Monday, Apr. 26, 1926
Illinois Primary
At Chicago on Illinois primary day last week, twelve thugmen with bulging biceps and "gatts" carried off an entire ballot box into which trustful Republicans had popped intimations of their desire to renominate Senator William B. McKinley, or contrarily to nominate "Colonel" Frank L. Smith.
The ballot stealing, while spectacular, had no real effect; since when the votes were counted Colonel Smith was found to be an easy winner.
Senator McKinley's "bone dry" harangues, had not availed against Colonel Smith's impassioned anti-World Court tirades. The question of whether Smith can win out over George ("Wetter-Than-Niagara") Brennan, who secured the Democratic nomination, promptly came to the fore.
Colonel Smith is a Moose, Elk, Shriner, Knight of Pythias, Woodman, etc. He once managed Mr. Taft's Illinois primary campaign. He has been once a Congressman (1919). He often says: "I'm just an ordinary man."