Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-24

zinc districts and thousands OF people nave
come into the state within the past four
years This increase in vote, however, is
not believed by the politicians to have af-
fected the relations of the two parties, as
they estimate the gain to each to be about
proportiOnate.
Boss Rule at an End.
The republican state convention, which has
just adjourned in Kansas City, proved that
the old days of boss rules were at an end.
The Filley-kerens feud is at an end. Fill
ley's influence has been destroyed by a
gradual disintegration of his following. and
the kerens slate was smashed to pieces
at the convention. The name of Filley was
barely mentioned In the proceedings, and
Kerens had all he could do to secure any
recognition whatever on the state ticket,
or in the delegation which will go to Phila-
delpha. Kerens will be reelected national
committeeman, and will still retain large
influence in the distribution of federal
patronage. but it is generally conceded that
E "A. Hitchcock will have the biggest say
in the distribution of the pie. The party is
still united in the state, but the younger
element has taken the bit in its teeth and
run away from the bosses.
Moses c. Wetmore, who two years ago
occupied a prominent place in the demo-
cratic party of Missouri, has secured the
desired advertising as an antitrust manu-
facturer. and is now selling a plug to-
bacco to those who make point of buying
where their money will not assist the oc-
tupii in their efforts to strangle the peO-
pie. Wetmore was even talked of for gov
ernor. and he is still expected to make
handsome contribution to the campaign
fund this year. He may possibly have had
genuine political ambition at one time, but
as he Is a shrewd business man he prob
ably realized early in the game that men
like Dockery. Stone and others were far more
than a match for him.
The democrats of Missouri are somewhat
divided on the question of expansion. Stone
made a exhaustion SDpech two
ago. and made the democratic party in
convention assembled declare In favor of
that policy in a plank which favored the
annexation Of the Hawaiian Islands. His
enemies declare that this was due to
friendly relations with the sugar trust as
one Of It's attorneys. but since that time
Stone has experienced a change OF heart
and has been hedging on the expansion is
sue until he is now fairly well in line with
Bryan and his followers.
Democratic Delegates.
Stone, Stephens, D. A. Ball and possibly
Vim. H. Phelps will be the four delegates
at-large to the democratic national con-
vention. Stone goes because he wants to,
and the people will give him anything he
wants; Stephens, by right of precedent;
Dave Ball because Dockery would like to
have him go, for Ball was Dockery's chief
opponent in the struggle for the nomina-
ton for governor and withdrew in time to
mel Phelps is a friend of Governor Stephens
and an enemy Of Stone. He announced that
he desired to be a delegate to the national
convention and Stone Immediately started
a fight against him. Colonel Phelps is the
most distinguished lobbyist in the south
west, and represents the Missouri Pacific
railroad in all its political affairs. The
opposition of the politicians to Phelps has
crystalliZed the efforts of the corporations
in his behalf, and there is little doubt
that corporation influence is sufficiently
strong to secure at least one delegate at
large Colonel Phelps will probably attend
the national convention. 1t Is reported that
all applications for railroad transportation
are now referred to him, and this places
the delegates to the state democratic con-
vention. to be held in Kansas City June 4,
in rather an embarrassing position.
States Interest in the Election.
The interest of Missouri in the national
election is not very great from a republican
point of view, as Mr.. Hitchcock Of st.
Louis is the only man who has received any
very tangible recognition. From a demo-
cratic point of view Missouri is keenly alive
to the fact that If Mr.. Bryan should be
elected, Missouri would occupy a very
prominent place in the roster Of the admin
istration, a place which would probably
comport with her dignity as the fifth state
in the Union. In computing the favors
which have been bestowed upon the state
by the Mckinley administration, the Mis-
souri, republicans do not count the honors
bestowed upon Webster Davis as anything
to their credit. Davis appeared in Kansas