Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
THE MISSOURI DEMOCRACY.
Indications of Lively Fight in All
Congressional Districts
The Party Dividing Into Administra-
ton and Anti-Administration Fac
lions - Mr.. Cleveland's Policy.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Stat.

| VI.
Following so closely upon the great strug-
gle of the extraordinary session that the
connection between patronage and the vote
upon the silver bill seemed clearly defined
1t accomplished the separation Of factions
and divided the party within the common
wealth into administration and anti-admin-
istration wings.
So few are the democrats who have
gained access to the national pie counter
since the Inauguration Of Mr.. Cleveland
that the friends Of the administration are
| necessarily restricted in numbers. On the
| silver question the party stands by its del
! egation. On the question of patronage it is
greatly divided. and the tariff notifications
recently set forth by the House committee
| have done their part in assisting the gen.
| eral confusion.
Just at this juncture the absorbing theme
for political discussion Is the effect all
| these things heretofore outlined will have
| upon the fortunes of sitting members Of
Missouri's congressional delegation. What
new faces will appear next year? How
many Of the old members will go back?
These are puzzlng questions to answer,
| and that they are thus early perturbing the
minds Of those whom they directly con-
cern-the Representatives themseves-is in
evidence and corroborated by the many
signs OF unusual activity in the different
districts. All who can are mending fences
and repairing any breaks in the hedge; but,
withal, there are elements of uncertainty,
rendering the situation one of deepest in
terest.
Foremost in interest Is the possible atti-
tude of Mr.. Cleveland. Rumor has followed
tripping upon the heels of rumor from
Washington that the President or at least
democratic politicians primarily the repre-
sentatives of the administra ton, propose to
have hand in the Missouri congressional
hight next year. 1t has been suggested that
the proposed trinity of national committee.
congressional committee and executive COM
mittee of National League of Democratic
Clubs but thinly wells the real purpose of
the administration, which is to strengthen
its following in the next Congress at the
cost of retiring several members of the
present delegation. Whether subsequent
developments will disprove this is for the
future to show. The present would indicate
Its correctness, and the fact that all parties
interested are preparing To make this the
basic and initial point upon which to in
augurate the campaign tends to show that
1t Is generally believed.
silver i'm the Campaign.
The silver question will be the greatest
Issue Of the campaign. and when President
Cleveland attempts to run counter to the
silver sentiment in Missouri he will ride
to unknown depths the waters of a great
discomfort which has been bubbling and
threatening to boil over on the slightest
pretext Therein lies the danger which
threatens a serious break in Missouri's con-
Sressional delegation. If Mr.. Cleveland at
tempts to dictate the nomination OF single
standard men. he will intensity the faction
al tights now brewing, and this will be
the result: The democrats will have free
coinage candidates and administration cam
didates: the republicans are generally op-
posed to free coinage but there is possi-
uniting the combined opposition In each
district under one flag and for one candi-
date. Such a campaign. If vigorously con-
Quoted. as now seems probable, will have
one inevitable result-a large sprnkliny of
new faces in the delegation.
The state is In no condition viewed from the
standpoint Of the dominant party, to enter
into a feud. Many of the cong -essional dis
tricts are close The tidal wave of last wear
made them apparently safe. But every
Mood tide has its ebb and the representa-
tives who realize the imminent danger of a
f1ght within the party recall with app-e-
hension the fact that really only three
members Of the present delegation were
elected by majorities.
Should the administration carry out its
implied intention of building up an o-gani-
cation OF its own in Missouri avowedly in
imical to the personal fortunes of sitting
members. the spokes would fall out the tire
would run off and the hub OF the wheel
which naniDulates the democratic ma
chine-y would be the only remnant in the
general ruin.
Already candidates fo- congressional hon
ors are aield. The Missouri ozone is vi
brant with the whispered suggestions of a
legion Of 'Barkises'' who are ..willin."
A Summary by Districts,
How serious the situation is may be bet
ter understood and more fully apprecia ted
in summary by districts.
In the first district. where Congressman
VIM. I'll. Hatch has announced his candi-
di-cy Tor his eighth consecutive term the
elements of opposition are pronounced MI
Hatch had close call in his last campaign
for denomination. The indications are that
he will have the fight of his political life
r. Z. Giles, who was Hatch's most formi-
dable opponent for the nomination IS n
candidate again. Mr. Hatch was elected
in the tidal wave" year with a majority
of only IL.
The second district will be the fiercest
battle ground within the state. Congress
man Riley Hall, who has not yet fairly
warmed to the congressional work incident
to a first term, will have a combined oppo-
sition formidable enough to discourage the
average farmer. But Mr.. Hall has grit DO
htical acumen and a pretty accurate knowl-
edge of his district, so that this list of cam
didates already aspiring to supplant him
does not bring dismay: Ex-Congressman
Charles H. Mansur. John c. Piersal W. s.
Stockwell, j. p. Butler, c. b. Crowley A.
H. Walter. p. s. RAIDER.
Alex. NJ. Dockery of the third district is
another plurality Congressman whose re-
nomination in a district wherein before he
has had comparatively little opposition will
be contested by other applicants for favors
from the party. Ed. Turner and Bushrod
Nj. Diley whose temporary residence in
Oklahoma as an officer of the present adj
ministration does not take him out of the
ring, Will contest with Mr.. Dockery. The
complications in the Kansas City patronage
fight. in which the charge is made and be-
heved In certain portions of his district
that Mr. Dockery was recreant to the in
terests of his constituents. have involved
him to an embarrassing degree.
Congressman ID. u. Burnes of the fourth
district another plurality member, and a
new one, has as yet no serious opposition
His district is a peculiar one. and has been
FOR so many years controlled by members
OF the Burnes family that opposition Is at
all times feeble r. P. c. Wilson Of Platte
and Charles j. Booker of Andrew would
like to succeed him.
Mr.. Tarsney of the fifth district. which in
cludes Kansas City and the counties of
Jackson and Lafayette, will have opposition
but his position in the patronage fight in
the western district which resulted In Mr.
Cleveland snubbing the entire delegation
has strengthened rather than weakened him
with the rank and file. Three candidates
two from the county and one from the city
Alex. Graves and j. s. Blackwell of Lafay-
cite, and Marcy X. Brown of Kansas CITY
have announced their intention Of contest
Ing the nomination with Mr.. Tarsney The