Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-26
Has Roosevelt Joined the Illinois
Alliance?

dispatch from Springfield says
the republican party of Illinois is
facing n crisis not unlike the one in
New York years ago which resulted
in the overwhelming defeat of Folger.
The party is machine and nothing but
machine. The gravity of the situ-
alton is recognized Oy the leaders of
both factions. For the first time in
the history of the state a president
has allied himself with faction nf
his party. He chose the weaker side
and has made IL strong. Republicans
of Illinois who dislike Yates now
contemplate with fear the combina-
ton of Roosevelt. Yates, Hopkins and
Cannon. lit will probably hold to-
gether for the campaign of 1904 and
be hard proposition to face. Roose-
welt. IL * charged, has dis
arranged the politics of the
state. Nobody imagined he would
take side directly with either faction.
He was expected To follow the en-
ample of preceding executives. ISSUE
the usual formal order of federal Of
ficeholders to refrain from active
work between republican factions in
all the states and let IL go at that.
He did issue the formal notice last
December. On the surface that was
Roosevelt's position at the time Con-
gresham 4. j. Hopkins announced
himself openly as candidate for the
United States senate. The Oullom-
Dawes-Sherman syndicate already
had their plans made. their candi-
dates for the legislature picked out,
and their machine was running with
Exceeding smoothness. Mr.. Hopkins
had about as much show for his time
and money as a disabled mouse be-
tween the paws of a cat. The Yates
administration was discredfted
everywhere. Its only defenders and
apoIogists were Yates appointees,
and many of them were openly
against their chief. Again the unex-
pected happened i'm, the interest of
Yates and his faction. to the astonish-
ment of the big syndicate. President
Roosevelt followed his first order to
federal officebolders with curt
warning to them. particularly in IL
Iinois." to keep hands Off He went
even further. He took an aggressive
stand with the Nates-LOrimer-Hop
l<ins faction. That settled the status
Of the big combination. 1t promptly
went to pieces. 1t became a disor-
ganized mass at the very moment the
order to charge the enemy was due.
The federal officeholders sorrowfully
separated themselves from Sherman
and Dawes and Cullom. Roosevelt
astonished the Cullom faction and
Cannon added another surprise. He
Yates. but he took personal inter-
est in the matter.
In brief. Roosevelt and Cannon have
formed an offensive and defensive al
fance with Yates, Hopkins and Lori
mer. 1t has become the powerful po-
HticaI combination in Illinois and the
other combination has taken back
seat. If Hopkins is elected United
States senator. the republicans of IL
Iinois in 1904 will face both federal
and state machines. pulling together.
and perhaps nothing will stop it's mad
career The shibboleth would be
about this way:
Roosevelt for president.
Yates for vice president.
Northcott for governor.
Lorimer TO succeed Cullom.
To postmasters, collectors. mar
shaIs. attorneys and all federal job
holders the order would be: Line
up for the slate or give way to some
body who can help the president; you
must deliver your county and see
that the district is all right" The
state officehoIders would receive the
same orders. the republican congress
men would have no alternative but |
to join the procession.
Edacsss Your Bowels with cnscarsss.
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