Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-04
NO LONGER A JOKE
Reynolds nj. Johnson Giving Ma
gill Chase for Legislative
Nomination.
FACTOR aovERNoRsH1P FIGHT
Moline Swedish Element Backing
Former-Af6er Scalp
OF Meese.

dacy for the legislative nomination
was looked upon as joke, has attain
ed a position in the political limelight
that has forced the leaders in the Low
den camp to recognize him as form
liable rival for the place that has been
held the past two terms by Larry Ma
gill. Both Johnson and Magill are
from Moline. The former is lined up
with the Yates crowd. Magill is for
Lowden, and whether he is to triumph
depends largely on the showing that is
made by the gubernatOFial aspirant
with the barrel.
Johnson was brought forward as a
leverage on the senatorial committee,
of which Billy Meese is chairman, to
compel the changing of the date of
the legislative convention originally
fixed at Aledo March 10. When the
senatorial committee met all indica-
tons pointed to Lowden carrying the
county with flying colors, and in order
to be on the safe side Meese and his
fellows at the behest of Magill and
SamuelsOn, the latter from Mercer
county, both of whom wanted to be
returned to the Legislature, voted for
an early convention, fearing a change
in sentiment that might prove disaS-
trous to the two representatives.
Since then Samuelson has dropped
out. on account of the inroads made in
his county by the Lowden and Deenen
supporters. Samuelson is for Yates,
it is said, and when the senatorial
committee held its meeting at Bush
nell. he was confident that his county
would go for the governor, and he was
therefore. for an early convention. On
his return To his home camp he dis
covered Lowden and Deneen, rapidly
rising, each with legislative candi-
date in the field. Samuelson believed
he could hold the fort until March 10,
but when the senatorial committee
was forced by the Rock Island county
committee to change the date of its
convention to the 18th he abandoned
the struggle and lad down.
Where Larry Woke Up.
Magill. it will be recalled, suggested
to the Rock Island county commit
tee, in the course of discussion bear
ing on changing the date of the sena-
torial convention, that the committee
let. the original date stand and allow
him to chose delegation, that he
did not understand that, he was to
have opposition. Then ut was that
Larry had a crimp taken in him that
has caused him to wobble to this day
He is one of those who had not taken
JohnsOn's ambitions seriously. Larry
was informed by Chairman Knox that
there was another candidate, and he
was none other than johnson. Meese
came to the rescue of his friend Ma
gill, and the convention date was al
tered to suit the wishes of the county
committee, which, without consulta
ton with Chairman Meese or his fell
low committeeman. had set the coun
ty convention for March Is, five days
senatorial convention.
Albert Ed, of Moline, had been men.
toned by his friends as fit timber fol-
the Legislature, but he has been called
in. and Johnson pushed to the fore
with the Endorsement of the Moline
Swedish Republican club. an organiza
ton that is after the political scalf
of Meese. To get Meese the club must
defeat Magill. To accomplish this the
complexion of the delegation from
that city to the county convention
must be changed from Lowden t.
YatesDeneen. Deneen has a large fol
lowing among the Swedish element in
Moline, secured, largely through the
influence of Olson, his assistant IN the
Office of the states attorney of Cool
= Il
as his successor as Cook county prose
cutOr, and the Moline Swedish Repub
lican club has promised its support
for Deneen for governor. DIR. p. Oh
| Vessel is the head and front of the
| Deneen boom in Moline. While he i.
not in love with Yates, he and his co
horts have declared that they would
stand for him in preference of Low
den.
The monied element in Moline. anC
in Rock Island, too, is behind Lowden
Yates has the officeholders and theil
| friends, and Deneen has great mum
Der of the observation-disclosures, anC
| likewise is showing considerable
strength in the country districts.
Summing Injuries Lowden.
| A@C"NNh "oS dS
ing for clean politics." said a repubIi
can leader today, land 1 was for hin
until the developments of the pas
week, which have convinced me tina
the tactics he is adopting place him OF
the same plane with Yates. Had tn,
county convention been held a weel
ago Lowden would unquestionabl.
have won.
THE Summing that has been con
Quoted in his behalf has lost him tn
support of many conservative republi
cans and has pushed his stock dow
Ito point that makes il doubtful il
my mind whether he will have singh
vote on the state delegation. Yate
and Deneen viii split the delegation
mark my words, with the former hay
ing a shade the better of IL ~