Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-14

/ up Ills PIeSeul lpItUHS.
MASON PULLS OUT
Practically All Opposition to Election
| of Hopkins for Senator to Succeed
Mason Removed in Illinois.
| Springfield, ILL.,, Jan. 14.-All opposi-
ton to Congressman A. j. Hopkins fol-
! United States senator was formally
abandoned tonight. Senator W.. E
Mason retired from the field and went
home. The members who have been
advocating opposition to Mr.. Hopkins
with the exception OF five who viii
vote for a Cook county man on the
ballot in the caucus tomorrow night
will then join in a motion to make
Hopkins nomination unanimous.
All will vote for him in the formal
election in the house and senate next
Tuesday. Mr.. Hopkins will have 119
or 120 votes out of 124 in the caucus,
and will have 124 votes in the general
assembly, lightweight in the house
and thirty six in the senate.
This is the result of the weeks and
months of talk that Hopkins was COINS
to be defeated by Senator Mason and
his allies. 1t is another splendid vic
tory for the stalwart republicans in
Illinois, ratifying the action Of the re-
publicans at the county conventions
and of their representatives in the state
convention.
Senator Mason formally withdrew
from the field late this evening ard
his private secretary. Before leaving
Senator Mason gave out this state
ment:
II find there is no chance Of my
election and l desire to thank my
friends for their Kindness and to say
to them that I do not desire them to
vote for me. As to the methods used
most republicans of the state are ia
miliar, and l have nothing further to
say on that subject at present.
Shortly after Mr.. Mason's withdrawal
was announced number of The men,
bers who have been opposing Mr.. Hop
kins and seeking a means to defeat
him met in a room in the Leland. Thu
situation was gone over and it was de-
.cided that 1t would be impossible to
prevent Mr.. Hopkins being nominated
by O. majority Of the republican eau
Gus.
1t was also agreed that but few II
any republicans would remain out of
the caucus. Even Senator Stubblefield
and Representative Church, who have
been the most persistent Hopkins
men, admitted that Il bolt of twenty
two republicans could not be organized,
and that only by a bot by at least this
number could his election be prevented.
L. Y. Sherman, who was in the meet
ing of the committee on rules OF the
house, was sent for and asked to adj
dress the little gathering, which had
twenty one men present. In substance
Mr.. Sherman said:
IF Mr. Hopkins receives the repub-
lican caucus nomination he is entitled
to the unanimous support of all rapub-
licans who go into the caucus. / believe
he has the caucus nomination assured
to him, as all the rest Of you be-
lieve. Mr. Hopkins IS. then, not only
entitled to the unanimous vote of all In
the caucus, but also to the vote of all
republicans In the election of. United
States senator.
illinois is entitled to a republican
senator elected and backed by all re-
publicans. His title TO his seat in the
senate ought to have on it no blemish
of a solitary dissenting republican vote.
He becomes the senator not only for the
republican party, but FOR the state. He
has ceased to represent a faction of our
party, and / believe he is broad enough
OF represent it all.
II am giving my personal opinion
only. do not SEEK to control or intiu-
ence any of my friends l am simply
stating my own conclusions. believe
the time has come when all good re-
publicans can cease to differ on this
question. We can trust Mr.. Hopkins
asAwe trust other republicans whom we
elect"
After Mr.. Sherman finished it was
unanimously agreed that all except
those otherwise instructed by their SEN
atorial conventions should vote for Mr..
Hopkins in the caucus and resolution
was adopted authorizing Mr.. Sherman
to inform Mr.. Hopkins of the action
taken by the conference. Mr.. Sherman
performed this duty later in an inter-