Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-29
ST. LOUIS POLITICS
O'Neil Said to Believe Joy Will Be
Elected.
THEREFORE, he DECLINED TO RUN
Candidates Embarrassed by the A.
P. A. Movement.
SUSPICIOUS REGISTRATION
of The Evening Star.

The refusal Of the democratic party to re-
nominate J.J.O'Neil in the 18th congressional
district undoubtedly indicates that that
gentleman himself does not believe he could
carry the weight assigned him by popular
opinion In the coming elections stakes. 1t
Is the sheerest nonsense to say that ONeil
has lost his hold on the organization in
North st. Louis, and could not have been
selected as standard bearer If he had so de-
sired. O'Neil owns the North st. Louis
organization boots and breeches and, many
expert opinions to the contrary notwith-
standing, he is an astute politician. He can
follow the trend Of events intelligently and
can see as far ahead in the direction they
are leading as the next one. He knows that
he could not beat Joy this year, that a SEN
timental feeling in favor of restoring Joy to
his own if nothing else would defeat him,
and he does not propose to risk his political
future on forlorn hope.
But those who believe that O'Neil has re-
tired permanently from politics will certain
ly meet with disappointment. Politics is the
very breath of his nostrils, and he does not
expect to be shelved permanently.
He does not believe that Espenchied the
nominee of the party, will be elected, and
Espenchied is a popular man-ex-state sem
ator, cx-treasurer and an eX-secretary to the
mayor. In fact, joys election for reasons
already mentioned by The Star correspond
dent is almost. If not quite. conceded on all
sides.
Joy will not cut much of a figure in Con-
gress for many reasons, the chief one being
that official life is not altogether tasteful to
him, and two years hence the tickle voters
of the eleventh district will have forgotten
the circumstances under which he was
ousted to make room for ONel. Besides it
will be presidential year, and the con-
stftuency, being undoubtedly democratic in
political faith when it comes to a show
down on party lines, democrat will proba-
bly, be returned. ONeils friends will come
into the convention with whoop and de-
clare that the salvation of the party de-
pends upon Its return to the old love- and
O'Neils friends, 1T must be admitted usual
ly get what they go after. There is some
talk OF his being groomed for governor ad
interim. This boomlet was started once be-
lore, but was punctured by ONeil himself,
who said to the impromptu committee who
suggested it to him: who in the mischief
would want to live in jefferson city four
yearsY' His name is also coupled with the
mayoralty, which would be decidedly more
to his taste, for it would give him the pa
tronage ana the excitement he Graves.
George In the Campaign.
Henry George was here last week making
speeches in favor of Nelson and against
Cobb in the twelfth. When Mr.. George was
and dined by big democratic leaders, who
made lion of him. This time they let him
severely alone and since his departure have
been trying to turn his speeches to account
In the interest of Cobb. Mr.. Nelson being a
manufacturer and a millionaire, and having
scores of friends in the business world, 1t
is reared that many of the most conSerVa-
tive democrats would vote for him on ac-
count of his pronounced tariff reform ideas.
George did not con:lne himself to discus
sion of the tariff. He declared himself in
favor of fiat money aud government owner
ship of railroads. Democrats are now ap-
pealing to business men in the twelfth to
vote against Nelson declaring that he gave
at least a quasi-ndorsement to the New
YORK mans views on all Subjc It's when he
asked him to take part l the canvass.
In the meantime. the republicans have
nominated +. NJ. Sterrltt, n yourg lawyer
who showed himself to be a subtle politician
by the remarkable ease with which he
went into the convention and took the nomi-
nation away from Dwight Collier to whom
IT had been conceded for several weeks.
Sterritt Is a hustler, and is working night
and day for his own election with flattering
prospects Of success.
The A. p. A.
The American Protective Association is
making extravagant claims. The assertion
is made that the order has 1900 members
in the city. If this be true, 1t is more than
a balance of power, and no Catholic on eth
er ticket will be elected to office But 1t is
probably not true, though it is useless to
deny that the organization is lusty enough
to feel its oats. Its appearance in affairs
has given rise 10 some ludic-ous Incl Tents
A fight was made on Recorder William A.
Hobbs in the republican convention because
1t was said he was in sympathy with The |
movement, ami that many members of the |
order We're clerks In his office He was re-
nominated, however, and now the A. F. A.
proposes to scratch him because his wife is |
a Catholic and he sends his children to a
Catholic school
Harry Gunsberg, the democratic nominee |
for sheriff, is Hebrew, and, therefore, can
not be suspected of having very strong lean |
ings toward the Catholic Church. And yet |
the A. z. "A. influence may be thrown |
against him, because he is very intimate |
with Governor Stone, who roundly de- |
nounces a. +. A.ism at every opportunity. |
1t is amusing to see the average candidate |
trying to dodge this issue To indorsa it is |
to antagonize the powerful Catholic in |
fiuence, and 10 denounce 1t Is to run the |
risk of being Llacklisted by all the councils |
In the city.
A Surprising Registration.
Registration is closed in this CITY, and
beth parties are astounded at the phenom-
email increase in the number of voters over
two years ego. 1t is out of all proportion to
the probable increase in population, being
10000 nearly one-fourth of the total For
years the voting population of st. Louis has
tCctuated between 1900 and 5000. This
year it is 112,OOO. There is no exceptional
interest in the election, no question of more
han ordinary Importance, and only q small
percentage of state officers are to be chosen
The republicans have set up the cry of
raud, claiming that the democratic recorder
If voters has permitted the registration of
fictitious names. This species of fraud was
carried out here once several
1ears ago, but has not of recent years been |
attempted. A prominent republican said to-
lay: You see. there will be no federal su-
oervislon in this election, and the whole
conduct of the ballot will be in the hands of |
he democratic police force, differed by a
democratic governor. They hope to have
Kings their own way
Mistaken for Mr.. Stevenson
A ludicrous feature of Vice President
'tevenson's recent visit to st. Louis has
eaked out. He stayed at the Southern
Hotel, and by a coincidence one of the
carders in the house looked enough like
i'm to be his twin brother. The double"
n sporty sort of individual, who frequently
Ooks upon the wine when it is all sorts Of
Clors. 1t was Sunday afternoon. The Vice
resident was up in his room taking a nap
Ehen his double" strolled into the rotunda