The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-22
In Interests of Governors Faction,
He Is Helping Ed Curtis
of Kankakee.
YATES'S CHOICE FOR SPEAKER.
Combination Has Been Effected
Whereby Voters Wishes May
Be Practically Ignored
Launching Candidates.

| Watseka ILL.,, Jan. N.-UnCle Joe Cannon
is showing his hand in this the Twentieth)
legislative district. and thereby keeping his
| promise to help the Yates-Lorimer-Hopkin
| combination. He has promised Ed Curtis
| of kankakee that he should be returned to
the Legislature, and Curtis has received as
surarces from Senator Small and Governor
| Yates that he would be the administration
| candidate for Speaker of the next House.
| The proposition to return Mr.. Curtis III
| wolves the necessity of leaving IroQuois or
Grundy from its share of legislative honors.
Iroquois County Republicans have had a
lurking fear for two years that Kankakee
would improve the first opportunity TO pun
ish Iroquois for forcing instructions for Cul-
lom at Gilman in 1900. Those instructions
were very distasteful to the Kankakee boss
es. and they have been showing their teeth
| ever since.
| 1t is learned here to-day, however. that
| Grundy County has traded Its Legislative
! representation In the Republican party this
year for an appointment from the Cover
nor. Presumably this appointment is to go
to ". L. sackett, editor Of the Morris
Herald and the Republican boss Of that
| county.
May Get Old Job Back.
Sackett was clerk Of the Board Of Canal
Commissioners at 81 500 per annum, under
Governor Tanner. but was let out by Gov
ernor Yates. He may get his old job back
and he may get something equally as good.
Anyhow the deal Is made. and Uncle Joe
Cannon Mr.. Yates and Mr.. Sacikett acted
as the principals. This gives Kankakee an
opportunity to return Mr.. Curtis and at the
same time retain Senator Small. who has
not given up his place, as president OF the
Board Of Trustees Of the Insane Hospital
at Kankakee. and in other respects Is a
Poo Bah.
There Is every indication that this deal
will go through. The Governor gains N
Curtis one powerful and influential member
O. the House and man who, IL elected
Speaker. knows how to carry out the VIII
of the Governor. Curtis had experience In
1897 when John r. Tanner elected him
Speaker, and thus absolutely controlled the
legislation Of the House.
Grundy County may not consent to this
arrangement OF Mr.. Sackett. Congressman
Cannon and Governor Yates. But 1t must
be remembered that Congressman Hopkins.
the Yates candidate for the Senate, has not
lost all his influence in that county. Tue
present Postmasters owe their appointment
to Mr.. Hopkins, Grundy County being in
his congressional district prior to the ap-
.portionment Of 1904.
Hopkins Could Block Game.
Considering his influence in Grundy. Con-
gresham Hopkins could block MS game.
II he SO desired But It il to his interest
to have Mr.. Curtis in the Legislature.
rather than a farmer from Grundy, who
knows more about crops and 1.-Two stock
than he does about practical politics. The
combination has been successful thus 1ar
In preventing a candidate for the Legie-
lat,Ire from Grundy from announcing him.
.elf and II Is we'll understood here in
Jroouots that when the senatorial conven-
tion meets Grundy County Will gracefully
and oblieingly side step and announce as
Grundy's choice, Edward c. Curtis, kanKa-
kee. banker and politician. 1actotum OF
Governor Yates chained to the Hopkii,
senatorial chariot and warm persoiiAi
friend of William Lorimer.
This. Twentieth Senatorial District. ID
comnosed of the counties OF Kankakee'
Iron,,o,s and Grundy. 1rouuois and kanka-
ice will have about the same number OF
delegates and Grundy about one-tnlrd as
many as each Of the others. Len. small OF
Kankakee. being the holdover Senator. ene
rational thing under the circumsssnces 70
for Grundv and Iroduois to have the TWO
p.snresentatives. the district being over
whelming Republican. The exigencies OF
th. occasion demand change. however.
uorace Russell. banker Of Milford. ana
lame. Porch Of Chebanse ere Renuoiican
cand,dates for the House in 1roquofs 1t Is
conceded that Mr.. Russell will carry the
county in the primaries by an overwhelming
majority. He is a friend Of Congressman
Cannon and. while probably not as suo-
seryient to Mr.. Cannon'S orders as 1s Mar
Tin Bailey and Charley Allen he will do
what Mr.. Cannon wants done. in so far as
he ia able, and maintain his own self-re-
spect. 1t Is not known hero whether ne
favors Mr.. Hopkins or Mr. Dawes TOT
United States Senator. but being faithful
friend Of Cannon and Yates. II may con-
fidently be assumed that Mr.. Russell IL for
Hopkins.
RANKIN Ia Not a Candidate.
". A. Rankin who represented this coun-
ty In the last Legislature. and who made
such a magnificent record. will not be a
candidate this year. This is matter OF re-
gret. for members Of the General As
sembly Of Mr.. Rankins ability and in
tegrity were very few. He made many
warm friends among tho best members.
who will be disappointed to know that he
will not return.
speaker Sherman Is scheduled to be here
tomorrow at o'clock and will spend tho
afternoon greeting the Republicans Of the
county. He Is under the auspices of the
veteran Alex South. who did such yoeman
service two years ago for Governor Yates,
and got nothing for It,
for Speaker the Yates faction have started
on the road In the State. In Southern IL
linois it is Cicero ]. Indy. OF Greenville.
The promise in Lndly's case is said TO
have been made by Lieutenant Governor
Northcott, fellow townsman. II Goves-
nor Yates is as unsuccessful in naming the
Speaker as he was for the last House,
when he backed David Shanahan against
Sherman, the promises OF his agents and
himself will hardly be at a premium. The |
Governor imagines he has greater influence |
with the people than he had In January, |
1s0i, soon after his inauguration.
The Republican County Committee met |
late this afternoon and fixed on February |
% for the primaries and February Is for the |,
County Convention. These dates are the |
earliest in the history of the county. The !
Cot rthouse ring End Congressman Cannon's |
Postmaster ran things in their own way |
from start to finish. ]. l. PICKERING.
Westerners In New York.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York, jan. 15.-Among the arrivals
at the hotels here to-day were the follow !
-. rx,,,y,ton ASrr n r,o.r.