The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-05-24
YATES MENACED
BY TWO FIRES
Political Maneuyering Suggests
Both Ends Against Middle.
A TOOL OF RAILROADS
WHILE CORPORATIONS ARE AR.
RAYED AGAINST HAMllN
AND DENEEN-PuLLMAN
FOR LoWDEN.


Influences have played an important
role in the Republican govenorship
fight and will keep it up until can
didate is nominated. The convention
has developed into battle of thG
corporations, as well as the candl
dates, because big Influences have
been unable TO agree on any one OF
the candidates, and, for this reason
the corporate influences have not
been felt so severely in the conyen
tion
GOV. Yates has placed himself be
tween two fires by political maneu
vering that suggests the playing )i
both ends against the middle, the
Decatur Manufacturers association
sent representatives to the conyen
ton 10 use every possible influence to
defeat Yates denomination. Three
weeks before the convention assem-
blcd the association bitterly attacked
Yates in a pamphlet issued to the pub
lie. The attack was based on the gov
vernor's dealing with the railroads
and the manufacturers of the state
in the latter's efforts to obtain 4 re
ducel freight rate, or at least rate
equal to that enjoyed by surrounding
states
Hearings were had for nearly a
year before the railroad and ware
house commissioners, and a 25 pr
cent reduction had been promised,
but It failed Of realization, the pamph-
let declared, because Of big contribu.
lions 10 the Yates campaign fund by
the railroads Of the state. To pacity
the manufacturers Yates emissaries
promised to rcmoyc Col Ike" El
wood from the railroad and ware.
house commission, and as soon as
Yates was renominated. TO put the %
per cent reduction in freight rates in.
to effect.
So important a political deal as this
could not fail TO reach the ears of the
railroad scouts, and then there was
trouble. Col Ewood switched De
Kalb's total vote from Yates to Low
don. and Immediately the governors
lieutcnants fell upon EIwood's neck
to know the reason for the change FL
wood is said to have replied that n
he was to be removed from his job as
soon as the governor was renomina'
ed, it would be foolish for him to as
sist in bringing about the nomination
Elwood refused 70 believe that he wae
msinformcd about the executive
promises to the manufacturers and
demanded a signed agreement with
Yates. Elwood does not care to long
er remain a target for criticism, so he
suggested that Yates promise in writ
ing to name his man. Park Sedgwick
a banker of Sanwich, as his successor
on the commission. The promise was
duly executed, and DeKalb county
went back to Yates. Bat the double
dealing was not without the know
edge Of both the railroads and the
manufacturers, and neither has much
confidence in any benefits TO be dc.
rived from rcnomnating Yates
The Pullman influences are WORKING
with Col. Lowden, and, because of
that fact. a lot of rival jealous cor
porate influences are against him.
Because of Hamlin's connection
with the railroad and warehouse com
mission. as its attorney during Tan
ner's administration, he is not obicc
tiOnable 10 the railroads. bat the cOai
combine refuses absolutely to stand
for him The coal trust has a gricy
ance because OF fIamlins action
against il last winter. when with
States Attorney Chas +. Deneen, hc
went into the courts of Cook county
and secured an injunction which
sounded The death knell Of the trust
that had then sent the prices of coal
up. Besides the coal trust opposition
to his candidacy, Deneen is opposed
by other big corporations which Jared
badly during his tenure Of office as
states attorney in Cook county
An army Of insurance agents at
tended the convention, and they viii
come back next week to continue the
fight on Hamlin The big Insurance
companies, without exception. are op
posing HamIin's candidacy, because
ef his pronounced stand during hi
reign as attorney general against in
surance pools and trusts One of
these suits is still pending at Belle
Vile in ST. Clair county. and is like
" to terminate disastrously to nearly |
a hundred companies that are iuvoIy
ed The fight is against a local board |
of underwriters having power TO fN |
prices for all Insurance. While the |
Insurance companies admit taat the |
combination is plain violation of the |
law. they say the combination is az
soluteIy necessary to proteoI properiy |
and The insured. as well rs them |
selves Similar boards Of underWrit |
ers are in existence not only in all
the largest towns in Illinois, hut all |