Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-10
PREFERRED AS HERO
Westerners Do Not Warm to Dewey
in Politics.
CURRENT SENTIMENT IN ILLINOIS
Locking to the Fight for Governor
and Senator.
b O H P A r. II Els s p L II


Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
CHICAGO, Ill, October s, 1899.
President McKinley's western trip has
stirred UP a little politics. There is not
much to the stir, yet it gives a chance to
see some o the influences which are work.
ing. There are some politicians in the west.
few of them are in Illinois, who for vari-
Gus reasons would like chance for a new
candidate. These reasons are mostly per-
sonel and selfish. l have not been able to
find that the politicians who would be
willing to join such movement can get the
necessary backing. None of them has
much thought of Dewey.
| have travelled through half dozen
western states, much of the time on the
day trains, where the opportunity was af-
forded for meeting the people of the differ
ent localities ana hearing what they were
thinking about The west is not behind the
east in its admiration for Admiral Dewey.
II anything the feeling is deeper and more
intense. Though he may not come to Chi
caSo for six months there Will be no cool
ing in this feeling. Whenever he visits the
west there Will be d spontaneous ouopourlns
which VIII lie evidence TO the admiral of the
place he has Won the hearts Ot his coun-
trymen. Yet in all this sentiment l have
not found the trace of a wish that he enter
politics. IN talking with two or three score
Of pc, pie not has suggested Dewey in
connection with the presidency until the
first inquiry was lnade by me. Ihen the
suggestion has been received either with
protest with GOODNESS. Now, if any con-
siderable number of people had Dewey IN
mind for the presidency 1t would b pretty
sure to crop out in their talk without neel-
ing suggestion to bring it forth. But
when they not only do not suggest it, but
show that the suggestion is not to their
liking, 1t seems to me fairly convincing that
far from the politicians of either party
being allie to utilize the admiral, such an
attempt On their part would destroy what
ever influence they might possss
Dewey Preferred Out OF Politics.
There is no installing that the great mass
of the people look upon Admiral Dewey as
their national hero, and they do not want
him given up to party. One Iowa farmer
who has boy in the Philippines and whose
boy does not think much of Gen. OTIS told
me that if the war was not successful by
next spring some of the soldier boys might
think Dewey was the man to become the
head of the government. But this Iowa
farmer himself a sturdy friend of
President Mckinley and he had no SYM
pathy with the suggestion. All he made
out of it was that the admiral was as pop
ular with the soldiers as he with his
own sailors.
Both Parties Split.
Though there is no election in Illinois this
fall both parties are up to their eyebrows
in politics, and both organizations are
foundering in deep water. The republicans
are split over the gOVernOrShlp ana the SEN
atorship, while the democrats are divided
over the governorship and the delegation
to the next national convention. Both of
them talk impressiVely OF Illinois being
pivotal state, and this is more or less true.
1t also happens that each party has fac
tional troubles which if not healed might
insure the state to the other party. But
Illinois has got to go either democratic or
nd he Illa n
not throw it outside those lines. From
some knowledge Of the state, l should say
that it would be difficult for the republicans
to find decent excuse for losing 1t. though
the immense Chicago vote is shifting one
and by shifting it may make the prospect
somewhat uncertain.
CuiIom and Tanner.
At present the republicans are chiefly
concerned over the supposed breach be-
tween Senator Cullom and Governor Tan
ner.
The machine republicans are dissatisfied
with the Presidents federal appointments,
and take pride in showing how they keep
their organization together without federal
patronage. They make faces at the ma
tional administration, but their hostility is
not deep-seated. All they want is a chance
to show that when it comes to getting out
the votes reliance must be placed on them
and not on the administration wing of the
party.
SenatOrship the Prize.
The differences between Senator Cullon.
ard Gov. Tanner are more deep-seated.
Senator Culom wants q reelection and
Gov. Tanner wants to be senator. That is
a natural ground for rivalry. Gov. Tanner
has not yet declared that he wants a re
nomination. At one time the opposition
within the party was quite strong. and ii
still exists here in Chicago. But the prob
ability is that if he decides upon it Gov.
r3n he ron m N q ed he.
is reelected he will have the benefit of his
own prestige and of his own state admins
tration IN stepping into the Senate. There
is a provision. in the Illinois state cGnstitu-
ton which is intended to prevent the gov
ernor's office being used senatorial
stcp-ladder. But since the United States
Senate is not influenced by state constitu-
lions in passing on the qualifications of its
members. this statute has never been
worth much. Senator CuIlorn went from
the governors chair To the Senate as other
governors before him had done.
CuIIom's Political Work.
Senator Cullom is too good a politician
TO let himself be placed in antagonism to
the denomination Of Gov. Tanner. HIS pur-
pose is simply to manage it so that the
governor will gain no advantage a can
iidate for senator. To make sure of this
point it IS desirable for Senator Cullom to
rnaintan a sort of Independent organ
ization. which will be entirely within his
contro.. He would like to have the state
convention indOrse the candidate for sena-
tor. with himself as the person ndorse,l.
Senator William f.. Mason advocated this
plan years ago equivalent to a popular
nomination. and Senator Cuilom accepted
it. 1t is not likely that he viii be able to
control the next state convention or to
convince otner ambitious republicans that
the choice of a senator should be settled in
advance. So. measure Of safety. he is
under the necessity of keeping up an or
nj Z.gt a lacyiS
lature. He is very wary about placing this
power out OF his own hands. The keener
politicians have satisfied themselves that
there can be no real alliance between the
senator and the governor. They were
formerly close political allies. but now they
do not trust each other over much
Other Names Mentioned.
Lately there has been a movement which
has for its alleged object compulsory har-