The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-04-09
In Illinois Politics The
Hottest In Years
And Both Factions Are Claim.
ing The Victory

to be made today. TnrOuBn an act
passed at the eleventh hour by the
legislature in special session the vot-
ers of both parties are to have an op-
portunity to express their preference
for the presidential nominations.
On the presidential question Illinois
is not only almost pivotal but puzz-
Ter. President Taft is supposed to
lead on the Republican side, but local
conditions make it difficult to estimate
what may happen. The various straw
votes taken by the Chicago newspap-
ers exhibit a preference for Roose-
welt over Taft but the Presidents fol-
lowers say that these results should
not be taken too seriously. About the
only statement that can be made with
absolute certainty is that feeling OF
equal confidence seems to pervade
both camps on the eve of the battle
The situation on the Democratic
side appears to be even more tangled.
Unprecedented political students, how
ever, are inclined to believe that much
depends upon Roger Sullivan, the Illi-
nois member of the national commit
tee and for many years the most in
huential leader in the State. Sullivan
has no use for Bryan or any of his
candidates, and as Wilson is supposed
to be highly favored by Bryan, Sulli-
vans power, or what remains of 1t,
will be thrown against the New Jer-
sey candidate. Hearst is helping
Clark and the Harmon men are equal
ly active. The outcome certainly can
not be predicted.
The names of multitude of candi-
dates will appear on Tuesdays ballots
for United States senator, representa-
tives in Congress, governor and other
State officers and members of the leg
islature, not to mention the many can
didates for county and municipal Of
fees.
Three Republican candidates are in
the field for the toga OF the venerable
Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom, who as
pires to another term. They are Hugh
S. Magill, the so-called progressive
candidate, former Lieutenant Cover
nor Lawrence Y. Sherman and Will
liam Grant Webster. The general
opinion is that Senator Cullom will
win out J. Hamilton Lewis, former
ly a congressman from the State of
Washington but now Chicago law
yer, is the sole Democratic candidate
for United States senator.
Eight Republicans and four Demo
Gratis are seeking the governorship
Governor Deneen heads the Republi
can list as candidate for renomina
ton. Len Small, of Kankakee, is the
Republican candidate, who has
the Endorsement of the so-called
Lincoln League, an organization com
posed almost wholly of men \who are
friendly to Senator Lorimer. John e
w. Wayman, States attorney of Cool
Co., is looked upon as the person
al liberty" candidate. Walter Clyde
Jones, of Chicago, is the standard
bearer of the ultra-progressive factor
of Illinois Republicans. Charles F
Hurburgh, of Galesburg, claims con
siderable following Richard Yates
who was governor some years ago, i.
in the field again. The other candi
dates for the Republican gubernatoria
nomination are j. McCan Davis, clerl
of the State supreme court, and Johl
J. Brown, of vandalia, who is person
ally strong in the southern part of tn
State
There are four entries In the Demo
cratic race for the governorship, bu
it is In reality a threa-cornered cor
test among former Congressman Be
F. Caldwell, of Springfield; Samue
Alschuler, of Aurora, who was tn
Democratic candidate in 1909, an
Edward F. Dunno, former mayor G
Chicago.
Candidates for lieutenant-governol
secretary of State, treasurer. attorne
general and other places on the Stat
ticket, and also for representatives
Congress, are numerous on both ticl
cts. The Prohibitionists and Socia
lists have named one candidate eac
for the various places to be filled,
The nominations of the Republica
and Democratic tickets will be but tn
beginning of what is expected to /
the hottest political battle Illinois he
seen in 20 years. The Democrats hay
carried the State for President an
Governor just once since the civil wa
They won the electoral vote for Gro
Ell Cleveland in 1892 and elevated job
p. Altgeld to the executive chair IL
same year. Not since then have the
been so sanguine of victory as the
are today, The factional rows In IL