The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-18
ILLINOIS PUT IN
 | DOUBTFUL RANKS BY BITTER FIGHT Thompson Machine Has Split Republicans and
 Means Carter Harrison , for Governor
By CLINTON W. CILpERT

ny CihNlON VI. sIIbfSttI
 Chicago, July 17.---(SpecinI)--
 The fight between Mayor Thomp-
 son of this city and Governor
 Lowden for the control of the
 stnte promises to leave Illinois
 without any electors on the repub-
 lfcan mn ational ticket this fall, un- less the courts intervene to compel
 the calling of new state cOnven-
 ton to choose electors.
 The state convention in May to choose electors was held under a law which was declared by the Illinois su- preme court to be unconstitutional. The machinery of the party under which that convention was called was in the hands of Thompson's friends. The old party machinery which was revived by the court decisions is in control of Governor L.owden's friends. but the officers of it. the chairman and secretary of the state committee, are Thompson men. They refuse to call the old state committee together pending a releasing of the case with regard to the primary law Just pro- nounced unconstitutional
 The next rehearing will not take place till September Tn the meantime, unless the Thompson and Lowden peo- pie reach an understanding or unless
 
 state committee, Illinois is without electors.
 PART OF BITTER FIGHT
 This quarrel over the calling of ths state committee together is part of one of the bitterest fights that has ever divided the republicans of Illinois. It is one which puts Illinois in the doubtful column so far as the gover- norship is concerned, and which may have an effect upon the republican na- tional ticket.
 Mayor Thompson was having the best of it until the decision of the supreme court that the law under which he had won his victories was declared invalid
 That decision rendered a fortnight ago wiped out solid Thompson county committee in Cook county. in which Chi cago is located. and it also put an end to a state committee in which Thomp- son, with ten committeeman from Chi cago and with support from down state fro mthe friends of the Thompson can didates for United States senator and governor and other state officers had an easy majority. It expressedly re- stored the functions of the party com mittees chosen under the old laws of 1910, which the primary law of I919 sjust knocked out by the court. had super seded In the old state committee the friends of Governor Lowden had a ma iority of at least one for thirteen of the twenty-five members, signed a re- quest to Secretary Justus L. Johnson that the committee be called together to arrange for the choice of new elec- tors.
 EFFECT IN COOK COUNTY
 And 1t aiso restored Cook county committee in which ex-Governor Dineen and his friends. now cooperating with Governor Lowden, have a comfortable majority Putting their committee back into power is important, for it. gives complete authority over the election ma chinery of Chicago in the coming pri- naries into the hands of Mayor Thomp- sons enemies.
 Mayor Thompson had just beaten Gov. ernor Dineen and his friends in every district in the primaries recently de- cIared invalid.
 The victory of Mayor Thompson ene- mics .s not complete. however. The chairman of the old state committee is Frank l.. Smith, and it's 5ecrefary is Justus l.. Johnson. Both are in se present Thompson combina- ton. The calling of the old state com ai.tee appears to he is their discretion. Changes come rapidly ia Illinois pol- les. \ month ago Congressman Smith Governor Lowden'e campaign man ager in charge of his forces at Chicago.
 tCenfianeA = rsse EAesel