Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-11
SENATOR LEWIS
WILL ENTER RACE
Party Leaders, Concerned Over Re.
tention Of Control, Promise
Strong Support.
HAVE HOPES FOR LUCKY TURN
Believed Formal Announcement Of
Candidacy VIII Come in Early
Part Of July.

Washington, Feb. 11-Despite his
tntimations to the contrary, Senator
James Hamilton Lewis will be can
1idate for reelection this fall.
This now appears to be fairly def
nitely settled. Some of Senator Lewis
political associates in Chicago who
have been in Washington during the
last few days have insisted that he
should make the race. On top Of that,
administration Democrats who are
concerned over retention OF control OF
the senate have given him assurances
of strong support.
War developments and the POSSIBLE
ity that because Of the unusual condi-
tons of the normal Republican plu-.
rality OF 10000 may not prove insur-
mountable have caused Senator Lewis
and his friends to feel somewhat more
hopeful than was the case a few
months ago.
Quiet campaigning in Senator Lew
is behalf will be started in the near
future. 1t is the senator's intention
to announce his candidacy for reelec-
ton possibly in May or June, but not
later than July 4. The primaries come
in September.
In interviews at various times dur
ing the last few months the senator
has said that he might not seek re-
election on account Of his health. The
inference has been drawn that he felt
it a waste of time and money to make
the campaign with the bull moose
party out of the field and the contest
narrowed down to two parties. Sena-
tor Lewis still talks in the same vein
for publication, but his intimates say
his views are changing.
1t is recalled that Senator Lewis
was the sole candidate for the sena-
torial nomination in the preference
primary in the spring of 1912 when no
one dreamed that Democrat had
Chinaman's chance Of election. How
ever, the split in the Republican party
occurred that summer. The Illinois
legislature the following winter was
deadlocked between parties and COM
bination of Republicans and Demo-
Cid GU OUNCluOI DuAuCS
Senator Lewis and Senator Sherman
a Democrat and a Republican-th
former for the long term and the lat
ter to fill the Lorimer vacancy, were
elected.
Hopes for Lucky Turn.
Senator Lewis had the last laugh on
that occasion and just now he has a
vague notion that he may fool the
wise politicians again. He doesn't
know quite how he can overturn that
Republican margin Of 10000, but in
these history-making days when all
presidents are thrown to the winds
and each week brings some event that
wasn't supposed possible before the
war he has dim notion that he might
turn the trick At any rate he figures
he might regret it if he withdrew from
the contest and then the situation
suddenly shaped itself so that a DEM
ocrat could wQ.
One of Senator Lewis theories is
that as the peace talk develops new
lines of cleavage will develop which
may bring third senatorial candidate
into the election race on some sort Of
a war issue. With this candidate and
the Republican nominee both repre-
senting elements opposed to the ma
tional administration the advantage
might rest with the Democrat.
It is not thought likely that Senator
Lewis will have any serious opposi-
ton for the Democratic nomination in
the September primaries. The fact
that the senator is in the good graces
of the administration would tend to
keep opponents out of the field.
Seek Republican Support.
Republican senatorial candidates
are busy seeking support among the
Illinois congressman. Out of 81 Re-
publican congressman, one is for May
br Thompson, two for Charles S. De-
neen, about ten for Medill McCor-
mick and the others neutral or doubt
full.
Congressman at Large William E.
Mason is the sole Thompson support
er. 1t is said that he does not intend
to be very active for the mayor as he
intends to seek reelection and does
not want to make unnecessary trou-
BILE for himself.
Congressman Martin B. Madden,
who has been affiliated with the may
Or's forces in the past, has already
stated that he could not support him
this time because of his views on the
war. II is rumored that he may come
out for Mccormick.
The two Deneen men in the delega-
ton are William W. Wilson. who rep
resents the Deneen district in the En-
glewood section of Chicago, and Niels
JUL, one Of the Deneen members Of
the Republican committee of Cook
county.
Some Of the old-times in the delega-
ton like Cannon, Mckinley and Ro-
denberg have not committed them
selves to any candidate
Congressman George E. Foss OF Chi
cago still has ambitions to be candf-
date. He has been feeling out senti-
ment for many months and hasn't con-
WINGED himself up to date that he
shouldn't run. Others in the deiega-
ton, who were once talked of as pos
sible candidates, like Madden and Nc
Kinley. have definitely eliminated
from consideration.
BANQUET AND DEBATE AT
THE TABERNACLE CHURCH
A banquet and debate will be held
at the Tabernacle Babist (colored)
Fifteenth street and Twenty