Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-24
MISSOURI OUTLOOK
Dockery's Remarkable Campaign for
Governor.
PROBABLE ELECTION RESULTS
Bryan Likely to Garry the State as
in 1896.
REP U ICAN HOP E S
JEFFERSON CITY. Mo-, May

nine democrats will also admit that while
the state of Missouri will give w. ]. Bryan
its usual large majority. they do not be-
Iieve Mr. Bryan will be elected President of
the United States. The republican state
convention has just been held, and while 1t
was well attended and the delegates showed
considerable enthusiasm. this enthusiasm
was not based upon any hope of electing
any of their candidates.. but upon the ex-
pectation that the incoming national adj
minStration would continue to be republi-
can and the party would remain dominant
in Missouri's share of federal appointments.
The democratic state convention will not
be held until June 4. but a rather peculiar
condition exists in that quite number OF
the nominations are already determined
upon by the people en- masse, even before
the primaries of the state have been held
The republicans nominated for governor 10
Seph Flory. who has been railroad COM
missioner of the state since 1894. when the
republicans made their remarkable attack
upon the political citadel of the democrats
and, aided by the anti-Cleveland sentiment.
captured the state ticket and nine out OF
the fifteen congressman. 1t was IN 1874
that Missouri went republican Tor the -nrst
time since the eX-confederate soldiers were
allowed to vote in 1S12 In that year of
1894. so fatal to the democracy of Missouri.
even Dick Bland and Champ Clark We're
defeated by men 50 obscure that they nave
Probable Results.
The results of the election in 1900 in this
state will be about the same as they We're
in 1896 Bryan will receive a larger ma
jorty than he did then, owing to the very
perceptible increase in the Votes which in
crease is presumed to be evenly divided in
political complexion between the two par
ties The three republican congressman of
Missouri come from the three districts in
cluded in the city of St. Louis. Messrs. Bar
tholdt JOY and Pearce. The first named
two will probably be renominated and re-
elected and some other nominee Will be
chosen to succeed Mr.. Pearce, who has
withdrawn from the race. owing to the fact
that he is moving out of the district.
The republicans have hopes, and are MAX
ing a very strong fight in three other con-
gressiunal districts. The first district. III
the northeast corner of missouri now rep
resented by Representative J. 7. Floyd. has
strong republican leanings. and there is
possible doubt as to the outcome of the cleo
ton this year though the democrats seem
very confident that their candidate VIII con,
tinue to hold the large majority he received
In 1898 The fourth district, represented by
C. F. Cochran. which includes the republi-
can town of ST. Joe, is also fighting ground
for the republicans. as Mr.. cochran oniy
received majority of about 1000 in a total
of $1,000 votes. The fifteenth district. now
represented by NJ. E. Benton, is the most
hopeful prospect for an increase in the re-
DuDHcdn cOHSTeSSlOHdi utitSatioil VI
souri,. This district is in southwest Mis-
souri,, and includes the zinc and lead coun-
try. The free silver sentiment Is not so
strong here as elsewhere, as the miners be-
lieve that the free coinage of silver means
the shipment into the United States of
vast amount of silver-lead ore, which would
have a tendency to reduce the price OF lead
in this country. These people are also OPP
posed to free lead. which is advocated by
the democrats. The latter admit the pos
sibility of a republican representative as
result of the elections this fall, though the
best-informed politicians in the state regard
the district as reasonably sure democratic.
Gov. Stones Control.
The most interesting feature in the polit-
ical situation in Missouri is the unquestioned
control of the democratic party by ex-Gov.
W. ]. Stone. If there anything within
the gift of the people at the polls this fall
he wanted ex-Gov. Stone could have it. BY
common consent, however. he is slated to
succeed Senator Vest when the latter's
term expires in 1909. The legislature to be
elected this year will have nothing to do
with the senatorial situation, but it has en-
tered into state politics, owing to the possi-
bity that a senatorship may become
cant through the physical inability of Vest
COckrell to serve out their full term.
Senator Vest is considered as in very feeble
health, and he himself talks phiosophcally
about the possibility of his being at any
time removed from the field of human
twenty-tifth consecutive year in the public
service. and is getting well along in years.
Both of these senators represent the old
time confederate democratic party of Mis-
souri,. and with their going will pass away
many of the traditional customs of the Mis-
souri, democracy. The man who stands
next to Gov. Stone in power is Representa-
tive d. A. DeArmand. and 1t seems to be
generally understood in Missouri that if W.
]. Bryan is elected President Stone will be
given some high place in the nations coun-
ellis, possibly even the portfolio of the Sec
rotary of State, and in that case DeArmand
would succeed Vest in the Senate Dear
mand is more of a democrat than Stone for
the latter Is more of a populst in his polit-
ical beliefs than the platforms of the demo-
cratic party, prior to 1886 would warrant.
Stone IS one of Bryan's strongest support
ers. and his reputation for political good
faith is of such character that his support
OF Bryan Is not questioned by any of Bry
an S friends, so long as the situation does
not present an opportunity for Stone to bet
ter himself at the expense of Bryan, for
Stone has always held his own interests to
be superior to those of any of his poItical
co-workers
The present governor, Lon v. Stephens
Will be sent as a delegate-at-large to the
national convention, not because of his Do
Etcal following, but because 1t is an I'M
written law in Missouri that the retiring
governor shall be given this office Any
talk OF conflict between STEPHENS and
Stone for the senatOrship, three years from
1t. and is making a campaign in that direc-
ton he cuts very small figure in the po-
litical situation.
DOckery's Marvellous Campaign.
ExCongressman A NJ. Dockery has made
the most marvellous campaign for the gov
ernorship in the history of the state He
retired from Congress in 1898, after sixteen
years of service, with the avowed purpose
of being governor. He has written letters
to thousands of democratic voters, he has
spoken in every county of the state, and has
cultivated the personal acquaintance of
every democrat who controls one or more
votes in the state convention. He is popu-
lar. shrewd and active, and the result of his
labor is apparent In the withdrawal of all
opposition to his nomination. and the fact
that it is conceded 10 him by reclamation
before the primaries Of the state have been
held. Governor Stephens attempted to head
off the Dockery BOOM and Stone did not
give 1t his support. Stephens opposition
Gid not amount to anything, and later on
Stone changed his attitude and became a
supporter of Dockery. 1t was this latter
phase of the situation which gave rise to
the story that If vacancy should occur
in the Senate during Dockery's administra-
ton, w. ]. Stone would be appointed to fill
the unexpired term.
Another peculiar feature is the inevitable
nomination of three other men on the state
democratic ticket. also conceded before the