Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-10-21
CUlLOM'S QUEER COURSE.

senator CullOm's unaccOuntablc neu.
trality In the gubcrnatorial contest Is
said TO be costing him the support of a
great many Republican leaders. whose
aid he will need ncyt year in case an
organized fight against his reelection
should develop.
II appears from current gossip that
Mr.. CullOm has displeased the follow
ers Of Governor Tanner quite as much
as he has offended the followers Of
Congressman Walter Reeves. The Tan
ner men are accusing him of instltutlng
the various antiTanncr movements
that have been organized In Illinois
during the past year. On the other
hand, Reeves friends make no conceal
mcnt Of their chagrln because the sena-
tor coquettishly declined at the most
critical period OF the cOngressman's
canvass to make an unequivOcal dec
laration In favor of his nomination for
governor. They had been led to be-
lieve by authority which was deemed
wholly reliable that the senator was
ready to take his stand with the Reeves
forces. and when he failed to do 80 they
were angry enough to take the public
into their confidence and to ease their
cOnsclences of n few party secrets.
Finally Congressman Reeves said he
would get alOng without aid from Mr..
CullOm; that he would open headquar-
tiers Oh his own account ana stand on
his own personality. His friends have
been lntimating. not vaguely, but with
u chilling dlrectncss that Ii significant.
that innsmuch as the position taken by
the senator will not permit him to mix
up In ,gubernatorial politics they for
their part can afford to follow 80 dis.
tinguislied an example by declining to
interfere with senatorial matters.
There, II n distinct threat In this atti-
tude. which may become clearer this
week after the proposed Reeves head
quarters IRE opened In Chicago. The
Reeves men. for the purpose of round
Ing out their machine. may find It con-
venlent to enter into an offensive alll.
ance with some distinguished member
Of the Republican party who wants to
be United States senator.
1t IL understood that they are willing
to enter into negotiations with ex-GOv.
ernOr Joseph w. Fifcr Of bloomington.
or any person he may select. I'lfer, In
their opinion. would be the strongest
man to whom they could attach them
selves. owing to his experience with
politics and the enduring friendships
he possesses In the section known as
Egypt. In this connection u curious
story that has found many believers
credits the governor will, u similar
plan. According to several of his
friends Governor Tanner has resolved
to secure the Endorsement and support
Of his erstwhile chief by holding before
his eyes the attractive ind dazzling
seat In the upper house Of congress
which CullOm has occupied for eighteen
years. l'ifer has been non.cOmmittal
on the gOvernOrshlp. He was urged Il
few weeks ago to become a candidate.
but declined on the ground that he did
not care to he responsible for the over.
throw of Tanner. The governor IL IN.
miliar with the details Of the effort that
was made to array Fifer against him,
also with the ex.g0vernor's friendly
ana magnanlm0us conduct, and he has
frequently expressed desire to reclp.
rOcate In handsome manner. II he
should put his personal machine behind
the Bloomington man. ana the Reeves
leaders should carry out their present
plan of making Fifer candidate for
senator, Senator Cull0m would have to
acknowledge himself In n serious pre-.
dicament Filters attitude toward Cul.
lom will doubtless exercise a strong In.
huence In determining the outcome of
this extraordinary movement Of the
rival machines In his direction.