Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-07
FROM THREE STATES
Political Conditions in Kansas, Ne
braska and Missouri.
THE FIRST WILL GO FOR M'KINLBY
The Other Two Probably Will Vote
for Bryan.
FIGH TING nee

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
KANSAS CITY Mo-, September !, 1900
Political conditions in this section Of the
United States have not changed materially
since the national conventions were held
Kansas is still held by those best informed
as most liable to give her electoral vote to
the national republican ticket. while 1t Is
evident. the other hand. that John Bri-
denthal, the fusion candidate for governor
will develop strength far in excess of that
shown for Mr.. Bryan. Some go so far as to
say that he will run 10000 votes ahead of
the national democratic ticket, and thus in
all probability. be elected
BridenthaI has many friends among the
conservative element in Kansas. He will
hold all of the strength carried by Mr..
Bryan, and. in addition to that, will receive
the votes of hundreds Of business men of
all political persuasion. who are confident
that. If elected. he would make the best gov
ernor Kansas has had for long time. He
has never been calamity bowler in any
sense of the word, and his record as bank
commissioner is sympathetic with the best
business interests of the state. Chairman
Johnson of the national democratic execu-
tive committee who Is a Kansan himself,
seems perfectly confident that Kansas will
give Bryan handsome majority. and that
state Is put in the democratic column with
out question Dy the national committee In
making up it's estimate of the final vote.
There is q magnificent Indebtedness about
all democratic estimates, however, and Mr..
Johnson seems unable to give any real good
reason why his party should be strong in
Kansas under the existing conditions, which
are so favorable to the republican party.
In Missouri.
In Missouri the republicans are even less
hopeful than they were earlier in the cam
paign. The only features of any interest
are those Of purely local character, the
principal one being the split in the demo-
cratic party in Jackson county. which in
cludes Kansas City within its boundaries.
There is considerable discussion throughout
the state to the probable successor to
Senator Vest. The incoming legislature
will not elect a senator, except that the
hod-overs to the state senate elected this
fall will take part in the contest two years
from now. Ex-Governor Stone Is still the
leading candidate to succeed Vest. but he is
not 80 much alone in his candidacy as he
Almond and Champ Clark are after his
scalp and the result Is not so absolutely
certain. Representative Dockery. who will
be elected governor in November. Is also
looked upon possible senatorial candi-
date. Notwithstanding the fact that the
election will come in the middle of his
gubernatOrial term. The idea of being
United States senator from Missouri pos
sesses a peculiar fascination to a Missouri
politician. For many years the old confed-
crate and ante-bellum element has had a
lien upon these Offices, and this is the first
time in the history Of the state when the
contest has been made free for all.
Richard G.. Kerens, the great republican
leader OF Missouri. insists that the state will
go republican this fall. and grows indignant
when his friends refuse to take him se-
riously. Mr.. Kerens is a power In Missouri
when the national administration is republi-
can, but his predictions are governed more
by his hopes than by his usually shrewd po-
itfcal judgment. Champ Clark's candidacy
for the United States Senate is rather q
surprise to many Missourians. for Repre-
sentative Clark has always declaimed that
he would rather be in the lower house than
in the Senate. believing, with Tom Reed.
that the Senate Ii place where politicians
60 when they die. He explains his change
Of front. however. by declaring that 1t Is