The Washington herald., 1920-09-20
Notes of a Political Scout
Situation as 1t Exists in Illinois-HoW Tam
many Feels About National Election.
About Robert Emmet Burke.

thought. and to strengthen in
power reactIOnaries and the enc
mics Of progressive ideas"
The rc-clection. by Increased
plurslities, though by a decreased
total vote Of the ive Socialist as
semblymen who were expelled from
the New York Legislature last win
ter offers a puzzling question 20
the reactionaTy element in New
York politics. Ther6 was never any
question as to the legality Of the
mems first election. In their as
sembly districts the Socialists out
numbered either the Republicans or
the Democrats. There are three
congressional districts in MAnhst-
tan where a like condition exists
and in which the Democrats and
Republicans have fused TO prevent
| the election Of Socialist represent
stives. But while this cooperation
Of the old parties was resorted TO
In the assembly districts Il failed
and the expelled Socialists have
been returned at a special election.
Their expulsion was very widely
condemned at the time. and this
evidence that IL has not diverted
their Constituencies from their con
tinued support will be regarded as
new proof Of it's Unvisdom- As
semblyman Culvillier, who was sc-
tive in pressing the original eXpul-
sion, declares that he will oppose
the seating Of the men now, de-
spite the vote Of confidence from
their districts Speaker Sweet joIns
in this.
Robert Emmet Burke. who car
ried Chicago in the Democratic pri-
maries for United States Senator
but who has probably been beaten
by the vote Of the downstate dis
tricts, is a relic Of byEone political
days in Chicago. He made his mark
by organizing the independent cam
paign Of the elder Carter H Har-
rison for mayor. about 1883. Har-
rtson was beaten-or perhaps
counted out-but he smashed the
local Democratic machine which
Burke-a genius for organization
thereupon rebuilt. winning the
election with Harrison two years
later. After Harrison asSaSsins-
ton Burke retired briefly. coming
to the front later with Carter "
Harrison, jr.. whose advisor and
lieutenant he was in his first sue
cessfUl campaign for the mayoraf-
ity. The younger Harrison. how
ever. was less loyal TO MS friends
or perhaps more considerstc Of tr.
public service, for he oOon elected
Burke from ofice and power and
denied him further influence. Since
that period Burke has but ono,
emerged from obscurity. namely. tn
1916 when he broke the slate Of tr.
redoubtable Roger Sullivan. and
. d InH
Louis on a onc-plank platform -
opposition 10 Wilson. His vo-,.
alone in that convention was cas-.
against the Presidents reuoulns-
tion. which Chairman Glynn. there
upon. with contempt for so puny
an opposition. declared unanimous
The Democratic senatorial nomjns-
ton in Illinois this year has rot
been regarded as worth much
There has been no contest for IL bv
eminent men, BUTke's opponent be
ing scarcely known. Yet the Low
den-Thompsou fight might make
the nomination worth having The
redoubtsble James Hamilton Lewis
was elected senator in 1912 becausN
he went single handed into the pri-
maries at time when the Demo
cratic nomination was though
worthless. Two years ago the nom
inatiOn was thought worth while
and was won by Roger Sullivan
after a hard night but his victory
ended in defeat at the polls.
The report from Michigan that
Henry Ford is out for Harding in
spires curiosity as to whom T-s-
man Newberry is supporting.
". J. 4