Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28
Result Uncertain When Con
vention Reconvenes.
FOUR CANDIDA 7 E s
BRIEF SKETCHES OF EACH OF
THEM.
What Deals May Be Made-Will All
Help Elect the Man Who Gets
the Nomination.
81 Correspondence of The Evening Star.


CHICAGO. May %. 1904.
When tie Illinois republicans get together
again in state convention next week there
will he a situation of national interest.
1'tey rather like that. for they hope to fur
nish TIE presidential candidate In 1903. and
they know that whatever centers attention
o. Illinois helps to increase the influence of
the state.
While the contest for the nomination for
governor has drawn the attention of the
hole country. it does not follow that the
whole country. or even the republican
party as whole. is seriously concerned
about the outcome. There is in reality
state contest going on, and nothing more.
Al understanding of western politics is
necessary to appreciate the exact situation
and to realize how II will all be over within
a week after the nominatio is made.
Senator Hopkins told friend that the
state ticket would be 2o.OcO votes stronger
than il the governor had been nominated
OH the first or second ballot. There is at
least as mucr ground for this opinion as
for the belief that republican prospects VIII
be In danger. The republican leaders know
the conditions which may arise next fall
that will make the state fighting ground. If
not doubtful. but these probabilities do not
relate to party affairs or anything that can
be controlled by party machinery.
No Sulking or Treachery.
The Illinois republicans have had dead
locks and stormy conventions in past years.
usually however, growing out of struggles
for control OF the state. in national con-
vtntions But whatever the cause, the
party sentiment of loyalty always has as
serted itself and no encouragement has
been given to sulkng, while treachery
Hcver has been tolerated
L. 30, NbA
deadlock do not show an unwholesome po-
litical condition. 1t happens that several
good men want TO be governor, and as only
OF them can be nominated, there has
been a very thorough canvass of the state
to gain the lead. The significance SO far
has been that, in spite of the earnestness
of the struggle and of the intense ambition
of the leaders In 1t, no bad blood has been
shown. One reason for this is that all the
aspirants for the honor are not only good
politicians. but pretty fair men and citi-
zeus They even admit that of one an
other and they can't work their own par
tisans up to a frenzy when this is the feel
ing.
There are four leading candidates. These
are Governor Richard Yates. who seeks re-
nominations; States Attorney Charles ). De-
neen Private Citizen Frank o. Lowden
and Attorney General Hamlin. The latter
has not shown up strongly IN the votes,
but he holds an advantageous relation when
the forces of the other candidates begin
to dIsintegrate and Is entitled to rank with
them.
Governor Yates having been in office four
years Is the target Of the most opposition.
The Chicago newspapers have criticised his
administration very savagely. and he has
hit back Just as savagely. He has sur
prised both his friends and his enemies
by the strength shown, not only In get
delegates. but In holding them. The whole
machinery of his administration has been
employed to secure his denomination. This
machinery is what is known as the Tanner
organization. having been built up by John
II. Tanner, whom he followed in the office
OF governor 1t includes some of the keen
est politicians in the state. That is why
the Yates delegates were not swept off their
feet during any of the fifty odd ballots
taken by the Springfield convention. They
are old hands at combination and think
they hold the key to the final one.
Good Type of Country Boy.
Mr.. Deneen is a candidate of character
and of force. He has the support of some
of the liberal and reform elements within
the party. though his success heretofore
has been as part of very compact party
machine He is good type of the country
boys who come to the big cities and make
their influence felt 1t Is hardly a score
of years ago that he spent weeks, as l
have been told. tramping the streets of
Chicago trying to get place in some law
yer's office and after visiting two hundred
of them finally secured desk and chance
10 work.
He went into politics and within few
years had a group of city wards whose
votes always We're at his command in con-
vention- He was nominated states at
torEey eight years ago by what was known
as the Lorimer machine, and he has made
an unusually good and courageous public
official. He broke with his old associates
and took two-thirds Of the machine leaders
with him. BY their aid and the support
of the reform element he defeated Repre-
Gaf npft,N In, 4.
county primaries. electing three-fifths of
the delegates and nominating the county
ticket Representative LorimeF for ten
years has been the undisputed head of the
Chicago party organiza ton but in this last
contest he was forced aside Now States
Attorney Deneen is the leader or boss.
Controlling good majority of the Chicago
delegation. he hoped and still hopes to Sc
nominate him.
Naturally Representative Lorimer and his
faction. who still have a good deal of in
nucnce are bound TO prevent that what
ever else may happen,
The candidate who is directly arrayad
against Deneen is Frank o. Lowden. Like
MS opponent he was a country boy and
came from Iowa to Chicago To practice
law, lie married the daughter of George
NJ Pullman and is one of the directors OF
tie Pullman Company. Some years ago
lie made known to his friends his political
ambition and he became a popular stumr
path which most ambitious men take and
go TO the legislature. but for personal rea-
sons he did not do this. Many of his
friends think that il was a mistake. for the
sentiment Of the party has been rather
against nominating a man for governor
who was without any experience I'm office
holding However Mr.. Lowden canvassed
all the counties of the state for the nom
iration and secured a fair support With
the delegates which the Lormer organiza.
ton was able to give him from Chica &c
he has been almost abreast with Governor
Yates in the voting. He makes yer,
good political speech and is of the highest
personal character. that even thos,
who oppose him would not feel that the
state or the republican party was going t.
the dogs should he be nominated
Cook county. which means chiefly Chica.
go, has one-third OF the delegates to the
state convention. With a united delega.
ton il could secure the nomination The
rest of the state comedies this But tn;
rest OF the state also does what IL can tt
keep Cook county divided. In that wa,
the plum tree may be shaken for the benefit
OF the country.
A Little Light on the Situation.
While no one can guess who will be the
nominee OF the convention when 1t reas
-sembes a little light streams through the
darkness. With the Deneen and Lorirnei
factiOns continuing af Su-ordc' mint ~.