In Illinois

A Republican Senatorial candidate had been defeated in the primaries. As he added the list of his campaign expenses the thought suddenly came to him that perhaps he had not spent enough. His total was precisely $6.75--the price of a good mashie or a mediocre quart of Scotch. Thereupon, he, Candidate H. N. Midtbo of Donnybrook, N. D., despatched a postal card to the Secretary of the Senate, saying:

"I did not win the nomination but played the game square. Please call the attention of the Senate to this and when it has some lucrative appointive position to fill, it may have another name on its list as available and worthy."

Meanwhile, in Illinois, primary slush oozed over the $1,000,000 mark, finally stopped dripping-- chiefly because Voltaire-tongued Investigator-Senator James A. Reed had left for his Kansas City home, not to do any more prodding until October. Ten days in a Chicago courtroom had taught Mr. Reed (a reader of Rabelais) many things: he saw the tortuous workings of Illinois political machines, he was given an object lesson in munificence by public utility potentates (TIME, Aug. 9), he added a few choice items to his ever-increasing stock of Anti-Saloon League lore, he heard of gunplay and ballotbox stuffing in Chicago's grimy wards, he was defied in court five times.

Those who challenged the jurisdiction of Senator Reed and his Campaign Expenditures Committee, and who may have to answer to the Senate on charges of contempt of court, are: Samuel Insull, public utility archangel, who admitted giving $183,000 to successful candidate Frank L. Smith and to other friends and factions; Edward H. Wright, Chicago Negro boss, who is the Second Ward; States Attorney Robert E. Crowe, prosecutor of famed Loeb and Leopold, now the leader of the Crowe-Barrett gang; Daniel J. Schuyler, attorney for Mr. Insull; Thomas W. Cunningham of Philadelphia, who openly defied the committee in behalf of Senatorial Candidate Vare, Pennsylvania slush prizewinner.

Among those who faced Senator Reed on the witness stand last week were:

Fred Lundin, silent, black-glassed blond, manipulator of the Small-Lundin machine, who said that he did not support either Frank L. Smith or Senator William B. McKinley, that he could not "get along with politicians," that Governor Small is "a wonderful, fine, soulful man--a victim of criminal prosecutors."

William Hale Thompson, ex-mayor of Chicago, famed for his horn-blowing parties at Riverview (Chicago's Coney Island), told the U. S. to avoid "entangling alliances," explained how to use bunko parties to raise campaign money:

Senator Reed: "Mayor, what is a bunko party? I know the game, but I never knew it was used as an amusement."

Mr. Thompson: "There are a couple of other games I know more about than I do that, Senator. I do not know anything excepting that I have addressed several bunko parties attended by ladies exclusively. I do not know where the bunko comes in."

Senator Reed: "You are a very bold man."

Mr. Thompson: "We are permitted to talk to them while they are supposed to be playing cards. Maybe that is where the bunk is. Somebody springs a political speech on them."

Samuel Insull refused to divulge full details of his campaign generosity. Even after Senator Reed had caught him in a trap and snapped an additional $10,000 admission out of him, he said gallantly: "I take my hat off to you. ... I am not going to say anything more, Mr. Senator. You see, I am not used to being cross-examined. You are too smart for me."

Senator Reed then told him that he might later be called before the Senate for contempt of court. "You can go now, Mr. Insull."*

County Judge Jarecki told of quiet days in Chicago polling places: "In the 60th precinct of the 30th ward a man took a ballot to the booth and a challenger protested. When the man came out of the booth, his ballot was taken away from him and he was arrested by the policeman at the polling place. Then came a bunch of gunmen from across the street, beat the policeman over the head with the butt of a revolver, took his prisoner away from him and shot up the place."

Inquired Senator Reed: "Are gunmen punished?"

Replied Judge Jarecki: "One I have heard of was discharged after being arrested."

*The Wall Street Journal frowned last week upon Samuel Insull: "When the head of allied public service corporations in Chicago not only finds a sum of close on $200,000 for primary election publicity but distributes it without distinction of party, so as to have friends for himself and his corporation in all directions, he takes a step back into the dark ages. There is no need here to analyse his motives. The only criticism is on his common sense. . . . Everything decent and intelligent in Wall Street deplores the return of corporation influence to local politics." Meanwhile, in Chicago many a street sheik and barroom dolt guffawed over the fresh-coined phrases: "Samuel Insult" and "Insulated Primaries."