Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-02
Senatorial Boom" Started for
Uncle Joe Cannon"
HAD BRIEF EXISTENCE
IN FACT, HE DISCOURAGED 1T AT
THE OUTSET.
It is Believed at the Capitol That Mr..
Hopkins Will Eventually Win Out
in the Coming Fight.

At the Capitol today, while 1.-THE boys
that is the generic term applied by Uncle
Joe" Cannon to all his colleagues, gray.
boards and beardless alike-were sitting
around the committee rooms smoking and
gossiping, a new boom was sprung for Mr..
Cannon. The news from the Illinois sena-
torial contest was under discussion, and
comments were being made upon the fact
that Representative Hopkins. who was sup.
posed to have the senatorship "all button.
ed up" to use one Of Mr.. Cannon's homely
and favorite phrases. was in trouble.
Mr.. Hopkins. it will be remembered, OBJ
tanned the Endorsement of the republican,
state convention for the senatorial caucus
nomination. But that was last spring, and
since then there has been something do.
Ing Mr.. Hopkins now finds himself op.
posed by several energetic candidates, who
manifest disposition to override the in-
dorsement of last spring and to try the
case over again before the court of last re-
sort-the legislative caucus.
They were discussing the possibility Of q
prolonged fight in the legislature, with may
possible dark horses. Somebody suggested
Mr. Cannon.
1t was wonderful to see with what unan-
unity Of favor the suggestion was received
in Illinois today" was an expression fire.
quently heard. "An admirable idea-just
the thing. He ought to have it by all
means, was another remark. "Mr. Cannon
would make an ideal senator" was heartily
suggested all down the line.
1t was said that Mr.. Littleffeld of Maine
deserted the musty tones of law and with
drew his attention from the pigeon holes
where repose the antitrust bills long
enough to sit up and notice things; that Mr..
Dalzell dropped his watchful eye from the
wicked tariff revisionists and entered enthu-
siastcally into praise of the Cannon boom:
fbof ntoti Tiy,,ss Gtary CHI
tagging interest in the Indian appropriation
bill and seized the idea as good thing. to
be pushed along. 1t was reported that Mr.
Babcock. who is on vacation in Florida.
received a telepathic intmation Of what
was brewing and was looking up train
schedules for the north, while Represents
tive Burton of Ohio and Representative
Jim" Tawney Of Minnesota Joined in the
general acclaim.
There was only one man the boomers
were shy about-Mr. Hepburn Of Iowa,
How could We bear to let him go?" was
asked, and no one was there to answer.
"Uncle Joe" Says "Nay."
Just as the enthusiasm was at its height
Uncle Joe'' in person bustled in from the
west, where he has been rusticat ting on his
farm during the recess. seeing to the laying
in of the winters supply Of wood and look
ing after the hog killing and other pastoral
duties. Mr.. Cannon came down the corri,
dor with confident tread, all unaware Of the
Vaccinations to further his ambition. Has
familiar soft hat was pulled down over his
eyes. he carried hi~ overcoat carelesslX
over his arm. and the inseparable cigaE
left a curl of smoke in his wake like an
ocean liner under two bells, full speed
ahead.
The first he heard of the boom was at the
Capitol. 1t is said that he laid his long
finger warily against his nose, and, glance
Ing sideways out of his eyes, said NaYi
nay; some other time"
Thnrn xu1l hn NJ nc vyo ~ n N
senatorships, and Mr.. Cannon, 1t Is re-
ported, Is not ready to sacrifice himself just
yet on the altar of party harmony in Ill-
nois. assuming that such a sacrifice will be
required.
So the Cannon senatorial boom was short
lived and the pulse Of several gentlemen re-
sumed the normal beat: Mr. Cannon pros
fesses to be unaware Of the details OF the
Illinois senatorial contest. He has troubles
Of his own to get his appropriation bula
through Congress in some sort OF sembianca
to the form in which they originate In the
House, and, anyhow, he is not worrying
about senatorships now.
Think Hopkins Will Win Out.
Illinoisians at the Capitol today said that
Mr. Hopkins may have little fight, but
the belief is that he will pull through. He
has the machine back Of him, and 1t Ii
said that the machine in Illinois was never
in better running order than at present.
His principal opponents are Mr.. Sherman
former speaker Of the lower house OF tho
Illinois legislature, and ex-RepresentatNe
Adams of Chicago.
The cry raised against Mr.. Hopkins II
that he is not from Cook county and that
Chicago ought to have senator. The lead<
Ing republican manager in Illinois Is ex-
Representative Billy Lorimer, who Is q
Chicago man. and it is supposed that he
took all those things into consideration be-
fore he backed Mr.. Hopkins for the Senate.
Anyhow Mr.. Hopkins lives only forty-hve
miles from Chicago.
Mr. Adams lives in Chicago. Thus far he
is without vote he can claim IN the legis-
lature He has large roll" however, as
the saying is in Cook county, and, of course
while no one supposes that fact ever weighs
in senatorial contest or would be constd-
cred a factor by Mr.. Adams, some people,
it Is said, seem to be afraid 1t might figure.
They are rehasiling an old story, speaking
Of rolls" 1t has been charged that q
rolf collected by assessing state Office
holders was laid by last summer against the
coming campaign by the machine" Sew
eral officials who were assessed per cent
of their salaries brought suit to- recover and
the money was refunded, the suits being
settled out Of court and no investigation OF
the charges was made. OF course, in all
campaigns there are people who start scan-
daIous stories of this kind on the other fel-
lows, and the claim is made that the as.
sessments were supposed to be voluntary
campaign fund which is always collected for
the legitimate purposes Of the campaign.