The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-08-27
BRYAN IS STRONG
IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS
BUT CLASH is ON BETWEEN OLD
RIVALS FOR CONGRESS IN
sHoEsTRiNG DISTRICT.
WILLIAMS HAS HOPES
But Republicans Figure on Big Major
ity For Chapman--Democratic
Leader Has Strong Fol
loving of Workers.

Vienna, Aug. 26.-Ex Congressman
lJ. r. Williams, commonly known tt
gressional District of Illinois as Bob
! Williams, the statesman from the Wa
bash, and Contest" p. T. Chapman
the present Congressman, represent
ing this district, are again opposing
candidates in the race for congress a.
/ the comng November election. This
is the race the politicians of both part
les have been desiring to see this
year, and the people have their eyes
open in anticipation of one of the
ahrdest fought political fights in the
history of the district
This congress ,onal district, known
as the "Shoestring,' was gerrymand
cred while Chapman was state sena
tor from the Forty-fourth District. and
is a product Of his own political ambi-
ton to crafty his desire to go to con-
gress, but he made only one mistake
in his work and that was to leave Bob
Williams in the d strict
While the district is supposed to be
normally $500 Republican, Chapman
was defeated by Williams by 253 IN
1902, and in the second campaign in
1904 was only elected by half the us-
uaI majority, 1896 votes over VIII
iams during the landslide when his
majority should have been 5000.
This year the situation Is more ia.
vorable to Williams than it was in
either 1902 or in 1904 The Demo
cratic vote will be larger than at any
election since 1890, while the Repub-
licans will poll their usual off-year
vote, which is 1000 less than at the
presidential elections. The popular
Bryan wave, booming the Nebraskan
for the presidency. has given the Dem.
ocracy a new lease CT life in South
ern Illinois, where the voters are pre-
pairing to pave The way two years in
advance. Many voters stayed at
home rather than vote for Roosevelt,
and would not vote for Parker under
any conditions, but they are coming
out to vote again this fall The en-
ragement given Mr. Williams by
members Of both the Democratic and
Republican parties TO enter this race
was greater than at either of the form
er campaigns While the Republican
papers of the district are applauding
the record Chapman has made in
some of thu papers telling Of
what a splendid congressman Chap
nan made before he participated in a
session of eongre $, the voters are
asking what he has done.
Old Time Rivals.
Chapman has attempted to equal
VIII ans record as a friend to the
bid soldier, and by making a deal in
which he delivered this congressional
district TO Cullom for Senator. the
federal crowd with Cannon as speak.
Pr of the house of sentatives.
ct few pension bills introduced by
'hapman pass. and he will on these
grounds attempt to usurp Williams
llace in the hearts OF the old veterans
If the district The soldiers have |
lot forgotten that Williams stood by
hem twelve years a. congressman. /
While Chapman has only been in one /
ession Of congress and may forget |
hem in the next
The outcome of this race decides .
he political fate OF Chapman in this
istrict. He enters the campaign with /
dissatisfied party. and other ambi;.
'us Republican y litiC'ans believe
hat If he is defeated i'm the approach
lg election that he IS down and uri
hey k-ow that IL he wins bo will be
be nominee for wears To come and
an SEQ no possible way # defeating
i'm before a conventirn. becaaae they
10 well remember the contest over
be- Gallatin county delegation four
ears ago. when a set Of delegates IA.
orable 20 Chapman. selected by
ImD convention. was seated over the
'gular selected delegates Of the corn
central committee. thus defeating
olcnel Randolph Smith. Of Clay
ouniy. for the nom nation.
Wicker. now supreme Judge from
ie First SuBreme District. was the
lairman # the convention and made
le ruling favorable io Chaoman's in
RESTS Nickers was made to feel /.
.e wrath ~ the Republicans in bis
8ureme bencs from the FIRST Dir f
irf- whe1 Mr BCggs carried the
weuiy fourth c-nErresfonaf over
.cker for Supreme Judge in the
o. jHd cisl election.
n The black counties IN fhe :
ufhern end Of the district. the color
voters are ND in arms over the
II The c0lorcd candidates on