Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-03
Entry of Illinois Boss in Race
Regarded as Gesture
for Governor.
CHlCAG0AN WILL BRING
WET ISSUE TO CLIMAX
Victory Would Give Democrats
Food for Thought-G. 0. P.
Leaders UnWorried.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

George E. Brennan has hoisted the
AL Smith banner in Illinois.
This is the Interpretation in po-
litical circles here Of the announce
ment last night by the Democratic
| boss of Chicago that he will be a
candidate for the Democratic nomina-
tion for Senator in the primaries
! April 13.
The election of Brennan in Illi-
nois running on a wet" platform
would give the Democrats of the
| country a lot to think about.
Gov. Smith, as a candidate for the
presidency in 1928, would not have
to announce himself as a wet" al
though there are many Democrats in
| Northern and Eastern States who
| would be glad to adopt q party plat
! form calling for a modification of the
| prohibition law, if not the repeal of
! prohibition.
! Must Win Election.
But Mr.. Brennan first has to get
! himself elected before his effort can
| be of real assistance to Gov. Smith
in a campaign for the party nomona
| tion for President or for the presi-
| dency thereafter
! Illinois went for President Coolidge
in 1924, by some 10000 votes. 1t is
| reckoned almost as staunch a Repub-
| lican state as Pennsylvania. Mr. Bren-
| nan has picked himself out a real job,
| therefore, in casting his hat in the
ring for Senator.
Brennan faces not only Republican
| opposition. but opposition in his own
party. There are two factions, one
l.
porters of McAdoo in large part in the
| last Democratic pre-convention cam
paign.
J In Chicago, however, Brennan has
united forces for bipartisan control
with the Barrett Grove organization
1 faction of the Republican party. This
! combination at present dominates in
! Cook County, which is Chicago.
The Democratic leader. it is figured
here, is seeking to capitalize the wet"
sentiment in Chicago and other Illinois
cities. He is seeking to capitalize the
anti-Klan sentiment and to win over
I generally the voters of foreign descent
| G. o. p. Sees Victory.
Republican leaders in Illinois figure
they viii defeat Brennan, with either
] Senator William B. Mckinley, who is
seeking denomination or Frank L.
Smith, the chairman of the State cen
| trail committee, who is also q candi-
date for the Republican nomination.
So far as the wet" and dry" issue
is concerned the Republicans do not
figure that Brennan will be able to
force it upon them. They are ex-
pected to adopt a law enforcement"
plank in their platform and let it go
at that. Their candidate is not ex-
pected to take a dry" stand or a
/ wet" stand, other than that.
Illinois a few years ago held a
referendum on prohibition. and the
"wets" won by about 2-to-1. Several
weeks before the election, however
the "drys" announced that prohibition
was a closed issue, and sent word
to their supporters throughout the
State not TO vote in the referendum.
With the constant agitation over
prohibition and proposals to modify
the VOlstead act, and to permit the
use of light wines and beer, the effort
to make the issue in Illinois is Great
ing no little interest. The matter is
to have a try out at the polls, If the
"wets" can bring it about. But it is
very doubtful that the issue really
can have great effect, especially when
raised by a Democrat in a State which
has been so overwhelmingly Re-
publican.
Decision Is Surprising.
The decision of Brennan to run as
| Democratic candidate for the Sen
! ate was a real surprise to many of
| the politicians in the Capital. In the
past it has been the practice of the
Democratic boss to remain in the
background and let others do the
running" Brennan succeeded to the
! Democratic leadership in Chicago fol-
| lowing the death of Roger Sullivan.
! Sullivan also attempted to win an
| election to the Senate, but was de-
! feated. and Sullivan was rockoned
stronger than Brennan.
During the 1924 Democratic ma
| tional convention in New York Bren-
nan was one of the anti-McAdoo and
| AL Smith leaders in that body. When
Gov. Smith went to Chicago several
months ago to address q great meet
! ing of Democrats the affaiar was ar
| ranged by Brennan
One factor which is believed to have
| induced the Democratic boss of Chi
cago to enter the senatorial race is
| found in the stiff fight which is being
waged among the Republicans, with
Senator Mckinley leading one group
md Frank L. Smith leading the 9TH
er. and the World Court thrown In
as an issue.
IF the Republican ranks can be
split by this party row, the Demo-
Gratis hope to be able to realize on
the party hatreds.
| Mckinley Aid Seen.
The interjection Of Brennan into
| tbe senatorial fight, 1t was asserted
here today. may well aid in bringing
about the nomination of Senator Nc
Kinlev bv the Republicans, figuring
that he would be the stronger candi-
date when it came to the election.
Senator Mckinley would be accept
able to the "drys" and would not be
| strongly opposed by the ''wets," it
! is said.
The Democratic boss of Chicago
has been an important figure for a
number of years in the national gath
erings of the party. The Democratic
organization in Illinois is out to con-
troll. and to control locally if possible
| National issues fade into insignif1-
canoe when it comes to a question Of
| local control, and this is true even
of State issues. The Chicago democ-
racy is a law unto itself, much as
Tammany is in New York.
Both Senator Mckinley and Sen
ator Deneen are in Washington at
present. but thev will return to Illi-