The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-06-26
(By willis j. Abbott

center Chicago is dead. The republi.
can forces have gone east. the dem
ocratic forces are going west by
/ every train. To some extent it might
seem foolish to send political let
ter from this city at this time, and
yet there is one democratic issue
now pending in Chicago, but which
will be presently removed to Denver
that may be of some importance.
The only really vital contest for
delegates which will appear before
the committee on credentials at Den
yer will be that coming from Cook
county, Illinois. There are other con-
/ tests. The fight between McCarren
and Murphy, between the Brooklyn
organization and the Tammany organ
ization is vital to that particular
section, but not important to the
national campaign committee. But the
fight in Chicago is important with
out expressing an opinion on either
side, would like here to explain
1t dispassionately and without sug-
gestion as to how It should be deter
mined. The primary law of the state
Of Illinois provides that I'm certain
counties of which Cook, which in
cludes the city of Chicago is one,
primaries should be held In May for
a state convention The primaries
held under the so-callcd regular or.
ganizatiOn were called in April. The
convention was held in April. Be
latedly the managers of the con
vention which was called to elect re-
gents of the state university and
presidential electors, found that their
convention was Illegally called and
that their nominees would be, If
chosen, without legal standing. so
they refrained from making any
nominations. They recommended, but
did not nominate regents and cleo
tors. But they did nominate and elect
delegates to the national convention.
Now the question arises whether
the delegates chosen at n conven-
ton which was admittedly Illegal are
the legal delegates. This question is
somewhat complicated by the fact
that the cOntesting delegation which
will go to Denver is equally illegal.
Its members We're chosen at a time
not within the purview Of the state
primary law Mr.. Roger Sullivan goes
to Denver with a delegation which
is technically unlawful. Mr. Robert
T.. Burke follows him with a delega
ton which is frankly admitted by
many of its members to be no more
, legal. The fight before the commit
tee on credentials will be between
two contesting delegations, neither
one of which by the strict letter of
the law can be regarded as holding
legal claim to recognition.
Now here comes the curious part
of il. Cook county, the bone OF con
tention between Roger Sullivan and
Robert h. Burke, has twenty votes.
If the Budke delegation should be
seated, it, in conjunction ith the
delegates controlled by such tried
and true Bryan men as Milward f,
Dunlap of Jacksonville or Judge
Thompson, would control the dele
cation and hold it for Bryan first
last and all the time. If the Burke
4 contestants are unseated, the Illinois
delegation will be organized in ia
vor of Mr.. Bryan in the convention
but not TO be trusted during the
election. And finally If the time
, honored precedent in contest OF
this sort should be put in effect
and both contesting delegations seat
u ed with one-half of vote for each
u the delegation would be split ever
and nobody could tell how the vot,
"A would be cast either for the nomine,
a or for the national committeeman
y who is yet to be elected.
This | offer as a mere statemen
OF what is involved in this Illinois
contest How serious it may becom
before it emerges from the commit
tee on credentials at Denver nobod
can tell But the possibilities bacl
: of it seem to me very importan
= more so even than the fight be
tween Murphy and McCarren Il
New York.