The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-17

does IL bring much western oppo-
sition against Gillett, but it also
turns the same tide against Com
gresham Joseph Walsh, Massa-
chusetts, who is held by many to
be the most logical candidate for
the speakership aside from Mann.
The first mention OF Mann's pos
sible candidacy naturally came
from Illinois congressman. Not
only are the majority of them loyal
to the veteran Chicagoan, who has
been Republican floor leader in four
congresses, but they feel that he
was stabbed in the back" when
the Republicans eventually return
ed to power! He was twice the
choice OF the Republican minority
for the speakership against the late
Champ Clark and it had been taxi
en- for granted that he would re-
cefve the post when it again came
within the gift of his party.
Reasons have been given why
Mann was not elevated to the ros-
trum in 1920, but several Illinois,
ans have alleged since that he was
betrayed by some whom he thought
his best friends. and he is said to
have that opinion himself. A story
to the effect that he had been in
innate with the big Five" pack
ing interests in Chicago was named
as the reason for his defeat, but
his friends have denied this, say
ing that he was the victim OF a
group of scheming congressman
from eastern states, who elected
Gillett with the aid of such new
corners as they could line up.
Mann takes little interest in the
report that the congressional wind
is again blowing his way. He
claims that he wants nothing so
much as to finish his services in
the house without further respon-
sibility.
This congress has been the most
pleasant of my career" he told an
interviewer last week. I've had
nothing to do but tend to my or
binary duties and represent my dis
trict to the best of my ability"
But his adherents from Illinois
and other states are paying no heed
to this. They say he's the only
man for the job and will be drafted
if he refuses to be a candidate.
There are few Republicans in
Washington who envy Senator Me-
dill Mccormick the extra duty he
is now performing, that of chair
man of the senatorial Campaign
committee. With "a senators to
be elected this fall from SO states
and the outlook for Republican
regulars none too bright, Judging
from results in the three states
which have thus far held primaries,
there is an evident need for a
STEADY hand at the throttle" and
Mccormick efforts will be viewed
by critical eyes.
His G. O. P. colleagues, however,
are agreed that thus far his tactics
have been astute. His policy in
primary campaigns has been one of
hands off" He Immediately
pledged united support to the
nominee, regardless of the latter's
political complexion. The general
belief here is that he will make
harmony" his slogan and work
without restraint for every man
nominated by the Republicans in
an effort to check threatened party
disruption.
McCormick's previous experience
as a campaign manager led party
leaders to entrust the direction of
this years senatorial campaign to
him. Since leaving the Chicago
Tribune in 1910 he has been prom
inent in two presidential cam
paigns, acting as Roosevelt's west
ern manager in 1912 and as head
of Harding's Chicago bureau in
1920. Though one of the foremost
Bull Moosers" during the life of
that party he came back to the Re
publican fold in 1916 as a delegate
to the convention which nominated
Hughes at Chicago.
Aside from his political activity,
his experiences have probably been
as varied as those of any man in
congress. He has twice been war
correspondent and once a military
observer. In 1901 he went through
the Samar campaign in the Philip
pines with Hell Roaring Jake
Smith. Eight years ago he follow
/ ed Funston to Vera Cruz as the
I representative of a group of metro
politan papers, accompanied by
Frederick Palmer and Richard
Harding Davis. The trio went
| through the. lines between Vera
! Cruz and Mexico City and eventual
ly the last two got into the Mexi-
| can capitol, Palmer being turned
| back. Mccormick and Davis were
arrested and imprisoned by Huer-
! ta's forces. Gen. Funston inter
vened for them and secured their
release.
Shortly after the United States
declared war on Germany, McCor-
mick. then congressman at large.
visited three battle fronts. He re-
ported conditions abroad to con-
gress on his return.
At present he is regarded in
Washington as one of the three
members of the senate closest to
the president, the other two being
! Watson OF Indiana and Frelinghuy-
sen of New Jersey. 1t was this in
timacy that caused his selection in
1921 as chairman of the select com
mittee on Haiti and Domingo This
committee visited the negro repub-
| lies and recommended that Ameri-
can marines be kept there indefin-
itely. report that drew fire from
many quarters but has been fol-
lowed by the administration.
McCormick's present job will
probably hold him in Washington
after the adjournment of congress,
which he Dredicts will NOT coma nm