Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1900 — COL. JAMES R. CAMPBELL BELIEVES IN EXPANSION [ARTICLE]

COL. JAMES R. CAMPBELL BELIEVES IN EXPANSION

Ex-Congressman James R. Campbell of McLeansboro.ftf., for years a leader in the Democratic party of Southern Illinois, has announced his conversion to Republicanism on the expansion question. He is a colonel in the United States service and has just returned from the Philippines. “ I have always been a Democrat,” said Colonel Campbell, ‘‘but the party’s stand on the Philippine question compels me to change my political, belief. I desire to be known as an expansion Republican. Any Democrat, Bryan included, who will go to the Philippines and ascertain the exact situation, as I know it, will come home.convinced the party is wrong on the question. We should hold the islands and give the people a stable government. 1 believe the war In the Philippines will cease as soon as McKinley is re-elected.” Colonel Campbell’s wideacquaint-

ance in Illinois led State Chairman Rowe to ask Him to make speeches for the Republican ticket, but he declined on the ground that his furlough is only for another month and he has not the time to take the stump. In 1884 Mr. Campbell was elected as a Democrat to the house from the forty-sixth senatorial district, and was re-elected in 1886. Two years later he was promoted to the senate, where he served eigh£ years. His legislative career was criticised many times, but he was ever known as a loyal Democrat. In 1896 he was elected to congress on the Democratic ticket In the twentieth Illinois district. When the Spanish-American War broke out he raised the Ninth Illinois Regiment and was elected colonel. He was the first congressman to resign from the house to accept a commission in the army. He has been in the Philippines since occupation by American troops.