Evening star., 1923-12-16
COOLIDGE STOCK
RISES IN ILLINOIS
Presidents Message Secret
of Growing Strength.
Democrats Busy.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, December 15.-If surface
Indications are reliable President Cool
idge has gained materially In Illinois
since he delivered his message to Con-
gress. This despite the fact that there
is a local peeve against him because of
his action in taking the republican ma
tional convention away from Chicago
and giving 1t to Cleveland. Local Cool
idge enthusiasts assert that It was poor
strategy, and that the President should
have been glad to fight it out even un-
der what might be considered unfriendly
conditions.
There Is no doubling the existence Of
big sentiment for Senator Hiram w.
johnson in Chicago. Whether 1t is
enough to elect all of the delegates
from Cook county to the big repub-
lican gathering is a question. Sena-
tor William Mckinley. who evidently
is to play a big part in the Coolidge
campaign in Illinois, asserts that the
Johnson sentiment is largely con-
fined TO Chicago. He says that he
does not fear the Johnson strength
down state. Expert politicians believe
that Johnson is almost certain of
one-third of the Illinois delegat ton
unless something unexpected happens
to cause the Johnson stock to slump.
The democrats were more in the
limelight last week than the repub-
licans and are making more noise
than usual in Illinois. Democratic
leaders are confident that they have
more than a fighting chance OF car
ryfng Illinois for President and gov
ernor, and they are shaping their
plans accordingly. There have been
two democratic governors in this
state in about sixty years, and at
times II was almost impossible to find
some one who would lead a forlorn
hope.
Now there are nine democrats ac-
lively seeking the democratic nomi-
nation for governor. and a half a
dozen more are in the offing watch
Ing for an opportunity to get into the
game If the situation seems to war
rant.
Judge Jones Strong.
Judge Normal L. Jones Of Carroll
ton appears to be the probable win
ner for governor in the democratic
primary next April. A democratic state
convention is to be held January IS
10 indorse eight candidates for dele
gates at large to the democratic ma
ttonal convention and d. complete
state slate. The convention will be
the organization Is for Judge Jones.
1t may mean a split in the democratic
ranks and IL there are two states in
the field the democrats may work up
enough bitterness to overcome their
chances of winning at the election If
they have any.
The best democratic bet would ap-
pear to be on governor in the event
the republicans renominate Gov. Len
Small.
While the democratic leaders are
working with the citizens committee
In trying to capture the democratic
national convention for Chicago and
are seemingly on the level about 1t.
down in their hearts a majority of
the democrats would prefer to have
the convention go elsewhere. They
have to make a fight for Chicago,
though they would prefer to have
the meeting held in New York city
or even San Francisco. George E.
Brennan, democratic chieftan In Ilii-
nois, processes to have assurance
from national committee that prac-
tically guarantees the convention in
Chicago. JOHN r. BUTMAN.