The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-06-09
JOHN MITCHELL
FOR GOVERNOR
STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
LIKELY TO LAUNCH HIS BOOM
THIS WEEK.
A. {. STEVENSON ALSO
other Candidates Likely to Be Cast
In Shadow BY These Two-Al'
schuIer May Decline to Be
Considered.

Special to The Bulletin.
Springfield, H., June 8.-There is a
strong probability that John Mitchell
who achieved fame az the president
of the United Mine Workers OF Am
erica, will seek the Democratic homl-
nation for Governor OF LIMOS. Inc
State Federation of Labor Is to meet
in Springfield within a few days, and
there is a good deal Of talk to the
effect that the Federation will place
the distinguished labor leader in the
field for the goyernorship, But his
only hope of winning will be as the
regular candidate of one Of the great
parties, and as he is a Democrat ma
turally he would be expected to try TO
secure the nomination at the hands
OF the Democratic party.
1t is said that Mr.. Mitchell personal
" Is not much inclined to enter the
contest under the prevailing condi-
tons If it were possible for the Dem
ocratic state convention to assemble
and by a unanimous vote hand him the
nomination for governor, no doubt he
would be glad to take it. But under
the new primary law no such proce-
dure Is possible. In order to get an
office under this law, the candidate
must go after it," he cannot remain
under cover, or in dignifield silence,
until the convention thrusts the honor
upon him. There Is to be no con-
yention: the nomination goes to the
candidate who Is able to muster the
highest vote at the primaries.
That being the case, John Mitchell
is rather reluctant, 1t Is said, to en-
ter a scramble for the gubernatorial
nomination If he could have the
unanimous nomination OF state con
yention, as would have been possible
under the old system, he is we'll aware
that he would be strong candidate.
But under the primary law, with hall
dozen or more candidates in the field,
a plurality nomination may mean such
a division of the party as to make
election in November Utterly impos
sible. 1t is recognized that there are
several men seeking the nomination
who are pretty strong in the party
and Mitchell. with all his popularity in
the ranks of labor, might not be able
to command plurality vote. He
would have to take chances in the
primaries with the rest.
II Is this uncertainty in the situation
that causes Mr.. Mitchell to hesitate
If he becomes candidate it will be
only after a thorough study of the
situation and in the belief that he vii
get something like half the vote al
the primaries. If Samuel Alschulel
becomes a candidate for Governor
Mitchell probably will keep out HI
is said to be of the opinion that Mr.
Alschuler should again be the nom
inee of the party this year. Absolute
continues to hesitate, and it Is doubt
full that he will enter.
There is a story from Bloomington
TO the effect that Adlai E. Stevenson
former vice president of the United
States, would like to have the Demo
cratic nomination for Governor bu
he Is In much the same frame of min'
as Mr.. Mitchell. 1t would be a 10,
for the veteran Democrat to have tn
nomination rendered him by a stat
convention. but to go up aud dow
the state seeking votes for the nom
nation is not to his liking. Nothing
is likely to come of the suggestion
that the other candidates retire fron
the field. leaving Mr.. Stevenson will
out competitor. Col. Lewis, John /
NcGorty. Douglas PattisOn and other
who are candidates, avowed or on
tentative" are too much in earnes
to take a back seat. 1t would be
fine compliment to one OF the grea
men of the party to tender the nom
nation to Mr.. Stevenson, but no sue
a thing is looked for.
There is no rivalry so far for an
office on the Democratic state tick'
below the governorship. Indeed theI
are no candidates for any
the so-called minor" offices excel
that of clerk of the supreme cour
For this office John l.. Pickering
Springfield is a candidate, and up
date is without opposition. He wi
probably be conceded the nomination
He is a well known newspaper corr
spondent, with an extensive state
uuaintanee. and there is no probab
ity that any candidate will appe
who is strong enough to defeat hi
for the nomination Mr.. Pickering wi
the candidate of his party for tn
Office six years ago and ran ahead
his ticket. but the Republican maio
ity was too large to be overcome al
he was beaten.
MOAN DAVIS