Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
NO CHANGE rs LIKELY
ILLINOIS HOUSE DELEGATION
EXPECTED TO REMAIN AS NOW.
Republicans Hope to Garry Two More
Districts, While Democrats Are
Counting on Getting Three.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO. November 3, 1904.
Illinois congressional delegation is ex-
pected to stand after election just about as
1t does now-eighteen republicans and seven
democrats. Republicans believe they have
excellent chances to carry at least two OF
the democratic districts-the eighth Chi
cago district. where strong opposition has
developed among the democrats against
William Preston Harrison. the mayors
brother. who is the democratic nominee.
and the twenty fourth, an exceedingly close
district On the other hand the democrats
are counting on carrying at least three re-
publican districts-the twenty-second, rep
resented by Representative William A.
Rodenberg of East ST. Louis; the twenty
fifth represented by Representative Geo.
w. Smith of Murphysboro, and the sixth,
in this city. in which William Lorimer was
elected by small plurality two years ago.
The First District in Chicago.
A spectacular and uncertain three-cor-
nered contest is being fought also in the
first district in this city, where democrat
and an Independent republican are striving
to defeat Martin B. Madden. one of the
Lorimer machine leaders.
The first district is normally republican
by 1900 votes, but the republican candi-
date, Martin B. Madden, was defeated by
Col Martin Emerich, democrat. two years
ago by 74S majority. This indicates Mad
denis unpopularity His counsel record
counted strongly against him. This year.
however, it is charged that with the aid OF
his close friend. John P. Hopkins. one of
the democratic leaders, he arranged
scheme to make his election a certainty.
Through Hopkins influence Emerich was
refused a denomination and John S. Och
man, a man whose only distinction was
brief council record, was named to oppose
Madden by the first district democratic
congressional convention. That Oehman is
only stalking horse for Madden has been
openly charged from public platforms by
nence in the district. AS a result of this
feeling an Independent movement was
started, and David S. Geer a young repub-
Hcan lawyer of decided ability, was nomi-
and Oehman. Mr.. Geer has made a vigor-
Gus campaign and has been received every
where by large and enthusiastic audiences.
Both republicans and democrats of inf1u-
ence have spoken in behalf of Geer and he
and his friends declare he will carry the
district by heavy plurality Both the
populist and the prohibition candidates
Geer.
The Sixth Chicago District.
Ia ZIG SiAlH SIlCdSO ulSlTlCl OppOneHlS
of Congressman William Lorimer are
again making determined effort to defeat
him. He carried the district. which is sup
posed to have republican majority of
$500 or 5000, two years ago by plurality
of 9s5 votes against a weak candidate.
Lorimer has been the republican boss of
this state for years, but his power was very
largely shorn away when the Yates and
Deneen forces united to control the last
state convention II iS admitted nv hiS
most enthusiastic enemies that he has made
a good congressman. His democratic OPP
ponent this year is George P. Gubbins. who
has made vigorous fight on Lorimer and
declares that he will surely defeat the con-
gresham. Arthur Gourley, the prohibition
candidate, has received the support of many
prominent anti-machine republicans and
democrats. He has made strong, agrees
sive campaign, and his friends believe he
will be elected by handsome plurality. 1t
is generally believed however, by unbiased
politicians that the three-cornered fight
makes the election of Lorimer a certainty.
Fighting Mayor Harrison's Brother.
The eighth district, one of the strongest
democratic districts in the city, it is feared
by many democrats is likely to go repub-
lfcan this year. The district, which is on
the northwest side, under normal conditions
has a democratic majority of over 5000,
but Mayor Harrisons machine forced the
nomination of his brother, William Preston
Harrison, clubman and north side society
leader, who has had no more serious occu-
patton than travelling abroad or leading a
cotillion up to this time. He moved over
into the district from his luxurious Lake
Shore drive apartments shortly before the
convention was held. He was bitterly
fought in the convention by Alderman and
State Senator Stanley Kunz, the boss of
the eighteenth ward
The TwentyFourth District.
Tr tba
man Williams was elected over Pleasant T.
Chapman, a civil war veteran, two years
ago by a plurality of only 252 votes This
year Chapman is again the republican cam
didate, and is making a harder campaign.
AS there is much apathy among the demo-
Gratis of the southern part of the state, they
being chiefly Bryan men, Chapman is con-
tidently predicting his election.
Representative Rodenberg's Fight.
Representative William A. Rodenberg of
East ST. Louis in the twenty-second dis
trict, Is having a hard fight to retain his
seat in Congress. He was elected at the
last election by 20S1 votes, and this year
he is opposed by a much stronger, more
popular and aggressive democrat in the
person of ]. Nick Perrin, fiery orator and
campaigner of the whirlwind order. 1t is
believed that Rodenberg will win, but Per-
rims personal popularity is so strong in this
district and he is conducting so vigorous
a campaign that the result is considered
doubtful by many republicans. The vote
is expected in any event to be much closer
than it has been heretofore.
The Twenty-Fifth District.
Another hard and close fight is being
waged in the twenty-fifth district. Here
Representative George w. Smith of
Murphysboro' is opposed by Charles Otrich,
democrat, of Anna. Smith carried the dis
trict two years ago by only 1,34O majority,
and democratic leaders of the district assert
that Otrich will win.