The Cairo bulletin., 1907-12-25
4 BIG YEAR IN
ILLINOIS POLITICS
FIRST TIME IN OVER DECADE
THE-E WILL BE WARM
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST
CONDITIONS SIMILAR
When Lincoln and Grant We're Nom.
nated---No Primary Law ID Be
Enacted In Tine---~cT-
mttees Control.
Special 10 The Bulletin.

Special 10 The Bulletin
Springfield. ILL.,, Dec. "A. All t',e
signs point to great activity In pol
tiles throughout the state yergs early "a
the new year. The action Ell the Re.
publican county central committee in
Green county last week was net with,
cut Significance. The COMMITTEES
went much further than county com
lmittees ordinarily 10 so early In tn
campaign. 1t adopted resolutions en-.
|dorsing Cannon, Hopkins. Deneen
and other candidates, including A. G.
Matthews for lieutenant governor.
Andrew Russell for state treasures
and Bred e. Sterling for secretary CT
state Further the committee de-
clared In favor OF the enactment OF
primary law. But 1t cannot be said
that this foretokens what will be dsna
III other counties as to candidates it
II proof of early activity and rest
less desire in the state to '-get busy
iEl the campaign or 1908.
Il It is expected that BY the mildle
M January II will be pretty clear wslnt
the Legislature n gcing M do as to 4
urinary law. The conclusion VIII
have 4 good deal to do with dstersn
ining the course OF procedure In tile
several counties. RI II be definitely
settled that there is to be no pri
mary law, or that the primary law
enacted Will not take effect In tims
for the coming campaign. there III
likely tu be movement in d number
OF counties for early county ccnven-
tions. or course. so far as the Re
pu blicnns are concerned. the state
central committee may step Ii sith
call for state convention aad
specify II tho call just how and when
the delegates shall be chosen. The
power OF the state committee to do
this has not been so far seriously
Thus the COMMITTEES
could fix the date IN which all county
shall be held. and that IN
TACT is what the committee Is quite
likely To do.
But ii the state committee In the
call. should say nothing
as to the manner OF selecting dee
estes, we may expect a good many
early county conventions.
Everything indicates that 1878 will
be the biggest yea. in a political way
hat Illinois has seen In many years
For the first time In a dozen yeas
here Is to be real contest In the
Republican nationas convention over
he presidential nomlnation.-Athe most
exciting combat. in all probability.
in the national political
irena since 1880. when GEN Grant
fought third term and when jams
A. Garfield carried uff the nonsinatiop.
rhe state of Illinois has a presidential
.andldate now. as :t did in 1889, and
he national convention Is TO be held
n Chicago next year. as II was In tire
ormer years when Illinois captured
he nomination--in fsC0 when Lincoln
was nominated, and in 1868 when tia
silent soldier" Gen Grant was
named for president. But besides TIA
interest which attaches to the nresf
lential contest, there Is 10 be live'y
fight over the eovernorship. and
United States senator is 10 be elected.
These events, along with the con
tests for subordinate places. are suffi'
rient to stir the state as it has net
been stirred for a long time. AMI
This without saving anything as. to
what may happen On Democratic poll
Tics
II Is a time -honoiei custcm u ho'd
a Republican love feast" in Sprilg-
Geld early in presidential years anl
II Is probable that srch an event viii
occur in the latter part of January.
II will be nominally a meeting OF the
state central committee hnt IN fart
will be gathering OF leading Revub-
leans from all paris Of the state. Can.
didates will be given an Opportunity
to exploit themselves and some key
note" speeches will be made
]. McAN DAVIS.