Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-15
Speaker Will Head Move
Against Yates, Lori
mer, ct al.
TAKES PLACE OFFERED
Gubernatoria1 Chair the
Goal of His Ann
bition.

Springfield. Feb. 15.-Hon. Law
renee y. Sherman. speaker of the
Illinois house of Representatives. in
letter addressed last night to Sena-
tor Cullom, National Committeeman
Stewart and other representatives. of
he aglied anti-N aaeS and anti Lorimer
forces, formally accepted the leader
ship of revolt against the state adj
ministration. The letter is as fol-
lows:
Dear Sirs: Your communication
is received. The conditions there
named make it imperative that re-
publicans recur to the elementary
principles which govern the forma-
ton and action Of their party in IIli-
noi$
Our party is composed of all who
believe it represents the surest ways
to secure the best results of good
government. The whole of the party
is greater than any OF its parts. The
party committees. the subcommittee.
the chairman and the machinery Of
organization are a part only nf The
party. They are the instruments de-
vised to carry elections. To give eN-
preston TO the will OF the ma ajority
i'm nominating candidates or in an
nouncin@ party principles.
No republican will claim that these
Instruments ought to be used To con-
troll that majority; for the use is for
all the party. not for individuals or
factions of the party.
The republican paI'ty iS the source
,f nj hn 1lnSSnNsSPn -
state central committee or by its
chairman. Both the committee and
the chairman are created to unity
the energies of the party. not to dis
perse or prevent them. Their duty
to candidates is limited to their eIec-
ton. not to debating their nomina-
ton to the rank and file of the party.
Successful party action can result
only from concord in all its parts.
This cannot be when the chairman of
its committee by the methods named
in your letter abuses the party trust
committed TO his care.
The collection of political assess
ments ought to he rebuked and
checked by appropriate action. either
i'm committee or in convention. The
practice has become intOlerable. 1t
is demoralizing To the public service
Ii is a tax on many not able to bear
it. TO refuse to submit to ii endan-
gers their possession of office. 1t is
impossible for performance of d1ty
to be the test-of public office hold
ing when Subiection to such irrespon-
sible power is permitted
No defense can be offered for lis
continuance. 1t has increased from
year to year until the operation of
the system now i'm vogue promotes
disorder and stirs up factions e is
a parasital growth which threatens
the sound health of the party.
The undersigned viii himself sup
port and by all proper means assist
in bringing to a roll call and vote IN
the next republican state convention
a resolution embracing both PROPOSE
tions named in your letter. 1t is APP
propriate here to ask who believe III
them To join in securing affirmative
action in that convention.
L. Y. SHERMAN.
Looking Toward the Covernorship.
Speaker Sherman's action is said
by his friends to mean that he Will
be a candidate for reelection 10 the
house and as asprant for third
term as speaker of the general as
Sembly. Mr.. Sherman was elected
speaker of the forty-first and forty
second general assemblies hY accla-
nation and has been a power IN re
publican politics for years. Should
he succeed in defeating the Lorimer-
Yates state machine it is regarded as
n foregone conclusion that he Will
be the logical candidate for gov
ernor i'm 1904. During the adminis-
tratiou of the late Gov. Tanner he
was; one of the executives staunchest
frienGs and promised Tanner that he
would vote for him for United States
senatof frcm first to last should IL
finish fight result. The Tanner-Cul-
Iom duel. however. was settled IN Ia
vor of Cullom before caucus was
reached. He is generally supposed
to be "A partisan of Charles q. Dawes
for the succession TO Mason's seat in
the senate. but he has never publicly
expressed his preference He is
skilled parliamentarian and fighter
of preeminent ability.
His Fight on Yates.
lie has opposed GOV. Yates con-
stantIy since the latter's term of Of