Kansas City journal., 1898-03-07
LITTLE INTEREST SHOWN.
Democratic Primaries To-day Will BE
Dull Except In the Sixth. Tenth
and Fourteenth Wardx


and Fourteenth Wards.
There is but little interest manifested in
the Democratic primaries that are to be
held in the fourteen wards of the city to-
day. 1t is all machine made affair. except
in the Sixth, Tenth and Fourteenth wards.
where there are contesting delegations, and
where there will be some lively battling
done. Outside of these wards there is only
a light vote expected. All of the Shannon
supporters will be out in each ward ard
will vote but he has such monopoly of
the machine that his opponents in many of
the wards are disheartened and will let
the matter go by default Many men have
made up their minds that Shannonism will
win, and if they go into the primaries they
can be expected to support the ticket. no
matter who may be nominated, but If they
stay out they will feel free to do as they
please at the polls. Many of them prefer
to do that way.
the friends of Councilman Lynch, who
wants to go back to his seat in the lower
house. and the friends of Martin Regain
who held that Office and is anxious to get
back into the official life of the city While
Mr.. Lynch is an active and popular Demo-
crat, who has served his party in a man.
ner to which they have made little objec-
ton. he may have to fight to defeat the
Regan forces. Regan Is one of the old
time politicians, whose candidacy brings
back memories OF days VIII when the gang"
the public crib. There are many who would
like to be fed again, and they are working
for Regan because he stands pre-eminently
for that style of politics. Regan boasts that
he will win in a walk and that 1T is all
fixed for him to go back to his old seat.
Lynch and his friends are hard at work and
ward may see some lively times during the
hours of voting.
The Tenth ward has organized revolt
of threatening force against the two city
m m w
important part of the city in the past. and
will try to encompass their defeat to-day.
Jim Anderson and Will Hagan have been
running matters. the voters claim. in the
wrong way. and the fight is for their de-
feat. The men will have to skirmish if the
fight is carried out as strongly as appear-
anceS indicate. Anderson is the Joe Sham
non of the Tenth, and has acted like
man with a ward vote in his pocket. He
will have the benefit Of the Shannon ma
chine support and may pull through. The
Tenth ward has men who are of warlike
tendencies and revolutions are of frequent
occurrence there. Other leaders have been
mons man may go into the ditch before the
battle is over.
John keenan, and Mr.. McTiernan will
measure strength in the Fourteenth ward.
boss for the future. Keenan, has been a
great figure in gang politics in the past
in county matters oan and his saloon at In
much notoriety during the election frauds
of ~ by the wholesale charges of colonial
ton of illegal voters alleged to have been
practiced there. He has been winner and
loser in the past. but has always managed
to be in it some way all the time, and now
that his place of business is in the city
he wants to stamp his personality on the
politics of that ward and dictate its polit-
ical management
These three contests will furnish possibly
the only life there will be in the primaries.
There has been a considerable amount of
bad feeling engendered already and con-
ficts of a personal nature are not i'm
probable if either side attempts any Of the
Old-time tactics.
1t has been stated in the official circles
that following the convention Joe Shan
non would not be at the head Of the city
committee. Another man is said to be
slated for the place. and Shannon will
manage the campaign through him. Just
who will he rash enough to take the place
now and become Shannons shadow" has
not been mentioned. 1t is safe to say that
the ticket named by the convention. called
and run under the direction of Shannon.
will complete the race under his leadership,
either directly or through his man Fri
day." who may be chosen.