The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-26
TO MAKE A FIGHT
FOR FAIR PRIMARY
Yates Men Laugh at Hamlin Who
Begins His Warfare in
Sangamon County.
WILLIAM RIDeELY ARRIVES.
Understood Senator Cullom's
Son-in-Law Will Conduct the
Campaign in Central ILL
nois for the Attorney
General.
REPuRLIc SPECIAL

hEfUBllC SHEClAI
Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. 25.-The appear
ance in Springfield Of Comptroller Of the
Currency William Barrel Ridgely has ex-
cited much unrest among the Sangamon
County politicians. following, as 1t does,
the announced determination of Attorney
General Hamlin to secure a fair Repub-
Ican primary election in this county.
Comptroller Ridgely is q son-in-law OF
Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom, and he usually
represents the Senator in Central Illinois
politics. For years he has been identified
with the Sangamon County Republican or
ganization, and he is thoroughly familiar
with all the details of campaign work in
this territory. During the Cullom-Tanner
fight he was the real head of the Cullom
forces
Ridgely Is on friendly terms with almost
all of the men who are at the head of the
Yates contingent in this county, and he is
in position to talk plainly to them. The
impression is that he is here to serve no.
tice on his former co-laborers that Attor-
ney General Hamlin must have what he
has demanded in this county, and II this
is correct his visit will do much to bring
about this result.
FAIR PRIMARY.
There is disposition on the part of the
Yates men to laugh at the fair primary
talk, and answer 1t with references to
some Of the primaries in which the Gull
lom people have participated. At the same
time they are not altogether easy over
the matter, and some Of them are show
ing Discrimination to go through with the
brace primary proposition. If no one but
their old enemies were concerned they
would not hesitate for moment. but
they are afraid of Hamlin.
It is true that, so far as the leaders Of
the anti-Yates movement in this country
are concerned. the protests against bogus
primary elections is case of the pot
calling the kettle black. The charge Of
corruption and crooked work is freely
, made on both sides, and either is able to
show by an abundance Of proof that 1t is
telling the truth Moreover. the thing is so
notorious that the accusations count for
little, and the general public cannot be
induced to take sides as between the fac
tons on this ISSUE
But while It is true that the Republican
primaries in Sangamon County are as bad
as they well could be, it is not true that
the rank and file of the party are re-
sponsible for the conditions, and there is
real disposition among the voters to
| bring about change Hamlin. having no
sores of his own in Ssngamon County, has
given this spirit chance to assert itself,
and for this reason 1t Is believed that the
long-expected develution Is at hand.
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
The preliminary committee appointed by
the Hamlin Club has held a meeting and
formed General Campaign Committee.
It is big affair, and every man who can
null a mound and IL willing to GO SO has
been put on It. This action was taken to
avoid petty squabbles over leadership, for
| there are Representatives of all sorts of
| factions among the followers OF the Attor-
| ney General in this county.
Ex-Speaker Sherman. who has been at
| his headquarters in this city several days,
| has gone to Bloomington to consult some
| of his friends in that city. i IS now be;
| lieved that there will be athree-cornered
| fight in Mclean County and that the con-
test will be between Yates, Warner and
| Sherman Prominent Republicans declare
\ that the fight win result in the selection
| Of an uninstructed delegation