The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-06
Comptroller Wants a Free Rein in
His Campaign for the
Senatorship.
MASON WAS FoREsTALLED.
Full Strength of the Administra.
ton VIII BE Thrown to Dawes
Senator Cullom Lend
ing Assistance.

Washington July 5.-Charles G. Dawes.
Comptroller of the Currency. has rendered
his resignation to the President. to take
effect October l next. In answer to an in
quiry, Mr.. Dawes said:
Il have resigned because OF my inten-
ton TO be candidate before the people of
Illinois for the United States Senate. 1t
would not be possible for me. during the
next year, to make II canvass for the Sem
ate and at the same time administer to
my own satisfaction the important and re-
spotsible Office / now hold. am influenced
solely in this action by what seems to me
the plain proprietles of the situation"
Mr.. Dawes's term of Office would not have
expired until January ]. 1898.
His letter TO the President Is as follows:
Washington. July 3, i?Ol.--Wm. Mckinney Ex-
ecutive Mansion. Washington. ID. c.: Sir-In
view OF the fat that 1 will be n candidate for
tender my resignation Comptroller OF the
Currency. TO take effect October ! next Re-
pectfuily. CHARLES G. DAWES.
Logical Result OF situation.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Springfield, H.. July 5.-The resignation
OF Charles Gates Dawes as Comptroller OF
the Currency is the logical result Of his
early and vigorous contest for the seat Of
Senator Mason. Last week the latter
threatened TO formally demand of President
Mckinley that Mr.. Dawes be forced to quit
his Office, and Dawes die not wait for a
hint from Mckinley. Mason regards
DaWeS'S action in announcing his candi-
dacy as base ingrattude. inasmuch as Ma
son urged his appointment lis Comptroller
OF the Currency four years ago, and mas al
ways claimed that Dawes was on his MA
sons) staff
The resignation relieves President McKin-
ley of an embarrassing position, for Mason
comfortable nest in which TO breed the
schemes of the present administration. He
has singing Wit, and no regard whatever
for senatorial precedents or dignity. With
@ personal grievance against President Nc
kinney. Mason would make every session OF
the Senate interesting and picturesque
The truth of the matter is that the Pres
ident has committed himself to Dawes, and
Cullom Is also for the former Comptroller
and about every Republican of influence
and prominence in illinois through McKin-
ley and Culiom influences and patrCIlage
are on the Dawes battle line.
Senator Mason has few. If any. real
friends among the Republican leaders of
chine fought him to the end when he was
elected in 1897, and he knows 1t. He al
ways was independent and self-assertive,
and never crooked his knee to party bosses
or machines.
Mason Cannot See Defeat.
The trouble with Senator Mason is that he
is ignorant Of the temper or sentiment of
the Republicans OF illinois. He refuses to
believe that the rank and file have Joined
the bosses against him. Illinois Repub-
leans never viii forgive his independent
attitude against the Mckinley administra-
ton on various occasions. 1t Is not prob
able that he will be a factor in the con-
test against Dawes, the protege and favor
lite of Mckinley.
1t matters little whether Dawes Is on the
Mckinley payroll. or not He will still be
closer to the President than any other
lllinoisan. He will still find good. fat places
sons seat will not be injured in the least
by his resignation as Comptroller. Dawes
Is considerable of Il man and will justify u
claim that he has ability.
Five years ago he was unknown In poll
tics, and during his term as Comptroller
gained reputation for some common sense
and great deal Of hard work. His real
activity in Illinois politics commenced at
the State Convention last year. when he
was put up as the Mckinley -Culom candi-
date for temporary chairman against John
His election then and his clever speech to
the convention gave him a good start in the
senatorial race before anybody knew ne
was candidate.
II may not be generally known. but II Is
a fact. that on two occasions last year Sen
ator Cullom was willing to acknowledge de-
the race. The Tanner fight on him was
tremendous, and he was willing to quit II
was Dawes who urged him to continue IN
the race to the end, and stitfened the weak.
ening Cuilom vertebrate. On one of these
occasions Cullom wanted to turn ms
strength over to Dawes, urging that the
Tanner antmoSity would not extend 10 u
man as close to President Mckinley. the
story goes that Dawes declined, and in
sisted that Culloms presence was neces,
sary n the Senate. and that he could and
would be returned notwithstanding the bit
ter fight of Governor Tanner against him.
Dawes Has Been Underrased.
Because he is unknown to most OF the
people. Dawes has been upderrated. Now
that he Is not tangled in administration az
fairs he will give an exhibition of organic
Ing ability that viii surprise the people.
Already The Republic has eiven an idea OF
the Dawes organization and the real condi-
tion of Republican politics in this State was
not exaggerated.
Would Dawes cut any figure Il the Nc
Knley support was withdrawn now?' was
asked me to-day.
Undoubtedly he would be a great favorite
in such a contingency. Had Mckinley not
shown his strong preference during the past
two years, Dawes would never have been
the figure he is now. Through mckinley
Dawes has favored too many Illinois Repub-
leans to be easily sheired. He has made
many warm personal friends, VINO are bound
to him by ties of mutual advantage. and
they will stand by him. So many OF them
are on his side in this fight that none OF
consequence are left for the opposition .tc
gather.
Governor Yates, Mr.. Northcott and Mr.
| Lorimer wifi endeavor to make headway
against Dawes. but unless there Is a grea
i xrt1l -v-a Wac,