The Washington herald., 1920-03-07
WET ISSUE MAY
SPLIT ILLINOIS
Gov. Edwards Campaign
Proves Spark to Demo-
cratic Powder Keg.
(sy : staa Cerrespenaent.l


Chicago. March s,-Besides being
own State. Gov. Edward i. Edwards.
and dry issue into Illinois politics
and incidentally saved Democratic
patriots from going stale by having
nothing to do. As soon as the gov
ernor permitted his name to be used
In the primary as a wet candidate
the faithful started out with petit
tions. which. duly signed and
wrapped, were deposited with the
Secretary of State at Springfield.
this week.
The signing Of the petitions SEEM
ed to have been a labor of love,
whatever the effect will be in the
harmony line at the San Francisco
convention. There was no trouble
at al to get names. Chicago alone
has been dry too long for that. and
IL needed. the chances are that
100000 would have afixed their
names instead of the 10000. who
actually made their marks" ac-
cording to those in charge.
Many DepIore Issue.
Although It was the first oppor-
tunity for the Democrats in the
Central West to get busy. there are
many who deplors the necessity of
opening the campaign with the is
sue that Gov. Edwards stands for.
Among these are Republican man.
ayers who had hoped that the wet
and dry question might be kept out
OF tht campaign. In both Lowden
and Wood camps there is not a lit
tie worry over the outlook as IL is
feared the q. o. p. in n>the no dis
tant future, will be involved in the
fight.
L Outside of Chicago there Is a
strong element among the State
Democrats against the candidacy of
Governor Edwards, not because of
the man, but on account of the wet
ness of the plank on which he
stands. These consider IL too Slip
perry for future use. and they well
come the announced candidacy of
Attorney General A. Mitchell Pal
mer as an Offset to the boom for
the Jersey man.
sullivan wing silent. s .
The dominant wing OF the State
party. led by Roger Sullivan, of this
city. has not come out for either
man although a number of Sulli-
ans henchmen were active in circu-
lating the petitions for Governor
Edwards. However. II has been re-
ported that Sullivan was friendly to
Mr.. Palmer and that the latter could
count on having his support, which
does not necessarily mean control of
the State. Although surface indica-
tions have shown a certain amount
OF harmony between the local rival
factions, 1t will not take much TO
split the Democratic party wide
open. The injection of the wet"
and dry" question may be the
means.
No active campaign In Illinois for
Mr.. Palmer Is looked for, and this.
in fact. will not be necessary should
Sullivan come out in the open for
the Attorney General. as the Chi
cago boss is still strong enough to
swing the majority of the Illinois
delegation regardless of what the
followers of former mayor Carter
H Harrison may do. 1t might be-
come expedient for both Sullivan
and Harrison to come out for Ed
wards. as the political strength Of
both is mostly centered in Cook
County. Chicago. despite the. Eigh-
teenth amendment, is still wet, in
fact quite so. 1t is the wettest in
the Democratic wards and the voters
in these are yelling their heads off
for Edwards although few. perhaps.
had ever heard of him before last
week.
Republicans Grow Personal,
The more prominent Republican
n nd
their own firesides during the last
few days, and. getting away from
home, the night Is beginning to take
on a more and more personal tinge,
Senator johnson, out in the Dakotas,
has been asking where his oppo-
nents are getting their campaign
funds. In the Lowden and Wood
camps each .deplores the lack of
ready cash, and sorrowfully admit
that IL he had the others barrel the
campaign would be a walk-oyer.
Then there have been certain in
situations, of late, about corporate
sources of certain campaign funds
and two s1,000,000 donations have
been mentioned "in conference"
Whatever the sources, and what
ever the amounts contributed, 1t is
certain that the coming campaign
will go down in history as the most
expensive ever carried on. Woods
manger has announced that the
general will make the fight national
and according to a telegram from
CoE Proctor from the East, this
week, 1t has been decided to go into
every State in the Union with the
possible exception of California.
Lowden Accepts Challenge.
This will mean forcing the fight
In the states of favorite sons just as
has been done in Illinois and Ohio.