The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-03
LORIMER'S ELECTION BLOW
TO OPPONENTS OF BOSSISM
Congressman Named to Succeed Hop
kins In Senate is Prince of Ma
chine Politicians.

w dSHlHStOHi May 2o.-NOI IN
Sany years has Washington taken
Eeener interest in a Senatorial fight
in any State than has been brought
to a climax by the election of Will
liam R. Lorimer as Senator from
Illinois to succeed Albert J. Hop
kins.
Billy" Lorimer has had a most
remarkable political career. When
Deneen was nominated for Cover
nor for the first time in the famous
deadlocked convention at Spring
field, Lorimer had made the best
fight he knew how to nominate
Frank o. Lowden. Lorimer went
away from that convention a politi-
cal bankrupt. A short while before
he had suffered defeat for Congress
in his Chicago district, and while
he was retired only one term, yet
it showed that he could be beaten.
He putsall his eggs into the Low
den basket and they went to
smash. Lowden looked like an
other political wreck; but he turn
ed around, ran for Congress in the
Oregon (Ill.) districts and has
been in the House ever since.
Lorimer was the bitter enemy
of Deneen at the time. Somehow
or other the Chicago boss and the
Governor have made terms, and
indications now are that they will
work together to clean up Chicago
and throw out the Busse oIganiza-
ton. After that it is hard telling
what they can do for Deneen. 1t
is hardly probable that Deneen can
be made Senator to succeed Gull
lom, because Illinois is strongly
prejudiced against letting both
Senators go to Chicago, and Deneen
and Lorimer both live in the city.
1t is not impossible that Frank
Lowden may come to the Senate
as one result Of the Lorimer VIC
tory.
\ But such an impossible lombina-
ton as that which made Lorimer
Senator may bring about almost
anything. Lorimer and Deneen
patched up their differences, but
they could not control. Then
they got enough Democrats into
their combination to make a ma
iority; and thus Lorimer stands as
the non-partisan, or bipartisan,
Senator. He represents both Re-
publicans and Democrats; machine
and reform politics. Deneen has
been regarded as a reformer; but
his combination with Lorimer
makes him also and decidedly the
practical politician.
It all means revolution in Hi
nois. There has been a powerful
protest in that State against ma
chine politics; but Lorimer is the
prince of the machine politicians.
AS a member of Congress he car
ried the fights of the Chicago
packers against the pure food and
meat inspection laws. The Re-
publican and independent press of
Chicago has been in the main
anti-Lorimer for years, and his
election is hard blow to the ef-
fects for the relief from bossism.
Lorimer has been accepted as the
friend of the big interests in Chi
cago traction and other like mat
tiers; and, as a Senator, he will
represent the annexation of pow
erful influence to the Aldrich or
ganization.
Lorimer came to Congress IA
years ago. He has rot become
much acquainted among members
of the House; he seldom takes a
hand in discussion on the floor.
Nobody in Washington knows
whether he can make a speech
for he never tries it. He seldom
manifests any particular interest
; in legislation, but at times he
4 busies himself and then proves a
q skilled and effective worker. He
made a good part of the fight
against the legislation for labelling
oleomargarine; and when the
meat-inspection fight came on he