The St. Louis Republic., 1901-03-11
SNERMAN'S PLAN
WILL Be DEFEATED.
Country Members of Illinois Lr.is-
laturc Will Oppose Il Call for
Constitutional Convention.
COOK COUNTY FIGHTING HARD.
Proposed Curt;iling Of Chicago
Representation Will Meet With
Opposition-City Versus
Country.
EErU HLIC SPECIAL.

EEIt HI.lc SPECIAL.
Springfield. ILL., March i0-rhe Illinois
Legislature has frittered away sixty-One
precious days. In all that time IL has ac-
compishsd two things. viz: Elected q
United States Senator and passed SEINE APP
preparation bills to pay officers and EN-
ployes Ct House and Senate.
During the past ten days the taxpayers
We're forced to invest about fifteen thousand
dollars in their Legislature. The money
might as well have been tied around the
neck Of McGinty and sent to the bottom
OF the sea.
The coming week Will probably witness
the settlement of two questions--the appor-
tionments and the matter OF amending the
Constitution.
There will rot he a quorum in either
branch tomorrow. Speaker Sherman de-
cldcd that there would be nothing done in
the House until Tuesday afternoon. Tues
day is registration day IN Chicago. and as
the twenty-one Republican Representatives
want to vote the business OF the State of
Illinois is delayed for them. 1t is Judge
Shermans intention to call up the appor-
tionment bills on second reading Tuesday.
on Wednesday they will pass tie House
and go TO the Senate. where the senatorial
district map will be- amended BY taking
Monroe from St. Clair. among other
changes.
The House will be asked to concur In the
Senate amendments and will refuse. Then
there will he Il conference committee 20
reconcile the differences and there IS no
guessing what the outcome will be.
The constitutional questions may be
brought UP while the members are all In
town. Speaker Sherman's plan for Il con-
stitutional convention is certain to he de-
fented in the House. 1t is regarded as
merely plan devised to beat the Nc
representatiOn in the General Assembly to
one-third of the total.
Country Members Are Unanimous.
The members from the country are prac-
tically unanimous against constitutional
convention. Cook County leaders have con-
cocted plan. which they hope will de.
feat the Mckenzie resolution. They viii
can and Democratic Steering committees
to the resolution for a constitutional con-
vention. If this is adopted in the House
the Mckenzie resolution is killed.
The opposition to 4 convention to frame
a new Constitution is 50 pronounced that
1 doubt II q majority, even. can be induced
to vote for it. while two-thirds neces-
sary.
Speaker Sherman assures me that he will
use no extraordinary means to secure votes
for tine constitutional convention. nor will
he place any rocks in the path of the Me
Kenzie resolution. Both will be considered
fairly, and members will vote on them with
out any pressure from the chair. Judge
Sherman declares.
There is some danger that the Mckenzie
proposition limiting Cook County's repre-
sentation to one-third. may be defeated by
Democrats.
There must be 10e affirmative votes on
roll call to pass It. There are oaiY los
members of the House from the country;
A member can vote may" effectually by
being absent. refusing to record himself.
I want to make this plain. because of the
disposition OF few country members to
Kill the resolution. Their constituents will
be able to call them to account should they
fail in their duty on this question.
There Is not traitor to Cook County in
the big delegation. Every one from Cook
Republican and Democrat-iS actively op-
posing the resolution.
In addition, the chairman and secretary
of the Democratic State Committee. both
of whom live in Chicago. have taken pro-
nounced ground against it. and are at
tempting to secure votes from country DEM
ocrats on the specious pretense that ut is
in the interest of the Democratic party to
kill the resolution.
Representative Farris of Louisville claims
his constituents indOrse the Cook County
idea and that they don't want the people
OF the State to vote on the question of lin
fling the representation of Chicago.
Editor CASTOR Of the Louisville Ledger is
of this view.
"Why should We punish Cbicago go for being
ereat?' is the strongest argument CASTOR
iIsas Mr. F,arris tells me he has letters from
Democratic editors in Marion County in
dorsipg h!s position.
Mr.. Lichtenberger OF Savanna declares Me
is against the proposition. He is Demo-