Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29
THOMPSON-LOWDEN.
ARM|S1|CE IS SEEN
illinois Candidates Plans
Hang on Outcome of Pri-
mary Law Row.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
CHICAGO, H.. January 28--What
with another adjournment Of the State
Legislature from Its special session to
consider substitute measures for the
1927 primary law. declared unconSti-
tutional by n Circuit Court judge, cam
didatcS for Illinois State and local
offices are being compelled this week
to play both ends against the middle.
The General Assembly recessed last
Wednesday until February T. The de-
lay was taken in the hope-and in some
quarters the expressed belief-that the
Supreme Court of the State, which has
not Yet ruled on the lower courts pri-
mary decision, will uphold the act in
question.
In which event the Legislature would
drop election matters and take up the
six other subjects incorporated in Gov.
Len SMALL call.
The last date for filing nominating
petitions under the law in question for
presidential preference as well as State
and local Offices. is February 10, Dele
gate States to the national conventions
must be filed in petition form March
20. Should the Supreme Court decide
in favor of the bill. petitions filed III
regular order would be just so much
wood sawed Should the decision be
adverse. it would be virtually impossible
for the Legislature to pass a bill for
April primary between February and
February TO- This is especially signifi-
cant when il is considered that no, sub
st,tute legislation has been reported
out Of either house committee so far.
Lowden's Name Certain.
At any rate, Frank o. Lowden's name
VIII be on petition that goes into cir
cuiation Monday Omar N. Custer, for
mer State treasurer, who has charge OF
the Lowden Illinois campaign has the
petition in charge Likewise he will look
after the delegate petitions He says he
VIII have all IS downState districts for
Lowden. plus four Of the 10 metropoli-
tan districts.
With no April primary--and that all
depends now upon the Supreme Court
the presidential preference and delegate
states will be decided in conventions
of both parties. With primary. George
E. Brennan, Democratic leader and
State committeeman. would not have
solid State delegation for Alfred E.
Smith. With a convention under the
unit rule, he expects TO rule the rooSt.
Naturally. his preference is against an
April primary. The Lowdenites are not
particularly worried about probable loss
OF the April primary, for they assert
they will have a majority OF the State.
whether through primary or convention.
That would presuppose some sort OF
armist!ce between the William Hale
Thompson Robert E. Grove Republican
faction dominant in Cook County. and
the IoWdenites. outside of Cook. No
delegation has been unanimous for
Republican candidate in this State
since the days OF Abraham Lincoln. 1t
has been regarded as impossible, GER
tainly improbable, that Thompson
would permit a unanimous Endorsement
Of Lowden. after their feud OF 10 years
standing. Apparently just such an ar
misticc move has been made. and al
though Mr.. Custer says little about 1t
and Mr.. Thompson says nothing. the
report in Cook County Is definitely that
peace has been made. 3t
Grove Faces Fight.
Mr. Grove may be in a bad way next
Fall. Chicago is wet and II Gov Smith
is nominated by the Democrats he Is
quite likely 10 carry this city and
county. although IL is very doubtful II
he would carry the Stale. downstate
opposition being too great. and IL holds
veto IN the State over Cook County
IN Statewide elections. Mr. Brennan
is a wise old politician. He will have q
full slate In Cook County for county
Offices. including that OF States attor-
ney held by Mr.. Grove.
There are a lot Of Republicans in
the metropolitan district who would
like TO ditch Grove So. II Brennan
prevails and has Smith at the head OF
his county ticket. Grove and Thompson
are going 10 need all the Republican
harmony they can acquire between row
and next November. Republican har-
mony in November would not be helped
any If Thompson and Grove bucked
L0wden in Chicago. The proposition
has been put up 10 Thompson III plain
political terms. He Is reported to have
given no reply. but he has not turned
down the Lowden peace propositions,
either.
PAUL r. LEACH.