Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-13
Harrison Men in Missouri Preparing
for Next Year.
REVOLT AGAINST FILLEY'S DICTATION
Mayor WaIbridge Of St. Louis
Shows independence.
OTHER MAYORS WITH HIM
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


George D. Reynolds. ex-United States dis
trict attorney. For a while it looked as II
they would be in such hopeless minority
that it would be impossible for them to
make anything of fight but the levelop-
ments of the last few days seem to indi-
cate that they have an excellent chance
to secure a part of the delegation from this
state to the national convention. Chauncey
I. Filley, who was turned down by Harri-
son in spite of the fact that he had the in
dcrsement of every republican organization
in the state for the st. Louis postmaster
ship, is out for revenge, and makes no
bones of declaring that he will do all in his
power to secure the defeat of the Indiana
man.
He has with him the state central com
mittee and nearly all the county commit
tees to say nothing of the lower house OF
the legislature. Within the last week he
has bumped against snag, how ever, that
is likely to knock big hole in his plans.
The man who has made all the trouble is
Cyrus P. Walbridge of ST. Louis. Two years
ago Filley and Walbridge were In perfect
accord, and the former was the absolute
dictator of his party Defeated at Mime
arcIis by R. c. Kerens, a silver republican,
for national committeeman, he had gath
cred together the fragments of his prestige
and was again in control OF the machine
His enemies had gloated over what they
considered his DOWNFALL and were prepared
to take charge OF the party organization;
but it was just at that point that they
slipped in their calculation. Fflley still had
the confidence of the men who do the prac-
tical work in politics, and it took him only
about three months to get control of the
political machine again, from the Missis-
sippi river to the Kansas line.
VIM. Warner who is an eX-commander-
in-chef Of the G. A. R., refused to be rec
onciled, but he was promptly turned down
for Webster Davis, an aspiring young at
toIney, who was made mayor OF Kansas
City.
WalbridSe Surprises Fillcy.
Then Cyrus P. Walbridge, a business man
who had served with local distinction as
president of the city council. was taken up
by Filley ard nominated and elected mayor
of ST. Louis. Filley in the meantime was
chosen chairman of the state committee.
So complete was the hold he gained on the
party organization that it looked as If moth
frg could break it, Walbridge, in making
his appointments offered him the position
of commissioner of streets, a very import
ant position, because of the large amount
of patronage attached to 1t. Filley declined
with the understanding, his friends say,
that he was to name the man. Much to the
surprise of every one an unknown-a West
Ponter-was selected, mainly because OF
his social position and apparently on ac-
count of his absolute ignorance of political
matters.
The republican city central committee al
most went daft. The thought of surrender
ing all the patronage of the street depart
ment to a man who wouldn't know a repub-
lican rally from Salvation Army parade
if he were to meet it in the street was
heartbreaking. Vigorous remonstranres
were made. but all to no purpose. Wal
bridge forced his appointee's confirmation
by threatening to withhold patronage from
members of the council who opposed it.
Trying to Scare WaIbridge.
Up to this time Filley regarded Walbridge
favorably for the republican nomination for
governor, but his iieutenants suddenly
transferred their allegiance, and from ev-
cry part of the state came word that Web
ster Davis was being groomed by the ma
chine for the honor Of heading the state
ticket in '96. This it was supposed would
brighten Walbridge, but he refused to scare
worth cent and it soon becam: evident
that there was battle royal or between
him and Filley.
The latest development came the other
day. when the mayor appointed his private
secretary, VIM. F. Saunders as republican
member of the board of election commits
soners for st. Louis. The last legislature
passed q law providing for an election COM
mission. consisting of three members, two
to be appointed by the governor and one by
the mayor. Filley's chief lieutenant was
an applicant for appointment by the mayor,
and was Endorsed by ali the machine lead
erS. He was not even considered by the
executive.
What Fiiiey is Going to Do.
Now politicians are telling what Fflley
is going to do about it. and if they are
right this local fight will have a bearing
on national politics. But so far as local
elections are concerned Filley is in an awk-
war1 position. Under the new law the re-
publican commissioner will name every
Judge and clerk to represent his party at
the primary elections. He also has the
distribution of one-half the patronage of
tire commission. He is not only known as
pronounced anti-Filley man, but is a stick
Ter for the reformation of politics. He will
he influenced by men like Noble and ker-
ems, which is equivalent to saying that he
will not give solitary friend OF the ma
chine an appointment.
This means, of course, that a solid Har-
rison delegation from St Louis will go to
the state convention when 1t assemblies to
select delegates to the rational convention.
1t is no wonder then that the Harrison
men are beginning to pick up courage.
While making very little fuss about it
they are very industriously patching up
rying on an interesting Irritation with all
the factions opposed to Filley.
Alliance for Harrison.
One of the mayors closest friends has
been In consultation with John w. Noble
twice within a week. It may be that the
conferences were of a professional nature,
but the story has become current in po-
litical circles that an alliance, offensive
and defensive, has been formed in the in
terest of Harrison for President and Wal
bridge for governor.
Without decided change in the situation,
Commissioner Saunders being opposed to
F4lley. it is dollars to red apples that the
boss" cannot and will not secure a dele
gate from St. Louis to the state -conven-
ton Filley is said to lean strongly to
Mckinley, with a high regard for Allison
for second choice. But over and above all
he is Filley man, and it is a part of his
political history to favor the candidate
with whom he can make the best terms.
His troubles do not end with his Set
back in St. Louis. The spirit of revolt has
spread to other cities of the state, and he
is going to find his hands full If he at
tempts to check it. Gen. VIM Warner, in
spite Of his temporary setback, is still a
tremendous power in western Missouri,
and the indications are that he will have
the aid of Mayor Davis of Kansas City
and Mai. John L. Bittinger, who dominates
the republican politics of ST. Joseph.
Before Walbridge made his final break
from Filley, the latter and Davis had al
ready fallen out. Davis is an impetuous,
hot-headed fellow, with a remarkable gift
of oratory, and for months he has not
lost an opportunity to air his opinions at
county fairs and barbecues. Some of bis
utterances were distasteful to 1.-The old
man." who proceeded to call him down