Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-23
WILSON KEEPING
OUT STATE FIGHT
Decides Not to Join Secretary
Bryan in Opposing Sulli-
vans Candidacy.

washington, ID. T., July 23.-Presi-
] dent Wilson will not join Secretary of
State Bryan in any campaign in Illi-
nois against the candidacy of Roger C.
Sullivan for the United States senate.
This was determined at an import
ant conference at the White House
yesterday between the president and
the democratic national chairman VIII
liam F. McCombs, when the political
situation in Illinois and New York was
discussed.
Tremendous pressure had been
brought upon Mr.. Wilson in an effort to
induce him to join Mr.. Bryan in de-
nouncing Mr.. Sullivan as a boss and a
reactionary democrat.
Before his departure for Europe SEN
ator Owen called on the president and
urged him to support the movement in
the primaries against Sullivan's nomi-
nation. The president merely listened
to the argument.
Mr.. Owen asserted that the demo-
cratic party, to be successful, must
avoid the nomination of such a man as
Sullivan, and to defeat his nomination
the president should take an active
part in the campaign and use his infiu-
ence to bring about combination on
candidate whom the administration
could back.
Senator Owen, however, was one of
the supporters of Speaker Clark for
the nomination at Baltimore. Mr.. Sui
livan threw the vote of the Illinois del
egation to Mr.. Wilson.
From other sources earnest repre-
sentations were made to the president
against Mr.. Sullivan. Secretary Bryan
has been anxious that the president
should declare objection to the Chica-
go candidate.
1t is violating no secret to say that
Mr.. Wilson has been somewhat embar-
rassed by the part the secretary of
state has been playing in the Illinois
situation. He did not deem it advis-
his own ''handsoff policy" but intima-
tions have been conveyed to the head
OF the state department that members
of the cabinet should follow the lead
of their chief.
The secretary, however, has declin-
ed to remain quiet.
The entire Illinois situation was dis
cussed during the White house confer
ence of the day. Secretary of the Treas
ury McAdoo, who has talked over Illi-
nois politics with the president, is
to Sullivan, and SO. It appears,
is Chairman McCombs.
The upshot of the days talk was
that the president should refrain from
making any statement for or against
Mr.. Sullivan. The fact that he does
not indorse the attitude of his secre-
tary of state may be regarded from all
that can be learned as indirect sympa-
thy with Mr. Sullivanss aspirations.
When Mr.. Wilson goes to Chicago in
September he will not speak on poll
tics. He certainly will make no decla-
ration concerning the senatorial race.
If Mr.. Sullivan should be Nominated
the national committee and the admin
istration will give him support as a
democrat.
So the results of the days confer
ence as figured here are all advantage
Gus to Mr.. Sullivan.
Certainly the attempt to draw the
president to support Mr.. Stringer, in
which are said to have participated di-
rectly or indirectly Governor Dunno,
Mayor Harrison and Senator Lewis,
has failed. 1t is a defeat for the anti
Sullivan crowd, though not an affirma-
tive victory for the object of their hos
tility.