strong planks in favor of a specific declaration by congress of America's war aims, the maintenance of constitutional liberty, the conscription of wealth and excess war profits, and a voice for labor in the settlement of industrial and social problems-planks which were also intended to appeal to the labor vote. These, together with the following of the ThompsonLundin machine of Chicago, the mayor expected to bring him the republican nomination and the seat in the senate. Thompson campaigned, however, with the entire press battery of the state leveled against him, with the exception of his organ, The Republican. The republican primaries presented a three-cornered fight between Thompson, McCormick, and George E. Foss. An effort was made by the strong following of McCormick and the Chicago Tribune to induce Foss to withdraw from the race. But the voters in September eliminated both Thompson and Foss, the former polling less than one-third of the vote with a plurality in but four counties— Cook, Perry, Washington, and Williamson. During the campaign a vigorous attack against candidates who opposed or had opposed the war was launched by the Chicago branch of the National Security League; their records were carefully compiled and exposed to the pitiless light of publicity. Congressman Britten's reëlection was strongly opposed and attacks were made on Congressman-at-large Mason, and on Edward J. King of the Quincy-Galesburg district. These attacks, however, failed to eliminate these candidates from the contest for their reëlection. The November election was a straight-out old-line contest for office between the old parties. An appeal by President Wilson injected the issue of approval of the policies of the national administration, but the reaction of Illinois republicans and their enthusiasm for the indorsement of the Lowden administration counterbalanced this coup. As a result the normal republican majority asserted itself and republicans rejoiced in the victory which they won for Frank O. Lowden and Medill McCormick. 63 Illinois was, from the point of view of international relations, the most important state in the Mississippi valley-in the opinion of many the most important state in the union. The sturdy war governor interpreted this rôle to the political authorities through the state and to the state council of defense; and these forces in turn coöperated in carrying the message to the people of this typical American commonwealth. To this appeal the citizenry of Illinois responded with a growing enthusiasm and achieved a record befitting the keystone state of the middle west. 63 Word came from the state department at Washington that the federal administration regarded Illinois as the most important state in the union. Message from Secretary of State Lansing delivered to Governor Lowden by Levy Mayer. Notes on conference with the governor. |