Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-27

mer, former governor and major
general in the Civil war, was the
democratic candidate. Larry" was
selected to make the nominating
speech. There were 1O1 democrats in
the general assembly, an even 100 re-
publicans and three independents. A
constitutional majority was 1O3. The
independents therefore held the bal
ance OF power. A deadlock ensued. II
lasted over two months. The presence
of every democrat was. absolutely
necessary at every roll call. for no one
knew when the break would come.
At an unfortunate moment, Larry"
fell i'll with violent fever. But he
never missed a roll call. In absolute
disregard Of the physicians orders, al
( though unable to raise his head, he
was carried every day for over a week
to the assembly chamber on a cot and
| placed by the speakers chair. When
| his name was called, he voted for Pal
mer--feebly. 1t is true, but he voted
/ and his vote counted, and Palmer was
I elected.
Larry got well, OF course, but he
had risked his life for what he con-
! sidered principle.
Larry" was reelected to the lower
house OF the legislature and then to
the state senate. Youngest member of
that body also, he was, nevertheless,
the unanimous choice OF his party con.
! ferees for president OF the senate and
was chosen floor leader for his party.
NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR.
At the age Of SO. Larry" was unani-
mously nominated for governor of L.
linois by the democratic state conven-
ton, the youngest candidate for that
Office in the history of the state. He
was not elected, it is true-that was
before the bull moose days and Illinois
was outrageously republican-but he
made clean. manly race, ran 10000
votes ahead of his ticket and made
for himself an enviable state reputa.
ton. AS a token of good will, the re-
publican governor who defeated him,
turned around after Inauguration day
and made Larry" presiding judge OF
the state court OF claims.
But the browning act of 'Iarry's"
political career was his race for Unit
ed States senator in 1908. He was
nominated at the democratic prI.
maries. carrying every precinct in the
state. Former Senator Hopkins was
the republican nominee. Republican
politics was much perturbed and many
republican members refused to vote
for Hopkins. A deadlock ensued-
one that has gone down in history and
in its results worked a revolution in
politics the nation over.
This deadlock lasted over five
months. The result? Well, perhaps
you have heard it-one William Lori
mer. of Chicago. was finally elected
by what was called a bipartisan com
bination.
The sequel is well known. Charge:
OF bribery and fraud filled the air. 4
senatorial investigation ensued and
: then another. There were indictments
trials. ruined reputations-the nation
watched the tragedy-and finally an
expulsion from the United States sen
ate-the first n the history of tbs
country.
Through the entire deadlock, Larry
stood firm. unflinching, resolute. fight
ing daily for five long months for the
integrity OF the peoples primary and
for honest elections. And he kept VI
this fight and lost, but never sur
T rendered.
EMERGED CLEAN.
From that struggle and the tire,
years OF investigation which followed
: Larry" emerged with clean hands and
an honest heart From the fiery fur
. mace he came. but with no smell o.
3 smoke clinging to his garments. II
that tragedy. he was the one acto
: upon whom the limelight fell and dis
closed no sinister deed nor action.
And through it ell Larry did NJ
Boosting. INDUCED In no paroxysms
! exhibited no wounds, claimed no credi
> simply moved on in the modest
! quiet. peaceful tenor OF his way. jus
: as he has always done throughout hi
I entire political career.
And that's one reason why the PEG
pie % Illinois in 1912. while givinI
Woodrow Wilson a plurality Of 1851
made Larry" their congreesman-at
large for the whole state ovsr-on tn
4 same ticket-at the same elecdcn-by
II -