Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-22
HARDLY PROBABLE HE WILL SIC
CEED HIMsELFAs COMMISSIONER.
COL. MERCER A CANDIDATE.
JACKSON COUNTY DELEGATION Is
LIKELY TO BE DIVIDED.
Mercer Has Been n Prominent Figure
I'm the Convention aud Councils
of the Democratic Party for
Thirty Years and Is
Quite Popular.

The announcement yesterday by Colonel
Joseph Mercer, of independence. that he
would ask the Democratic nomination at
Springfield for railroad and warehouse
commissioner to succeed Commissioner
James Cowgirl, caused a great deal of
speculation among the wise fry in ;he
Democratic party. It was agreed that the
advent of Mr.. Mercer made the situation
vastly more interesting than it has been
and that he was one of the formidable as
pirants for the nomination. For thirty
years Mr.. Mercer has been one of the best
known Democrats in the western part of
the state and a prominent figure in the
conventions and councils of the party He
IS a man of great wealth, is known all over
the state and is one of the most skillfui
campaigners in the field.
Inasmuch as Commissioner Cowgirl has
authorized his announcement as a candi-
date for reelection, the announcement of
Mr.. Mercer leaves jackson county with
two candidates for the same position. From
the time the office was created the custom
has been adhered to of giving but one term
TO each commissioner. The official term
Is Tor SIX years ana the DemOcrd1ic 1utd
has been that that was a long time for a
man TO hold office. Commissioner Cowgirl.
however. likes the position and is not wor-
rying over party traditions or customs.
In spite of the custom of one term, it is
pretty certain he would have held most, If
not all. of the forty-two delegates from
Jackson county to the state convention but
for the advent of Colonel Mercer. Now it
means a fight for the county's delegation
Colonel Mercer has lived here so long,
been of value to so many workers In the
party and such a prominent contributor TO
The campaign fund.-. IL is quite certain he
will have a very strong support among the
delegates from the county. Some OF his
friends claim he will be able to get any
thing he wants from the party workers,
and that he will get many of the other
counties and go into the convention one
George W; Trigg; of Richmond. who
Walt Bronaugh. of Clinton. have
both been looking with eager eyes
at the long list of delegates Jackson coun-
has. warm personal friends among the
leaders of the party here and had hoped
10 win out a part of the support any way.
The candidacy of Mr.. Mercer will make it
practically impossible for any outsider TO
get support for that office out of Jackson
county 1t adds to the complications by
competitor for the delegations in all of the
counties in the western portion OF the
state.
GEOGRAPHICALLY. Jackson county should
furnish one of the men on the next state
ticket. the leaders claim. st. Louis will
get the present open place on the su-
preme bench, Central Missouri will get
the place filled now by Judge Williams.
and Kansas City is thus left in line for
one place with another Office to go to the
southern part.
1t is thus seen the plan figures out on
paper with neat proportions and the wise
ones Of the party say the slate will go
into the convention with much popular ia
vor behind it, They figure the chances
of Mr.. Mercer as excellent in view of the
1act that numerous candidates will cut
the votes up into many parts and leave
line man with a strong lead little TO over
come TO win out. especially IL he has a
few strong delegations supporting him;
They also figure out how the candidacy
of Mr.. Mercer. in case IL is successful, will
leave Jackson county where she can hard
1y ask for the gubernstorial candidate
~retires. II is openly claimed by the friends
of Judge Gibson that he is anxious to have
the nomination here now for mayor SO
that II may nut him in direct line for the
will be greatly handicapped In the race
he appears to be making IL the county at
that time happens TO have a man holding
a good Office with a long term.
William +. McCully. OF Macon City. who
IS one OF the candidates for nomination as
railroad commissioner on the Democratic
ticket. was at the Coates House last even
ing. He held a conference with some of
his personal friends. and discussed the out
look for the race and the chances of the
men who are after the place. Mr.. Nc
Gully is a stalwart Democrat. and has
many friends I'm the state who would not
spare their efforts in his behalf. His con-
Gressional district. however, has produced
so far in the preliminary campaign two
other candidates for state office. and IL is
possible some adjustment of the aspirations
down there will have 10 be made later and
a portion OF the willing men leave the