Evening star., 1926-05-23
INTEREST CENTERS
ON ILLINOIS RACE
Vare's Nomination Gives
Brennan Candidacy In
creased Prominence There.
BY Consolidated Press.

By Consolidated Press
PITTSBURGH. May 22.-Now that
Representative William s. Ware, Re
publican boss of Philadelphia has
placed himself in direct line for the
United States Senate, one hears more
and more talk in the Middle West
about the possibility of the election of
George E. Brennan, Democratic boss
of Chicago, to that same august
branch OF Congress. Some of the talk
is based upon the theory that one
good boss deserves another in the
Senate. There is also the claim that
George Brennan would be no stranger
q fish than Bill Ware in the senatorial
waters.
Polite phenomena run in circles.
Perhaps this may be the year of the
bosses. 1t has a good start in that di-
rection, and certain it is that the Mid
die West, which was inclined to re-
gard the Brennan candidacy as more
or less of a joke, is beginning to take
notice and seriously discuss his
chances of success.
Based OH Wet Idea.
OF course, the whole Brennan candi-
dacy is based on the idea that certain
sections of the country are ready for
II repeal of the Eolstead law and are
determined to make a beginning in
hat direction by electing wet Sen
alors and wet Representatives Wher-
ever such a result can be obtained.
The Pennsylvania result has greatly
changed conditions farther west.
The State of Ohio, however, is not
ready for such a move. Ohio is the
birthplace and home of the Anti
Saloon League. Senator Willis, who
i up for reelection this year. is
bart and parcel of the league. and he
viii base his candidacy largely upon
his bone-dryness rather than upon his
constant support of the President,
thus compelling the Ohio Democrats
TO run between two thorns. Some of
them would like to oppose Senator
Wills with an "out-and-Out Wet" or at
least with a damp-like former Sen.
ator Atlee Pomereue. Others feel it
would be better to beat Willis at his
own game and nominate Judge Flor.
ence L. Allen of Cleveland.
Judge Allen Strong Dry.
Miss Allen, member of the Supreme
Court of Ohio. would poll large share
of the tremendous dry vote Miss
Allen is a thoroughly capable woman.
a distinguished lawyer and has made
a deep impression during her term on
the bench.
Some of the old line leaders of the
Buckeye democracy are thoroughly op.
posed to the idea of nominating a
woman for so important an office as
United States Senator. The thought
goes against their grain. Despite this
Unborn prejudice. they admit Judge
Allen would make a forceful ami pos.
sibly successful candidate.
Candidly. interest in politics in Ohio
IS at a very low ebb, for the chief
issue of the year, the wet and dry
fight, is not considered as having any
part in the coming campaign in this
State.
The Republicans of Indiana manag-
ed to keep the wet and dry issue sub
merged in their senatorial primary
and may not even have to face the
issue in the Fall campaign, for Thorn
as Taggart, Democratic chieftain of
the State. has on several occasions de-
clared himself in favor of continued
prohibition.
Brennan Forces Issue.
In Illinois. however, it is different.
George Brennan has forced the is
sue to the fore. and 1t will be virtually
the only issue between him and Col.
Frank l.. Smith. the Republican
nominee. Naturally there will be at
tacks made upon Mr.. Brennan's rec.
ord as boss of Chicago and appeals
will be made to the voters not to |
make the Senate a sort of bosses club |
by sending Brennan there to hobnob |
with Ware.
But the real issue will be wet and |
dry, and Illinois may serve as a real /
test. The State naturally is Repub-
lican and this fact will make it all |,
the harder for Brennan to win the
day for the vets, but If the latter's
sentiment is anything like as strong
as the wet leaders declare. he may do
SO. Most Of the Illinois modification.
lists would have preferred to have
their standard carried by a less radical
a nd less capable person than the Chi
cago boss, but since Vare's victory in +
the Keystone State they are inclined
to back him up. r. T. S.
Copyright. 1920