The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-12-19
UNDERSTANDABLE SIGN OF SEcRE.
TARY'S ASPIRATIONS FOR
PRESIDENT,
IN THE PRIMARY LAW
conjurno With Roosevelt's Name
and Seeking to Shape LegisIa
ton at Springfield to Suit His
Purposes.
speciaI 70 rhe BnlletIn.

Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. IS There are
lcertain Illinois politicians who with,
in the past few days, have seen signs
lcf the hand of George b. Cortelyod
lin the recent controversy IN the legis.
Nature, In connection with the primary
election bill, as to the manner of
selecting delegates to national con-
mentions. 1t will be recalled that the
lOglesby bill, as it went through the
HOUSE, provided that the delegates TO
all national conventions should be
lehosen at the primaries; that the sen,
late adopted an amendment (among
lothers) providing tht such delegates
should be selected by conventions;
THAT the bill with the senate amend
lments having been referred to joint
conference committee, the committee
Twas deadlocked for three weeks on the
national delegate question. 1t was
suspected at the time that Gov De.
ineen was behind the opposition to the
Iso-calied Cannon amendment" for the
lchoosing Of national delegates by con.
yention, for it so happened that the
chief opposition came from members
known to be friendly to the governor
and it happened also that the amend
lment was opposed by certain news.
papers closely identified with the
state administration. The opposition
finally melted away and the confer
ence committee agreed upon the Can.
| non amendment"
But it is admitted now, in the light
Of recent developments at Washing
ton, that Governor Deneen may have
had but little to do with inspiring or
Encouraging the opposition AT the
time the matter was under considera.
ton, George B. Cortelyou secretary Of
the treasury, had been but little
thought OF in the west as a president
ial candidate Recent disclosures
show that he has been quietly at work
| in the Southern states, his managers
adroitly working under cover of the
Roosevelt third term propaganda.
bnt taking care, according to the pro.
gram mapped out. to have delegates
selected that would eventually switch
to Cortelyou. President Roosevelt
unexpected announcement the other
day, that he adhered absolutely to his
original determination not to accept
another nomination for president "un-
der any circumstances, put an end to
the third trem" disguise of the Cor
telyou campaign.
Information of the most authentic |
character comes from Chicago to the |
effect that within the past thirty days |
Mr.. Cortelyou sent two emissaries TO |
Illinois to feel the party pulse" and to |
lay few wires in the prairie state |
These emissaries-men of long ex- |
perience and recognized ability as /
politicians-wer in the state at the |
very time the Oglesby bill was under
consideration in the legislative con-
ference committee. 1t is not difficult
to see now how important it was for
Mr. CorteyOu TO block any legislation
that might mean a solid delegation for |
a 'favorite SON" With the delegates
chosen by convention, there could b.
no uncertainty as to whom they rep
resented They would be for Mr. Can.
non beyond question, and would stand
by him as long as he might be a can.
didate. But II the delegates could b.
named by a primary vote-if several
hundred candidates for delegates
could be brought Quit was certain
that in the resulting confusion. several
men would get on the delegation that
could be induced to oppose Mr.. Can
non, and then the state owuld present
The spectacle OF a divided delegation.
and the chances Of the Illinois candf.
late would be greatly lessened.
II VIII be recalled that when the
Dglesby bill was in conference com
nittee there was an urgent demand
hat IL provide for an advisory vote"
IN presidential candidates. This also
1t into the Cortelyou program. as now
disclosed. Although It Is we'll under.
stood that there is no rivalry between
ehh Ae'taFfftAf Wac
persistent effort. during the legislative
lebate, to make It appear that the
Cannon amendment" to the primary 2
iii was a scheme TO keep Roosevelt a
rom getting the state delegation. !
Igain the hand Of Cortelyou. II IL now @
declared. Roosevelt was a name to {
onjure with. II he continued his pol G
cy of silence, and there could be an J
advisory vote" IN Illinois. the state a
rOuld probably declare for Roosevelt q
amen would be out OF the running p
Roosevelt delegation would 20 20 :
he national convention to be con .
-onted very likely with a final mani
ssto from the president declining an
Their nomination-and then 20
switch" 70 Mr.. Cortelyou.
The scheme thus credited TO Mr.
ortelyou was abort the cleverest bit
political strategy uncovered IN Hi &
bis politics since 1850. when William q
a.. Seward d New York sought 10 a. g
ne the Illinois delegation and thus
event Lncoius nomination. n
J. Moan DAVIS.