Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-19
CRAIG IS LEADER
Chosen by Democrats as Thar
Chief in illinois Assem-.
bly,.
ACTION BY STATE COMMITTEE
Will Hold Caucus Jan. s.
Republicans Discuss Speak
ership.

Representative-elect Isaac B. Craig
will be the democratic leader of the
house in the Forty-fourth general as
sembly of Illinois The announcement
has been officially made by members
of the democratic state committee
Representative B. NJ. Mitchell of Chi
| cago. who bears the honor of being
dean of the minority" will issue the
call for the caucus, which will be held
| in Springfield the evening of Jam >.
| for the election of leader for the
| majority.
The contest for the leadership really
| was between . Representative-elect
Craig, Thomas Tippitt and James NJ
Gray. all dOwnstate members, although
Mr.. Mitchell announced he would be
candidate. The democratic state COM
mittee evinced preference for Mr..
Craig, and it's choice is said to have
been perfectly satisfactory to the DEM
ocratic members of the house.
Some Objection is Made.
At first some objection was made
to the selection of Mr.. Craig because
he had not been a member of the legs-
lature since 1898. However, his long
experience and his ability to stir up
trouble for the majority when neces-
sary Outweighed the objections to his
opponents.
Mr.. Craig entered the legislature in
1888 as a representative of the thirty
second district. He served in the
house in the thirty-sixth thirty-sev-
enth and fortieth general assemblies
and in the senate in the thirty-eighth
and thirty-ninth. representing the for
tieth district.
He was leader of the minority in
the house during two sessions and
demonstrated his ability to consoli-
date his forces and make a stubborn
fight. His home is in Mattoon, Coles
county, where he is a practicing attor
ney. His present district is the thir
ty-fourth.
Spenkership Talk.
While the democrats were adjusting |
their differences the republicans still |
were talking over the speakership. All /
the candidates are said to have
pledged themselves to accept the
choice of the administration and sup
held in Springfield the afternoon of
Jan. 3.
The only candidates at the Great
Northern hotel in Chicago Saturday
were Robert e. Pendarvis and Wilfrid
Arnold of Galesburg. Charles T.
Cherry and Charles II. Backus of the
district, James Z. Taggart
Of Ridott. Israel Dudgeon of Morris.
Everett c. Hardin of Monmouth, and
John b. Castle of Sandwich, were the
only other republican members about
the lobby. They were met by Mr.. Ar
mold and Mr.. Pendarvis who talked
with them at some length regarding
the situation.
Speakers From Down state.
Mr.. Cherry and others asserted they
had reason to believe a down state
man would be selected for speaker.
Their reason for this belief was that
Chicago was asking so much legisla-
ion that the leaders believed the down
state legislators should have the /,
speaker. :
Gov.-Elect Deneen and State Chair ,
man West will be in Chicago the great ,
ar part of the week and a definite an :
is expected shortly after ,
Mr.. Vests return Tuesday evening.
The Woman's Republican Deneen =
hub will present Gov. Deneen, at his
a white satin panel bear
ng the names in gold letters of tie
members of the republican state cen =
rial and county committees and +
arge number of Original Deneen
men," Mrs. F. II. Greene, president h
If the club, will make the presenta- 7
ion. N