''Yeah, I'll have a go at it,'' groaned D.B. ''From time immemorial the finance boys have been estranged from the members of the State Central Committee. The SCC is elected; the finance boys aren't. The SCC votes for its chairman; the finance boys can't. The finance boys say they're tired of pumping in cash without having a say in the policy. Sounds reasonable, except that when one of the finance boys, Jack Ryan, ran into trouble and lied to everybody about his divorce papers, the SCC had to clean up the mess themselves: The finance boys were nowhere to be found. When Ryan left, the co-chairman of the SCC, Steve McGlynn, begged Andy McKenna to run (McKenna was a presentable candidate who ran against Ryan but didn't place second: that was Jim Oberweis, who antagonized the Hispanics). But McKenna, a member of the Finance Committee, said no. Nobody else volunteered.

''So while the finance boys stood aloof, the SCC struggled mightily. No top-drawer candidate would run. The SCC lobbed up Mike Ditka, Andrea Barthwell, Jimmy Connors -- almost Ronald McDonald. No soap. Then they settled on Alan Keyes. Once he was picked, the finance boys said he was too conservative. . . . Care for half of my Heath bar?''

No thanks.

''It's made in Robinson. OK, where was I? No sooner was the election over than the finance boys got together. With Judy Baar Topinka set to go as state chairman, the finance boys have now dictated an order to the SCC: Pick Andy McKenna for state chairman! Excuse me? Meaning that if the SCC doesn't snap to, they'll sit on their hands. Which leads me to say: Where were they when the party was in the pickle over Ryan, one of their number, when the party needed a credible candidate and one of their number turned it down? They weren't around. That's the size of it. Now the big shots want to run the show.''

The media want to cast this as an ideological fight: Andy the moderate vs. the Downstate ultra-conservatives who picked Keyes. Right?

''That's where they're wrong, sonny. McKenna is a pro-life George W. Bush conservative, as are most of the bunch on the SCC. Ideology's not involved. The money boys call for political transparency. That's a laugh! The finance boys won't even divulge the full list of their members except to say that Ed Brennan and Ron Gidwitz are co-heads and a few others (but the remainder, some 50 in number, are faceless). They fall into three categories: those who give $100,000 a year, give $25,000 a year and $10,000 a year. They want to muscle the peons in the SCC: 'Do this or else' stuff.''

You mean, elitism has finally permeated the Republican state finance committee? I'm disillusioned.

What's likely to happen?

''Let me tell you what should happen. Some say the SCC should pick Jim Nalepa, the tough-as-an-Army-boot guy who would have gone to Congress some years ago if a certain Riverside township committeewoman by the name of Topinka hadn't passed out sample ballots for Bill Lipinski that elected him by an eyelash. But they won't pick Nalepa. They could pick Steve McGlynn, who's very savvy and would clean house, clearing out the staff from top to bottom, to which I say right on. Now, the 19-member SCC is divided into two parts: those who are state legislators and other elected people (likely to cave to the money boys), and those who aren't. They're weighted votes. If the non-legislators get together and agree on one candidate (without Dave Syverson, Rockford; Skip Saviano, Elmwood Park and Kirk Dillard, Hinsdale), it'd be tight but maybe, with luck, they can do it. Something tells me McGlynn.''

But will an alienated finance committee cut off the money?

''No,'' said Deep Background. ''A Democratic Party that'll likely see a primary challenge for governor is all the incentive needed for the GOP money boys to hang around. Remember: They were the guys who let George Ryan herd 'em around. Something tells me McGlynn.''

Jim

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WHEREAS, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;
WHEREAS, Both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

I have always believed that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way, that a divine plan placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by a people from every corner of the Earth who had a special love of faith and freedom. Our pioneers asked that He would work His will in our daily lives so America would be a land of morality, fairness and freedom.

Today we have more to be thankful for than our pilgrim mothers and fathers who huddled on the edge of the New World that first Thanksgiving Day could ever dream of. We should be grateful not only for our blessings, but for the courage and strength of our ancestors which enable us to enjoy the lives we do today.

Let us affirm through prayers and actions our thankfulness for America's bounty and heritage.

==>Ronald Reagan