Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-13
Hosts Assemble at Capt.
tai for State Con-
VentiOn.
OPENING TOMORROW
Sharp Contest Over
Chicago Factions
Expected.

Springfield. June 13.-Democrats of
Illinois are assembling in Springfield
today for what may prove, as did its
its republican predecessor. conven-
tiOn memorable in the history of Hill
nois politics. There is no indication
on the surface of protracted strug-
gle such as gave exceptional fame
to the two-sessiOn cOnvocation re-
Gently held here, but there is
Just as much interest, Just
as much determination and just
as much enthusiasm manifest in the
preliminaries. From the present ap-
pearance of things there is not so apt
to be a serious division on the point
of presidential compliments or in
structions as the case may be, as on
the control of the convention, and the
succeeding composition of the state
central committee. The Hopkins
Harrison war which has been tearing
the party in Cook county for the past
four years has been brought into the
convention, of course. and with ii
comes its effect upon the status of
the Hearst candidacy.
City is For Hearst.
With the HOpkins-IIarrisOn imbrOg-
Ito eliminated there is no question as
to how Cook county, at least would
line up on the Hearst issue. As it is.
the candidacy of the New York con-
gress man and editor is so tangled
with both the Hopkins and Harrison
factions that il is difficult to asccr-
tain at this stage of the proceedings
which will profit the more by reason
of it. The absence Of a known alliance
on the part of either Hopkins or Har-
risen with the Hearst boob but com
plicatcs the situation. Under its rule,
the state central committee makes up
the roll of the convention in tempOr-
airy organization. John p. Hopkins is
the present chairman of the state cen
trail committee and is supposed to con-
troll the committee. Whether he will
ally himself with the Hearst contin-
gent where there are contesting dele
cations or will rely upon his influence
among the delegates independent of
the presidential preference, and thus
permit Harrison and Hearst to enter
into a combine offensive to the state
central committees program is a
subject of absorbing interest at the
present time.
Hope to Effect Understanding.
The uncertainty of the situation
has developed a feeling of mistrust on
all sides of the factional controversy
that is always unfortunate. and which
may lead to tilts in tomorTow's con-
vention that would otherwise be
avoided. Notwithstanding all this the
conferences now pending, and which
Will be held tonight may result in such
an understanding as will make the
convention not only harmonious in
every sense but productive of the
best results possible to the party and
to the people of the state.
Apart from the issues spoken of
little is apparent to agitate the con-
vention. Amply supplied as the con
vention is with material for the Cub
ernatoriaI nomination. all who have
either been discussed in that cOnnec-
tion or are in the field actively as as
pirants for the honor. are so willing
to subordinate personal ambition to
what may be for the highest good of
the party, that there Will not be that
marked and lasting bitterness in the
contest that was so conspicuous in the
late republican convention. Despite
the fact that Hon +. V. Hurst has so
frequently disavowed his candidacy
for the head of the state ticket. he
has some admirers here from all over
the state who do not hesitate to de-
clare him the most available man in
the democratic ranks to defeat De
neen. and il is fair presumption
that il only would have required con-
sent on Mr.. Hurst's part to have land
ed the nomination for him. Like Mr..
Hurst. Hon. Samuel Alschulcr. of
Aurora. who led the party in the state
four years ago. is great favorite. and
* frequently discussed in connection
with a second nomination. regardless
of the fact that he felt compelled in
Difference to the condition Of his
health TO put a quietus on the men,
tion of his name some months ago.
Other Candidates.
Others prominent before the con-
vention from whom the candidate may
he picked are the following: Hon.
Lawrence b. Stringer. Lincoln. Logan
county: Judge Thomas A Morgan,
Chicago; William Prentiss. Chicago;
Judge Owen P. Thompson, Jackson