Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 252, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1913 — THIRD PARTY THIRD IN ILLINOIS ELECTION [ARTICLE]

THIRD PARTY THIRD IN ILLINOIS ELECTION

Democrats First, Republicans Second and Progressives Third With Very Big Drop: An election held in the fifth supreme court district of Illinois Monday resulted in the election of C. C. Craig, a democrat, who received in excess of 17,000 jptes. Puterbaugh, republican, received 14,000, and Shay, progressive, received 9,000. Last fall Theodore Roosevelt received 36,000 in the same district, the loss of the progressive vote being 27,000. The result is significant, following similar reductions in the third party vote throughout the east In this election the progressives’ campaign was made on the pledge of Shay to support the constitutional amendment for woman’s suffrage Judge Puterbaugh, with commendable judicial hearing, refused to state what he would do if elected. He held the belief that a candidate for judge has no right to pledge himself to support any measure as an argument for his election. In this, we believe, he will have the respect of attorneys everywhere. The deflection from Judge Puterbaugh \vas sufficient to defeat him, hut Shay ran third by 5,000 less than Puterbaugh. The effect of this and other defeats of the progressives is having the effect of reuniting the two parties again under the republican banner. The uselessness of the fight is seen on both sides. It can clearly he seen that the issue last fall above everything else was Roosevelt and Taft. Roosevelt was a vote getter; Taft was not. The republican party has had its chastisement and, as we have remarked before, is now ready to do just as the great majority want it to do. There should he no ill feeling about this matter. A house divided against itself can not stand. Democrats have almost unanimously returned to their party and republicans have turned back in such large numbers that it has conclusively proved that as a third party the progressive movement is dead. The principles that shall prove enduring will find a welcome in the party of achievement and the sincerity of their supporters can he proven by any action that will make their enactment into law possible. The possibility lies in re turn to the republican party. Do 4 now.