The St. Louis Republic., 1901-09-01
INTEREST IN SENATORIAL
RACE HAS BECOME ACTIVE.
Announcement of Champ Cark Candidacy ss Followers
Other Declared and Prospective Aspirans Vests
SeatStone DE Almond, Stephens Priest and Some Others
to Be Reckoned in the Race Missouri Political Gossip.

The announcement. OF Champ Clark's sen.
atorial candidacy. following that Of ex'
Governor William j. Stone, has caused ar
unusual amount OF discussion and political
figuring for this season of an "off' political
year. 1t is generally conceded that the
senatorial campaign Is on and that it will
be an interesting contest from this time
forward. Hopeful followers Of stone. Gan
even now see his triumphant finish. While
Clark is regarded by all hands as an
able man and dangerous rival, and sew
eral other leading Democrats receive con-
sideration from those who contribute to
Democratic results in Missouri.
Discussing the best of declared and pros
pective candidates. and the probability that
Senator Vest will not seek reelection, a
well-informed party worker yesterday said
mo man can guess at this long range
who will be the winner. II Senator Vest
does not enter the race. and It Is now gem
orally understood that he will not. no less
than half a dozen able Missourians may be
expected to try their fortunes. 1t will be
the first time for generation that an OPP
portunity offerps TO- aspirants for the Sena-
torship and they will not be slow to take
advantage Of 1T There will be no hero
worship in the contest. nor will any cam
didate fan heir to any advantage. 1t will
be win who best knows how. and most de-
serves the honor: in short, 1t will be a
memorable measurement Of political proves
in Missouri. IS ssl
IT am of the opinion that Ex-Governor
Stone has at this time the best organization
in the State for senatorship. Its strong
hold is in the country and 1t may, there
fore. be regarded as abiding. II he main
tains mis- present advantage he will go be-
fore the Legislature as the leading candi-
date by odds. His hope. and that OF his
friends. is that he will receive the caucus
nomination on the first ballot. but that
will never happen. 1t will have been
twenty-four years since legislators have
had a chance to vote for any one but Vest,
and they will not hurry through the exer-
else Of that important part Of their duty.
Champ Clark will go before the Legisla-
ture with a goodly following. His friends
are already announcing their candidacy for
legislative seats and they will fight for
him every step OF the way. Keep in mind
also that he has only friends in Missouri
and that he Is looked upon as big man.
He has antagonized no one. and has won u
name and fame outside of Missouri clear
ly on his merits Champ Clark has talent
and he isn't afraid. He will make his
campaign just as though there was no one
else in the race. He will interfere with no
one. nor allow any interference. He is
big enough to be good-humored and broad
enough to know his limitations.
Another man whose measurement re-
mains to be taken fs D. A. DeArmond. He
is one of the ablest men ever sent to Con-
gress from Missouri, and as politician he
can give most of them all they ask for in
a race. and be waiting for them at the fin
ish. The senatorial opportunity looks so al
Turing to a number Of candidates that they
cannot refrain from forcing the contest. Not
SO with DeArmond. He is the best hand at
waiting you ever saw.
He never gets nervous. nor ever says the
wrong thing. He Is now In the Orient
studying imperialism and the tariff ques-
tions-not as we, see them, but as they
affect peoples beyond our borders-and he
will come home in plenty Of time to bear a
hand In solving any question his party has
set before him. DeArmond can see a long
distance ahead, and he had steadfast friends
in Missouri. who will back him for any posi-
tion he aspires to.