The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-21
Republicans Play Politics With a
View to the Minority Nom
inatiOn for Senator.
CHARLES NAGEL TO THE FRONT.
He May Enter the Lists for the
Nomination-"Legal Adviser"
of the City Committee
Means Much.

If the efforts of State Chairman Atkins
and his Republican friends are successful
the minority nomination for United States
Senator will be made at the State Conven
ton. 1t Is thought that this will enable the
anti-kerens crowd to dictate in favor of
any candidate 1t chooses to honor with the
nomination. This plan will be attempted
as a distinct slap at the National Commit
teeman,
Since Mr.. Atkins has demonstrated that he
is the distributor of the spoils in Missouri,
the other faction has been deserving to his
camp In such numbers that the State chair
man will have little difficulty In controlling
the next convention. He has secured
through Congressman BarthoIdt part of any
st. Louis delegation which may be sent
from this city. In Kansas City Joseph H.
Harris will attend to the representation.
These two delegations. with those he may
expect to capture in the country districts
and Mr.. Atkins has always been stronger in
the State Than in the cities-wiI enable the
anti-kerens faction to dc about anything it
wishes.
Has Not Surrendered.
Still there are evidences that Mr.. Kerens
has not given up all hope of controlling the
minority. He will use his influence to pre-
vent action at the State Convention. II he
can postpone action until the meeting Of
the General Assembly he may expect to Sc
cure the honorary nomination. as he has
done SO often heretofore. His hold on Re-
publican members who are sent to Jefferson
City has usually been taken for granted.
The National Committeeman will probably
not surrender everything until he finds just
what disposition the President will make Of
the country post offices now filled with his
own appointees. If Chairman Atkins sue.
ceeds as well in the State as he has in st.
Louis and Kansas City. Mr.. Kerens will
have no choice in the matter. He will be
retired by force Of circumstances. Without
Federal goods he is powerless.
Yet the extreme Ziegenhein supporters OF
Mr.. Kerens have not deserted him. He can
now control about six wards in St Louis.
The members of the City Central Commit
tee from these wards-said to be Theodore
D. Kalbfell. John B. Owen. Charles F.
Wenneker. Louis Alt. C. O.. A. Brunk and
Thomas K. Niedringhaus-have not shared
the olive branch that has been extended to
the Akins S crowd In the choice nc Of Charles
ton.
Up to the Combine.
"Mr. Nagel would like to receive the mi
nority nomination for Senator" said one OF
his friends yesterday. n deserved : red, the
# nef impo ms%ety Il + TN lsd Resss nsm mean mage anse
CnlnR at the pFeSenG time. MI. Na8ot lS III
the fight to take Mr.. Kerens's place as the
man honored by Republicans in the Cen
eral Assembly.
According to one prominent Republican
who knows the inside workings Of the re-
cent change of front by the City Commit
tee, Mr.. Nigel did not agree to accept the
position OF legal adviser until the combina-
ton Of interests inside the organization had
promised practically to let the ST. Louis Re-
publican Club through Mr.. Nasel name
their successors: II this agreement Is car
rted out, the Silks may control the commit
teemen from about twenty-one or twenty
two wards.
That is. providing there is no treachery.
To those who know the politicians who LAY
combined to help Mr.. Nagel. there Is good
reason to count no chickens until the egg
hatch. Former .Councilmen Carroll and
Kratz are said to have originated the move
Committee. Twelve Of the committeeman
met in Pat C1arke's house in the Fourteenth
Ward and discussed matters. Carroll and
Kratz fell down on the reorganization
scheme. but they found that they had
legal adviser"
In order to secure these votes. overtures
had to be made to Secretary William H.
Hahn. Naturally. Hahn and his clique
meant that they were to be sacrificed. They
were willing to share in the support of the
Atkins programme to a certain point. but
no further.
It Is now up to these committeeman to
deliver the goods. II they fail. the st.
Louis Republican Club will accuse them Of
treachery. II they do carry out the agree
ment. It VIII be Up to the Silk Stockings to
tote fair and distribute the nuts for the