Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-08
Several Combines Talked
at Capital by Return
ing Legislators
LIKELY A REPUBLICAN
Shurtleff and Shanahan Are Ad-
vanCed by Forces Seeking
to End Contest.

Springfield, Ill. Feb. s.-The sixth
week Of the 49th general assembly
today promised to develop both the
climax and denouement in the legisla.
tive drama, which mas held matters
of state at standstiH since the first
of the year. Assemblymen returning
to the capital are practically unani.
nous IN their predictions that before
the week is over a speaker OF the
house VIII be chosen and that body
well started on the road 70 business.
Here are some OF the possibilities
in the situation as seen by various law
makers:
The selection Of a speaker through
an agreement in the republican house
caucus.
The election OF a speaker through
a combination OF Dunno democrats
and members of the republican side.
The naming of speaker by BIZ
partisan organization of Browne demo
Gratis and wet" republicans.
The selection of a speaker who ls
not a member of the house.
Of the foregoing possibilities, the
and their selection OF a speaker with
out democratic support appears the
most likely.
Many Republicans Osgusted.
When the party caucus adjourned
last week many of the participants
were thoroughly disgusted with the
situation and were ready to abandon
further efforts TO reach an agreement.
II is expected the republican caucus
will be called again before Tuesday
mornings session of the house. but
there is no indication that the situa-
ton will differ from last week.
House democrats, who are friendly
to Governor Dunno and the state ad-
will make a supreme ef-
fort this week to effect a winning
combination with members of the re
publican side that win land in the
speakers chair a republican not an
to the administration.
The big handicap in this movement
Is that all dry" votes in the house
On both the democratic and republican
sides must be included in the combi-
nation 4 number of democratic mem-
1ers who are friendly to the governor
IRE allied with the wet" interests and
therefore are opposed TO combining
With the "drys."
Shanahan or shurtlef.
Sentiment among both republicans
md democrats seems to center upon
David T. Shanahan and +. D. Shurt-
eff, both republicans, as the two be
ween whom final selection must come.
f the Dunno democrats are able TO
eliver sufficient votes 10 elect
peaker it is probable that Shurtlefr
sil preside II the republican caucus
cts together upon a candidate II looks
Ike Shanahan is the lone possibility
.pparently few outside OF Browne and
is supporters expect that element to
rganize.
Talk of the possibility OF electing
peaker from outside the membership
+ the house started when former Lieu
snant Governor John G. Oglesby ap-
cared on the floor of the house The
primer official was warmly received
nd before he left the chamber Will
am p Holiday of Georgetown had
.arted a boom for his selection as
1eaker upon the assumption that the
1nstitution does not prohibit such
stion.
Later in the week the proposal re-
lived serious consideration. Secre.
ny of State Lewis G. Stevenson also
as being urged 10 say whether he
ould accept such additional honor.