourth dis trict is also promised tho
de91ocrdfG. and is practically conceded
them by thei~ opponents. D. w. Mills, the
present member from that district was
elected by about 1,S00 votes, and has not
been at all popular. Thomas Cusack for
many years vice president of the board of
education, and business man, is mis- op-
ponent, am his popularity will undoubtedly
carry him through by from 1000 to 5000
votes.
Tho fifth district should be democratic al
though George f. White, republican, has
had two terms in succession. This year he
was rcnomiEated, and would have been de-
feated except for factional fight amon,
the democrats. Two conventions were held
and two nominations made. The fight drag
ged along until last week. when E. T.
NoOnan was declared the legal nominee by
the election board, but he has started his
canvass so late there is positively no hope
for him White will win by about 1000 to
1000.
In the sixth district Henry S. Bouteu
elected last fall to fill the vacancy causeJ
by the death of Edward D. Cooke has
proven exceedingly popular. and his people
have great confidence in him He is looked
to to sooner or later show the nation that
Chicago can occasionally send to Washing
ton representative worthy of her. Boutel
has made fine canvass and has taken an
advanced and popular position on expan-
son, and he will win over Emil Hoechster
his opponent by rot less than 1900 major
1ty. The district was formerly normally
democratic.
In the seventh district there is a regular
republican majority of 14,G00 which was
two years ago increased to 10000 1t is 50
much of sure thing for the republicans
George Edmund Foss, the present repre-
sentative.
The Country Districts.
Inc eighth is Representative Hopkins
district, safely republican by from 70 GOO TO
1000 and he will be returned for another
term, to enable him to continue to nurse his
gubernatoria! boom. The state machine
prefers that he nurture it in Washington
rather than at home.
u
ninth district where he won by II ono two
years ago, anc by 1900 in 1894 The onno-
sition to min this year is weaker than If
mas ever been, and his campaign has been
very quiet. ="
The tenth will again return George w
in 1894. 'i'' i''ooo
The eleventh is in the midst Of bis
tight. Ex-Attorney General NJ II M,lonaE
Is the democratic nominee and his cam
paigh is being made entirely on the sick
soioier issue ard the mistakes of the ad-
n1nlstratol in the war. He went 10 Porto
Rico as a frienC of the Sd Illinois Regiment
ana iayished money and attentions on the
boys- The soldiers have written 10 their
came home to make his congressional fent
on the strength of this. Walter Reeves. The
present Tepfese ntative, will probably win in
srlte OF . This. as Moloney has a majority of
ABOUT o,0oO tC overcome.
Representative Cannon's district tho
Nellth, IS always republican by about
lo,Uo' and he claims his reelection by The
usual majority. The fight against him is
Gnlmportant, and he has spent the most of
h;s tlme during the campaign speaking for
the state committee in more doubtful dis
tricts. '
Fight on Mr.. Warner.
Vcspasian Warner will be returned from,
the thirteenth district. but it will not be
the fault of the G. A. r. men and disan
pointed office seekers. These two classes
have formed a faction against him on ac-
count of his distribution of the post offices
in his district and they are fighting to the
lest of their ability. But Warner has a
majority of from 1900 to 5000 back of him
ard is perfectly safe, although his majority
may be reduced slightly.
Representative Graft, in the fourteenth Or
Peoria district. has big fight on his
hands. and up to a fortnight ago the re-
publican state committee had slmc st given
up hope of electing him. Charles W.
Barnes is running against him. man very
popular and able. and he carried Graft off
his feet early in the campaign. The re-
cent labor troubles have helped Graft out
however, and his district is now considered
safe by a few hundred votes.
The fifteenth. or Quincy district now
represented by Benjamin F. Marsh ire