Evening star., 1940-03-17
Feuding Democrats
HurI Charges in
Illinois Race
Buckroom Boss CLIQUE
Now Running State, :.
SteIle Rebels Say
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, March 16.-Feuding
Democrats filled the center ring to-
day In the Illinois primary election
campaign.
Candidates backed by the united
Kelly Nash and Horner organi1a-
tons were arrayed against . rival
group Of rebel aspirants In . battle
leading up to the April . vote.
Injected into the exchanges were
references to circumstances sur
rounding the death Of r. Lynden
Smith, director Of the State Depar-
metnt Of Public Works and former
political aide Of Gov. Henry Horner.
and unelaborated illusions to threat
ened investigations by the Federal
Government"
From the camp Of the insurgents,
captained by 1t. Gov. John stelle,
came charges that . clique" Of
''back-room bosses" had ''usurped"
control Of the government while
Gov. Horner has been confled to
the Executive Mansion by IN ex-'
tended illness.
Gov. Horner, aroused, rejoined:
II haven't lost my power as
Governor"
To Back Organizing Slate.
He denied that "usurpers" were
running the State, asserted that he
wouldn't have Mr.. stelle for mes
senger boy" and announced that
he would make q speech for the or
ganization ticket.
Mr.. Stelle, contending that Gov.
Horner had changed" rebutted:
would the man we elected Gov
ernor in 1885 have stood idly by
while Sam Nudelman Estate finance
director and one Of the campaign
fund custodians) extorted an as
sessment from the salaries Of help
less State Job holders?
would the Henry Horner of 1896
have sat mute while his loyal friend
and campaign manager (Smith)
came to q mysterious death and the
State Of Illinois became . spectacle
Of shame with threatened investi-
cations by the Federal Government
Of the activities of his employes?"
Smith Death Called Natural.
In surrebuttal, Harry B. Hershey,
organization entry who opposes Mr..
Stelle for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation, termed Mr.. Stelle and his
adherents selfish men" who would
wreck the party chances in No
vember to gain their own goal"
Mr.. Smith was found dead a week
ago In Springfield hospital bath
tub. Coroner w. L. Dragoo at f1rst
said he had committed suicide by
drowning and reported that he had
cut his throat two days earlier
Four pathologists expressed the
opinion yesterday, however, that Mr..
Smith had succumbed to heart dis
ease. The coroner said he would
submit their findings to an inquest
jury.
Mr.. Smith died several hours be-
fore he was scheduled to testify on
campaign funds he had supervised
until last fall.
Suit for Accounting.
The suit for an accounting against
the campaign fund-raising agen-
cies-the defunct Illinois Iroquois
League and its successor, the IL
linoisians-was filed In behalf Of
Sylvester Steskal, . State policeman.
The plaintiff claimed a 2 per cent
assessment had been levied against
State employees, that collections ex-
ceeded $200, 600, and that he had paid
in $168 since 1885. State officials
maintained that the contributions
were voluntary. They insisted that
the motive for the action was purely
political. They demanded that Mr..
Steskal be cited for contempt.
With Mr.. Steele on the insurgent
slate are State Representative Ben
jamin Adamowski, who is paired
against Senator James M. Slattery
in the race for the senatorial NOM
ination, and State Auditor Edward
J. Barrett, who seeks denomination
against Representative John G.
Martin.
A host of Republican contenders
followed the campaign trial with
vigor but without much intra a-party
rancor on their side of the political
fence.
In the background for the time
being was the presidential. prefer
ence primary. Thomas E. Dewey is
unopposed>on the Republican ballot.
President Roosevelt Is pitted against