Evening journal., 1908-08-12
The Reappearsnoo of AdIsi.

new YORK sun.
One of the salient results of the Iii
nois primaries was the choice of that
hardy old perennial. Adlai Ewing
Stevenson, as the Democratic canGl-
date for Governor. Both he and James
Hamilton Lewis, who was a good sec
ond at the polls, were put in nomination
for Vice-P President at the convention in
Kansas City in 1900 which nominated
Mr.. Bryan for President, and added
Stevenson to give the ticket balance.
Both Lewis and Stevenson are South
erners. the one a Virginian and the
other a Kentuclxian. There the re-
semblance ceases. Mr.. Stevenson is
a relic and Mr. Lewis a mere boy by
comparison--in fact he might be called
the leading juvenile OF the Democratic
party. Nevertheless Mr.. Stevenson al
ways has a political future and Mr..
Lewis only past that has receded far
enough to give him an appearance OF
age beyond his years. But the speech
/ of him bellies it.
How comes it that the mind OF old
| gentleman Of ante-bellum memories,
who was In public life before the birth
Of the Republican party and left the
| Vice-Presidency eleven years ago, be-
ing then wen past his prime, has re-
appeared on the active political list ct
the age of 73 in a period of robustious
radioalism which enlists the youngest
and crudest and most impudent7 How
can we account for the dousing of such
a torch of progress as Jim Ham Lswis
by a superannuated statesman who
] derives his certificate Of merit from the
old school OF politics that produced
Thurman, Hendricks and Cleveland
Does the first citizen of Bloomington
lag superfuous. shoulder his walking
stick and fight his battles over7 On
the contrary he Is always in the fray
as a regular Democratic candidate for
something.
Mr.. Stevenson has been described as
"a quiet man who does the bidding OF
his party" ''He would make a good
Selectman OF Abingdon" was the COM
ment of one who travelled a summer 5
day I'm his company. But Adlai Ste
venson was perhaps the most satis-
factory presiding officer .he Senate ever
had. And as an Assistant Postmaster
General he beheaded 1900 Republican
officeholders. The number may be
challenged. but not the cleanness Of the
sweep. The two circumstances dc
lineate Mr.. Stevenson. he is a thorough
paced partisan and one of the courtliesi
and most uncontentious of men. his
brother Senators liked him so muef
that when he retired they literally fci
upon his neck in an ecstasy Of grief and
George Frisbie Hoar's speech of fare.
well was one of the terderest concsp-
tions of his life.
Mr.. Stevenson has been on all side.
Of all questions and taken sides will
no one against anybody He is equally
esteemed by Mr.. Murphy. Of Tam
many Hall. Mr.. Hearst Of the Inde
pendence League, under whose auspices
he has spoken pieces: Mr. Taggart o
French Lick Springs, the Sage Of LIN
coin and Judge George Gray. He is tn
most adjustable Of statesmen in a tim
of swift mutation. and his spear-if on
can imagine Adlai carrying a pointe'
weapon of any kind-iznows no foe
Children like him. dogs push thei
moist muzzles into his willing pain
and boss politicians always conside
him available. In Mr.. Stevenson's cas-
the primary system proves that r.
original character and bounding Opt
mist like Jim Ham Lewis can hope Z
ALLEVIATE the affections Of an easygoin
people from a genial landmark, how
ever movable he NAV be.