The Cairo bulletin., 1911-01-03
NO PREDICTION vENTURED ON
sPEAkERsHlP CAUCUS AT
SPRINGFIELD.
SITUATION IS CHAOTIC
Almost Rivals That Two Years Ago
When Shurtietf treopIe Refused
To Attend Republican
Caucus.

predct toliht with ami degree OF
certainty tine outcome Of tom0rroW's
speakefship caaicus OF the Republican
membcrs-eiect to the Attn Illinois gen
ersl assembly. The situation tAat ex-
lists here probably was meyer more
chaotic or uncertain just prior 70
the holding Of the caucus.
Everything depends upon the ac.
lion OF former Speaker Edward Shurt-
left and his followers. He has been
careful since his arrival
here early taday. not to say anything
tnat might commit either himself or
his followers.
Neither he nor any Of them havr
SAID anything to indicate that they
Will not attend the party caucps and
in the selection of Re
publican speaker.
II Shuft,eff and his followers are
given proper assurances that the Sc
lection Of only house officers will be
brought before the house caucus II
is reasonably certain that they Will
Id It and give tneil sup
port to the caucus nominees.
Were it not for the little harmony
talk that foated through hotel corri-
dors late this evening, the situation
might be readily described as rival
ing that Of two years ago, when
Speaker ShurtIeff aud his band rel
fpscd 10 participate in tho caucus.
and gained contrcl of the house or
gani2ati0n through an alliance with
the Democrats The situation to.
night differs in that there ave not, mp
to this time, any protest refusals to
attend the cauepsi
HepresentatYe Homer ] Helce, Of
Tl.llula. is In the field for tfe hosor
of presiding over the house delibera-
tons, He is Objectionable to the
Shurtlefi people ouly IN that several
Of the organization are Deneen mel
supporting him 1t is net charged
that ne is a Jeneen candidate, but II
lis asserted that the governor coulC
readily accept MIN as the lesser 3,
several evils.
Representative E T. King, d
Galesburg; Geo II Wilson. OF Quln
cy; H. ]. Pierson, Of Chicago; H. -
kirkpatrick, cf Benton, anf Gso Y
Hamilton, Of Watseka arc consid
ered Objectionable to the sSnrtl II
followers, for the reason that taei
were closely allied with the goye
nor's forces two years ago.
OF these five, Representative Ham
iton is believed 80 be the least obiec.
tiunable.
With fifteen candidates, either
prospective or avowed, eaea expects
the lightning to strike in his lirec
ton. and consequently no one wants
to give up without a sNugg'e. It Is
openly asserted that several candi
dates have no other purpose IN view
than to muddy up the water but witt
II all no one wants to quit While there
is yet a possible chance Of success.
Efforts to trade or perfect deals BY
which combinations might be affected
were attempted during the day, but
nothing deSnite came from these try
outs
OF the l53 members of the nous'
81 are Republicans, GS are Democrats
2 are Independent and ! Prohibition
ist or the SO Republicans AZ viii
constitute q majcs'ity OF the caucus
In order TO test the sentiment the
names of Representatives Atkins ant
Hull We're proposed to the Shuttle;
men today They were asked II elite
one of these would be acceptable Al
chairman Of the caucus.
Representative Fiagg was suggest
ed as secretary of the caucus Anti
Deneen Republicans resentfrl Of wha
they called interference by the ad
mnstration," refused tonight to tax
any definite stand Ii relation to th'
speakersnip contest. Several of Then
said their position in the nattei
would be determined by the attltud
of the administration supporter
when the Republican caucus con
yenes.
A repor circulated today In whici
ii was stated that all Republicans
who would not agree to stand VT
The majority on he caucus decisions
woull re read out Of the partyoangef
od he Shurtlef men. They attribg
cd ne origin of the run.or o mel
close to the governor and iutimate'
that Governor Deneeu had thereh
shown bad faith in the matter of re
publican politics
--------------
DEMOCRATS ARRIVE.