Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22
WON'T BE SHAKEN OFF
Altgeld an Old Man of the Sea to
Illinois Democrats.
FRACTIONAL FIGHT In CHICAGO
Windy City's Political Vagaries
Make State Doubtful.
POINT OF RECENT MEETING

POINT OF RECENT MEETING
Special Corresp phdencc of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO, July 20, 1899
They have a notion here in Illinois that
this is a pivotal state. Both parties en-
courage the notion. 1t gives them impor
lance in national conventions and in cam
pa!gns. 1t insures consideration from cam
didates. In the last twenty-four hours I
have been reminded by score of demo-
cratic and republican politicians that ILL
nois is doubtful ground. Now, this is not
quite correct. Illinois is a republican state,
but the republicans sometimes have to
fight in order to hold it. The possibility of
occasionally capturing it gives hopes to all
the surrounding democrats.
If the hopeful and trustful eastern demo-
Gratis who fooled themselves into thinking
there was a chance to organize an anti
Bryan movement had made Roadway they
Mich gan and Wisconsin. They have not
made Roadway. Instead, they have lost
their foothald and tumbled into the pit
which they dug for other people. But their
efforts Were rightly directed. To gain con-
troll of the empire state of the west was the
proper strategy.
1t is the big city of Chicago which en-
ab,es the politicians TO say that Illinois
is doubtful. In the country districts little
shifting of party sentiment takes place
But Chicago, with its enormously growing;
pcpula ion. can never he paced in a fixed
column. The boastful Chicagoan is already
proving thai it has more inhabitants than
Greater New York, if Milwaukee and other
suburbs in Wisconsin and Indiana be in
Guided, as they ought to be-" The modest
Chcagoan takes you into the corner and
10 -fcyr1i+ 100, r,+l w c
means that he town has 2.0O0, 600 nhabit-
ans. The uncertainty Of what those 2.G0O,-
600 inhabitants will do on election day is
what roakes capital for both parties. Revo-
lutions in municipal politics are as regular
as the seasons. These foreshadow the pos
siblity of revolutions in state and national
politics.
Expectations of Bryan's Friends.
Mr. Bryans friends are at present ngur-
ing that if he can retain the support of the
two democratic factions he carry the
city in 1900 1t is not worth While to
anime the Soundness or unsoundness of that
belief so far ahead. The interesting point
is the existence of the two democratic fac
tons. One is led by Mayor Garter Harri-
son, the other by Former Governor John +.
AltSc!d. The entire party machinery of the
state and city is in the hands Of the Harr-
son following. They control Tire organiza-
ton, and claim to he all there is of the
democratic party in Illinois. Strictly speak
ing they are right Altgeid boted the
domination of Harrison for mayor and ran
as an Independent candidate He thereby
placed himself outside the regular organize
ton. With most political leaders this would
Rave beer suicide. 1t was not SO with Alt
geld The Harrison faction says he is sim
ply the leader of the outlaws. This may be,
but every one is forced to recognize the
number and cohesion Of these political out
Il VS.. Whoever leads them is bound to
ceive recognition of his power.
| have heard conservative friends of Mr.
Bryan say they wished Altgeld would quit
mixing in public affairs They think some
moderate democrats who dread the old
platform more for it's socialism than for its
free silver would then come back into the
fold. But Altgeld won't quit. He is the
"cld man of the sea" He dives under the
water occasionally. This is during spells of
i'll health and depression. But he comes to
Tho surface again. and always on the back
Of the democratic party. He is there today
He is the intellectual leader of the de-
Structive political elements of the country
During the last presidential campaign, Carl
SchUTZ shut himself up for three weeks
and refused to see his closest friends. He
explained that he was preparing answer
to one of Altgaid's speeches, and must
have time to think out what to say. Mr.
SchurZ had made the discovery that while
Altgeld might be the anarchist governor of
Illinois, and have horns and cloVen hoof,
what ne said must be met by counter argu-
ing the same thing.
AItGeId's First Appearance.
I remember Altgelt's first appearance in
politics. 1t was fourteen or fifteen years
back He was the democratic nominee in a
district in which there was no show of cleo
ton. He had come from Missouri a year
or two before and had written a little book
on prison reform and state charities. This
foreshadowed some of the views which he
has since become prominent in champion
ing. He stamped his individuality on the
congressional canvass and not long there
after was elected judge. On the bench he
was distinguished by the vigor of his con-
troyersieS with his felloW-judgeS and by his
unjudicial bent OF mind He a legal
though not political partisan. All this
time he was impressing himself on the
democratic party of Illinois, Almost be-
fore they realized it the old leaders were
set aside and he was nominated and elected
governor.
Altgeld became known to the country at
large by his action in pardoning the an
archists and by his attacks on President
Cleveland Public sentiment in the state
was ready for the pardons, but in granting
them Altgeld made a violent attack on the
judge. under whose rulings they had been
connected. He enjoyed the uproar which
his course caused Major r. w. Nc
Claughry. the warden of the Joliet peniten-
tiary, who was Il political opponent, but a
personal friend, one day showed him a let
ter from indignant citizen of California.
Governor" the warden said, Here's a
letter from man out on the Pacific coast.
who says you ought to have been hung
when the others were hung instead of liv-
ing to pardon those who We're imprisoned"
That's right, that's right" replied Alt
geld Il like that kind of a man Let me
have his letter and I'll answer it,
Made n Good Governor.
1t was never understood in the country
generally that Altgeld, in spite of his sup
posed anarchy, was one of the best gov
ernors Illinois ever had. His state admin
istration, especially of the charitable and
penal institutions, was an unusually good
one, and he had the confidence of those
who were the most strenuous In their an
position to the principles he advocated.
The republicans were thankful that the
election for governor came in the presiden-
tial year, with its overshadowing national
issue.
Altgeld was for free silver in 1896 with
out caring anything about the ratio His
own position, uttered with frankness, was
that the times were out of joint that the
people felt this was due to the financial
system of the government and that in
beating about for a remedy it did not
matter whether they hit on the right ratio
between gold and silver or not This he