The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-17

! caucus va are confident that Mr.. Traut-
mann Will be the nominee. and, OF course.
the next Speaker. From the developments
Of the last twenty-four hours We are sat
isiied that Mr. TraUtmanu is the winner"
NO BELLIGERENCY BY DENEEN.
/! Mr.. and Mrs. Deneen are on 4 trip to
! New Orleans. which will not bring them
/ back to Chicago until JUST before Christ
mas Roy o. West. chairman OF the State
Committee. who has been the spokesman
| 0: the Governor elect in his absence. and
| Mra. West. Mrs. Deneen's sister. accom-
/ panied them. and it is certain that there
I Will be nothing definite from Chicago un-
| Ii! the return OF the party.
/ Those c.cse to the Governor elect would
/ prefer to believe that no settlement will
/ be reached until definite statement is
| had from the powers that be. Others, as
| well UP in the political game. and who
/ know something of the Deneen ciarac-
| teristics. are assured by the silence OF the
! Chicago man that ne promises no belligs--
| ent tactics.
! Less than three weeks now intervene be-
! fore the assembling OF the Speakership
| caucus, and those who know Deneen best
! say that it Is no, his idea 10 lay back and
| await developments. Had he the desire to
! force his personal selection upon TIE
| House members. he would have jumped
| into the game ere this. and with the
! entire State patronage at his disposal.
which is untouched as yet. If common re
| port Is 70 be believed, he could have COM
manded . majority OF the House as suited
| him best.
! AS matters now stand the activity os
| the Dereen leaders has been confined 10
| asking the members not to pledge them
selves as to the Speakership. This request
was respected until within the past week.
when there has been some determination.
SO Ear as the country members are coE-
! cerred. to assert their feelings upon the
/ question.
| Those who ought TO know now declare
! that If Mr. Deueen waits until after
| Christmas 20 Sc. ont with his club. even
| should he so desire. Il would BE- almost a
! physical iurpossibtity TO round UP enough
! TO give him personal control Of the eau
| Gus.
/ Every development within the last week
seems 10 demonstrate that the new exec
utive is not disposed to butt in and
that with the tacit agreement OF Governor
| Yates. Judge Sherman and certain of the
! Cook County men. together with the
/ friendly feeling tcward the East st. Louis
! man by Shurtlefr. Drew Alien and Lind
IL. WHO have been Ii the running, that
/ Traut-nann he the caucus selection. The
| final %. *" probably will be placed upon
the deal IS scoa as the Southern trip
ends.
DIRECT PRIMARY ISSUE.
The subcommittee OF the Republican
State Committee. to whom was referred
the primary lalv proposition. conferred in
Chicago Thursoay. Judge Sherman. VINO
has had decided ideas upon what new
primary law should stipulate. was present
as was William II. Stead. the new Attor-
ney General.
1t is understood that the Sherman view,
- presented to the subcommittee. is the
position of the incoming administration
upon tho subject. ard what viii eventual
~ he\placed uicr the statute books If il
can I've for-ed through the General As
! scmbly.
The Democratic leaders have views in
direct opposition to the administrators
IDEAS and will present law which may
involve tile Legislature In 4 bitter wrangle.