Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1916 — What is Illinois Going to Do At the November Election. [ARTICLE]

What is Illinois Going to Do At the November Election.

Illinois has just held a very exciting and hard fought primary election for the nomination of state officers and congressmen, in which Governor Dunne defeated W. B. Brinton, the Roger Sullivan,[candidate, and James Traynor, for the democratic nomination for governor, and Frank 0. L.owden defeated Merton D. Hul' and Frank L. Smith, for the'republican nomination.

The fight has been in progress more than a year and while the republicans polled about two-thirds of the vote which was cast by the republicans and progressives in 1912, the democrats cast but little more than half the vote which Governor Dunne received in 1912.

On Tuesday the total vote amounted to 663,183, of which the republicans cast 423,361 and the democrats 239,882. In’ 1912 the republican vote for Deneen was 318,467, the progressive vote for Funk 303,041, the democratic vote for Dunne 443,120.

The figures in the present contest do not serve to throw a great deal of light on what Illinois will do in November. The seeming lack of interest on the part of the democrats is one of the things that attracts most attention. It is not surprising that the Roger Sullivan faction was defeated in a handy manner but it would seem that the contest should have aroused much more interest on the part of a forward looking democracy as a whole. The returns indicate that more than 100,000 progressives have returned to the republican party. It is here that we find some food for thought in endeavoring to arrive at conclusions as to tfre result in November.

In order to achieve success again, by figures approximating those of 1912, the democracy must get all of .those 203,000 votes that stayed away from the polls Tuesday. On the other hand it is only necessary for the republicans to drag forth approximately 25,000 of the 180,000 men who failed to vote their ticket Tuesday in order to compass the defeat of the democratic ticket. That the republicans and progressives have got together in vast numbers is self-evident; that they are alert and interested in the campaign is also evident. And while the figures do not justify a definite prognostication as to November results, on the face of them republicans may find much reason for satisfaction. Sentiment i"s pretty well formed at this time and there is not muca chance of any great change between now and election! day. It is also certain that where the drift toward republican state candidates is so heavy the sentiment is largely favorable to the republican presidential candidate.