The St. Louis Republic., 1904-03-15
COMMANDMENT
Of ST. CLAIR. j
Yates Arranges for Active Cam
paign About Belleville-
walking Delegates"
TO SPEAK WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
Opponents Trying to Arrange De-
bate Between Governor and
Lawrence Sherman in
East st. Louis.
REPURLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Belleviile. Ill. March 14.-Martin Schnip-
per and Editor Semelroth called on Sheriff
Thompson to-day and secuted the Circuit
Court room for speech by Governor
Yates. providing court Is not in session, y
added the Sheriff. This will mark the be-
ginning of Governor YateSs lombard
ment OF ST. Clair" the phrase the exc
cutive used month ago in letters to his
Belleville and East St. Louis managers,
George Rebham and Thomas l. Fekete.
There is no denying that the citizens of
Belleville are anxious to hear Governor
Yates. They want to know. now that he
Is after their votes, whether he will re-
peat his words Of last year. when he so
numerically scored Belleville and ST. Clair
County for lynching the negro who mur-
Of Schools Hertel. 1t is believed that the
Governor will enter plea Of confession
and avoidance-confess that he did de-
nounce citizens of Believille as lawless
mob and then rub down the rough edges.
FEKETE RESTLESS.
George Rebham, Martin SchnIpper and
Editor Semelroth have charge Of the
Governors campaign in Belleville, with
Rehham in actual command. He has
promised to deliver Belleville right eide
up for the Governor. The attitude of Mr.
Fekete, Governor Yates's East ST. Louis
manager, is causing some apprehension to
the Belleville section of the State admin
istration. Mr.. Fekete has recently de
cIared that the Yates fight was not lev
Vile managers believe 1t would be the best
policy to be honest. and they know that
nothing would please Mr.. F'ekete, former
TO stick a creased and crooked dagger into
the political vitals of Rodenberg. He
would rather do that than carry the
county for Governor Yates.
<rrt,A 1fSNrr vr-nF NAN r(1rNy
hour. Rodenberg's absence in Washing
ton is likely to cost him the county. A
victory by Governor Yates means the
elinina ton of not only Rodenberg. but
Sheriff Thompson, too.
For the first time In history. st. Clair
County has practically no State appointees
to work for the Governor. In this respect
Governor Yates has given the county q
worse deal than any of his predecessors.
It sticks In the craw of a good many
faithful Republicans, and as he gave the
county an enviaole reputation Tor laWiesE-
ness last year. and advertised IL all over
the world. he alienated many Republicans
who supported him four years ago.
YATEs-SHERMAN DEBATE.
Governor Yates is down for a speech
at Belleville Wednesday night and East
st. Louis Thursday night. The friends OF
former Speaker Sherman are trying to ar
range for joint debate between Yates
and Sherman at the East 81. LOUIS date.
Judge sherman has telegraphed his con
sent to the plan. and the only thins that
stands in the way is acceptance by Gov
ernor Yates. The anti-Yates f-IctioI are
Dragging around the streets that Yates
is afraid of a test Of this kind with Shtl-
man, and are predicting he will crawl
out of II somehow"
The anti-Yates crowd includes friends Of
Deneen, Lowden, Sherman. Hamlin and
Warner. These are in combination
against instructions for anybody for Gov
ernor. Mr.. Deneen is in the county noS.
He was in Lebanon and the north side of
the county Monday. Hamlin and Sherman
are expected to arrive on Thursday.
The walking delegates" are already in
evidence. One of the Governors scouts ar
rived in Bellevile on Monday morning.
Freeport on the first train last Friday be-
fore the polls opened St Clair Repub-
licans are more hospitable. They will
probably welcome the flying squadron
and accept all the money 1t brings along.