Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-29

parison. At any rate, he is little diff
ferent from any of his contemporaries,
in thought, expression, actions and ap-
pearance, and wherever you put him
does not fail to attract attention.
Physically. he is as homeIy as they
make men, and yet his face,
with its strong lines and the
marked resemblance 10 Lincoln, is
singularly attractive. His manners
are almost awkward, still he IS always
self-possessed, if not assertive, in any
company. 4 greater contrast than the
one between him and J. Ham Lewis
could not possibly be imagined. His
speaking voice is shrill, almost rasp-
ing, but he can hold an audience from
the moment he starts speaking. His
dress is Of the simplest. Two suits OF
clothes probably comprise his entire
wardrobe. But there is no affectation
in this simplicity. Il is the Sherman
way of doing things and entirely nat
uraL
During his earlier days at Spring
field, when It was a constant struggle
TO maintain himself against powerful
enemies, he was the JOY and delight Of
all newspaper spondents. His
Caustic epigrams and home-striking
philippics always meant q news item.
and as a coiner Of political slang he is
siugularly gifted It was Sherman
who named the Illinois and Michigan
canal the tadpole ditch" the political
game wardens the rabbit shepherds,
and the members Of the governor
staff in their respondent uniforms "the
sunburst colonels." and the terms still
are familiar
. Mr.. Sherman was first elected to the
. legislature in 1896 from the district
| OF which McDonough county was q
part Previous to that he had been on
/ the local bench and was well known
all through the Military Tract,
where his popularity was so great as
TO be remarkable.
During his first term at Springfield
his ability was so generally recogniz
ed that he was elected speaker the
next session by practically unanimous
consent, and then came the accession
Of the younger Yates TO the governor
ship. The conflict between Speaker
Sherman and Governor Yates was ir
reconciliable. There was a chasm there
which neither diplomacy nor expedi
ency could bridge, and Sherman knew
nothing OF diplomacy and cared less
for expediency. The speaker had op
posed the nomination Of Yates to the
last, going down with Congressman
. Reeves on the final roll call in the con
vention. He did not approve of Yates
advisers, had no use for Yates politica
methods, and something like contemp
for the Yates mentality. Lorimer wal
the power behind the Yates administra
ton and Sherman detested Lorime
and LOrimerism.
Naturally Yates tried TO defeat hin
for reelection as speaker, but here tn,
governor met defeat at the start Of hi
term. Sherman's friends formed ma
jOrity of the republican membership
Of the house, and, refusing all offers 0
patronage if they would desert thei
leader, they marched to the caucus il
a body, taking the middle of the stree
so that all Springfield could see AM
count them. There are Al of US
count us-47," said big Charley Cher
~. who led the procession, and in I
was Tice. the leader of the republ
can minority in the present legisls
! ture.
p Sherman was reelected and for tw
years there was war between the COY
eruGr's chamber on the second 600
of She sratehouse and the house {
. representative on the third. The nez
session. however, Yates used the stat
patronage with enough effect 10 cleo
his friend. Representative Mile
T. speaker, with the disastrous result
the history of the state has recorded.
Then came the state campaign {
I 1904, and Sherman. among a lot {
others, was a candidate for the go,
l. ernorship He had the Militar
p Tract" with him and prepared to g
b into the last ditch II necessary. Tt
d regular love feast" of the party ha
{. been called for the winter before an
- all the candidates were there.
2 In the front row Of the stage in h
5 arsenal sat Yates. Sherman. Frank c
e Lowden, Congressman Warner, Alto
ney General Hamlin, Charles S. D
u neen, the candidates, each with a car
T fully prepared speech in his poke
u warranted so innOcuous as not
II scare a fly of a bald head.
n Yates finished first, and mis- auC
1t ence, largely composed Of state d
/ pointees, applauded enthusiasticall!
= Yates. who always was theatrical, s.
down. suddenly sprang again to h
feet and shaking the corner OF lar,
hanging flag, shouted: 81 move III