Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-23
consequences will be very disastrous
to the republican party"

consequences will be very disastrous
to the republican party"
Not nm Extreme View.
This is not an extreme view. On
the contrary, 1t is precisely the view
that is entertained by hundreds of
well informed republicans, and few of
them care to go on record as prophets
of party misfortune. They are willing
that you shall understand that they ap-
preciate the gravity of the outlook, and
that they possess information calcula-
ted to justify the fears which they en-
terrain, but they would rather not say
in words, as the old campaigner quot
ed in the foregoing did, that Deneen's
case is hopeless. Nevertheless, they
know it is.
Curiously Deneen alone of all the re-
publican leaders who have headquar-
ters in Springfield. thinks the republi-
can candidate for governor is going to
be successful. He cannot or will not
conceive the possibility of defeat.
IL In to Win.
when l go into a fight, l go in to
win, and l propose to win," is the way
he explains his optimism.
"But. governor" said one of his
friends, this fight. is different from
any other fight you have ever partici-
pated in. 1t possesses elements of
danger and uncertainty that l have
never known to be paralleled in an
Illinois campaign
THAT does not alter the fact" the
governor retorted, that I have a pre-
vious majority of 100000 upon which
to rely, and l don't think you or any
body else will contend that that will
be wiped out this time"
Perhaps tnot; l hope not" said the
governors pessimistic adviser.
Relying Upon Luck.
Thus it will be seen that Deneen
is relying partly upon his luck and
partly upon the hope that the phe.
noEenal party majority of 1904 can.
not be extinguished in 1908. To per
sons who are familiar with the trapped
austerity of Deneen's character and
his seeming devotion to the ultra ma
terial aspects of life, the knowledge
that he has vein of superstition in
mis- makeup, will, doubtless, come
with a shock. For his fatuous reli
ance upon a fictitious plurality after
4 campaign that was unprecedented
abnormality can be charged only tC
superstition.
Concrete instances of desertion oil
the governors cause are pouring into
the state capitol and the federal build
ing, where Senator Cullom sits in
lonely grandeur in such torrent as
to threaten to overwhelm everybody
concerned. 1t is little wonder tina
Senator Cullom appealed to the Lore
| to deal gently with Deneen. The ole
gentleman had made daily, hourly ap
peals of a similar character to earthl!
| sources that never before had failet
him in time of trouble but with sucl
uniform lack of success that he felt
perhaps. there was no resource lief
but offer a prayer to heaven.
| Letter Went Wrong.
/ OHe astonishing DIT Oi llllOTmdtlOi
that has reached Springfield relate
to a letter which was received ant
lopened at the Grand Pacific headqual
tiers in Chicago. 1t was from a wei
known republican of Winnebago cour
ty and purported to describe the e,
tent and magnitude of republican re
volt and dissention in that county
The letter, obviously was written 70
the information of Chairman Doe!
chenstein of the democratic state con
mittee, but the writer, either force c
habit, or by reason of clerical blul
der, addressed it to the Grand Pacifi
instead of the Sherman house. TIL
information it contained was not r,
assuring. 1t stated, among othe
things, that at least 1000 republican
of Winnebago are going to vote fC
Stevenson and presented list of Sc
eral hundred recalcitrants who wei
openly proclaiming their purpose
cast their votes for Adlai Stevenson
| 1t is hardly necessary to add that tn
receipt of the letter did not bring jo
TO the patriots on the one hundre
IL &c