Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-23

portant than an appropriation bill the
fact Is not remembered by men who
know Washington pretty well. He has
been an average machine member of
congress. and that is all. What there
is in him or his record that should
have made any one in the world think
him good material out of which to
make a vice president and possibly a
president of the United States passeth
all understanding. This is not to say
he certainly would not make good
president should fate call He might
CT might not; there is nothing in him
or his services to throw much light
upon the subject; it would be matter
of luck if he did.
In many states members of congress
used their influence for him. AS the
mafieeer of the campaign. that is. the
sol1cltoroef funds from New York cor
roratlons ana eastern manufacturers to
be used in electins members of con-
gress who could be 'depesided upon not
to do anything radical with the tariff
or with trusts or with anything eThat-
ever affecting the great game of MAX
ing money, and as the disburser of
that fund where it would do the most
good, he had earned the gratitude and
good will of many members. So they
went to work among their delegations
here in Chicago, and as there was no
avowed and formidable candidate in
the field, were able to line up for Sher-
man a considerable following in var
ious parts of the country. This was
done even before New York had got
ten out from under the Hughes incu-
bus and was able to take action openly
on the vice presidency.
Just as soon as Hughes was dis
posed of on that one presidential bal
| lot and the Empire state farce had
come to an end efforts were at once
made to get New York to indorse
Sherman. The truth is that up to a
| few days ago the Sherman vice presi-
dental movement was never taken
seriously. He was supposed to be real
| ly an aspirant for the New York gov
ernorship. Timothy Woodruff was the
man who. as usual, wanted to be the
New York candidate for second place
on the national ticket. All one time,
also, it was feared Governor Hughes
might be named for vice president.
| want this at all. Out through the
country Governor Hughes is very much
admired. 1t is almost everywhere be-
| lieved that he is moral hero. and a
moral hero who acts heroically even
when he knows he is going to lose
votes thereby. The sort of heroes
who play the heroic only when they
are going to win are common enough
everywhere. The trouble with Hughes
is that he played the role when he
knew he was going to lose, or, to be
quite accurate, when his party was
going to lose. And fine and noble
and highly moral and beautiful as his
racing bill is, New York republicans
know it may cost them the state next
November, and almost surely would if
it were not for Mr. Hearst's little knife
ready to enter the vitals of Mr.. Bryan
and take few twists there.
Being anxious to find some one to
avert all possibility of having Hughes
thrust upon them for second place,
and being anxious also to let Tim
Woodruff down easy-Tim is good
fellow, liked by all, despite his per-
ennial vice presidential bee-"Jim'
Sherman was trotted out. An Odell
man, machine politician of very or
binary attainments, virtually unknown
outside the borders of his own state,
few if any imagined at the outset he
had any real chance to land the prize
But at last his friends began to see
he really had chance, owing to the
peculiar combination of circumstances
in Chicago. The administration Taft
forces did not have candidate and
might not be able to find one. Uncle
Joe and his crowd were Logging for
Jim all around the town. A combina
ton was formed of men eager to make
sure that no Dolliver or Cummins OF
Beveridse or other progressive should
go on the ticket with Taft So i'm
| PAIooSu WOiC tiiC 4NCW IOIhtIS WIFI
} the brightness of the main chance
, which blind luck had brought their
way that they achieved the miracle
of getting together. All the diverse
factions in their delegation concluded
to sink differences and line up, like
the good. practical politicians they
are. to get something for New York
The Taft people were without a can
didate; there was no one else of i'm
portance in the field, and Sherman
won out easily. What luck! Not un
like that which made president Of
5 the United States out of really nice
and rather dandfied and gay collector
of the port of New York some year.
, ago-Chester Arthur.
RI The republican candidate for pres
ident was chosen in the white house
: 1t is pity, many republicans think
: that the candidate for vice presiden
/ was not chosen there also. He would
) have been but for the attitude of tn,
, Allison-Perkins faction of Iowa. The,
must take their share of the respon si