In Illinois

Last September three notorious Republicans of Illinois journeyed to flat, sun-baked Kankakee, site of the State Insane Asylum, on high political business. One was William Hale ("Big Bill") Thompson whom Chicago had booted out as its profligate Mayor the spring before. Another was William Lorimer, expelled in 1912 from the U. S. Senate for employing "corrupt methods and practices in his election." The third was Frank Leslie Smith, barred in 1928 from the U. S. Senate for excessive campaign expenditures. In Kankakee this trio, with many a rowdy follower, called on buck-toothed old Lennington Small, twice (1921-29) Governor of Illinois. Banker Small, whose political record was no better than those of his callers,* accepted their invitation to run again for the Republican nomination for Governor. His battle cry: "America first! Back to prosperity with Len Small!"

Last week newshawks flocked about the Small home in Kankakee. Len Small had won his nomination. Though he got only 36% of the G. O. P. primary vote, he managed to nose out four other candidates. As a Wet, he handily defeated a weasler, one Omer N. Custer, whom repeal-vetoing Governor Louis Emmerson had selected as his successor. Nominee Small declaimed: "I accept the responsibility of leading the people in their battle against the forces of wealth, greed and privilege back to prosperity!"

While "Big Bill" Thompson exulted loudly over having nominated "his man" and rolled his eyes in anticipation of long happy days at Springfield, the righteous Republican Chicago Daily News grieved aloud at the primary result in a front-page editorial entitled "Dead on the Field of Dishonor" and beginning:

HERE LIES

DODO,

IRONICALLY CALLED THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF

ILLINOIS

IT DIED FROM LACK

OF BRAINS AND

HONESTY

Democrats. Mayor Cermak is the Democratic boss of Chicago. Last week's primary made him the Democratic boss of Illinois. He succeeded, by a 150,000-vote majority, in nominating for Governor a plump 53-year-old Jew named Henry Horner who has sat solemnly and well for the last 18 years on the bench of the Probate Court in Chicago.

Judge Horner received the primary returns in Boss Cermak's City Hall office. When cameramen arrived, he modestly disappeared. Boss Cermak, after ordering him back over the telephone, explained : "He says he'll come when he gets damn good & ready. I guess that proves I'm not his boss." Later Nominee Horner returned to be photographed but objected when cameramen ordered: "Take off your coat--shake your fists--hold your hands above your head." Mayor Cermak tried to get him to comply. When he still refused, Boss Cermak again loudly boasted that his nominee was unbossed. At last they photographed little Harry Horner sitting in a corner eating his toast and jam.

First shot of the campaign fired by Boss Cermak: "God help the people of Illinois if Len Small should be elected Governor and do to Illinois what his friend, 'Big Bill' Thompson did to Chicago."

On the North Shore. For the last 13 years round-faced, bespectacled Carl Richard Chindblom has pontifically represented in the House the 10th Illinois District--the North Shore suburban strip from Chicago to the Wisconsin line. Last week the Republican primary turned Mr. Chindblom out of office and nominated in his stead James Simpson Jr.. polite 27-year-old son of Marshall Field's board chairman (TIME, Oct. 26). Nominated as a Wet, Junior Simpson will face a Wet Democrat in the election. The W. C. T. U. whose home, Evanston, is in the Simpson district, grieved.

*He was indicted and tried for withholding interest on State funds loaned to meat packers. The Supreme Court in 1925 ordered him to disgorge.

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