The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-15
All but the Brass Tacks Have Been
Put Into His Congressional
Boom.
WILL BE POOR MANS FRIEND.
Declares He Is Not a fractional
Candidate-The Twenty-Eighth
Ward Flips Dollars for
Advantage.

Republican politicians are figuring on Joe
Flory's chances in the Tenth District. That
he will be a candidate is a ~foregone con-
clusion. Men who were In the secret con-
ference at the Southern Hotel Saturday
afternoon assert that they have all the
wires laid. In an interview yesterday Mr..
F1ory all but announced his candidacy for
the congressional nomination. A definite
announcement will be made today.
Friends of Fiory say that Congressman
Richard Bartholdt may be looked for in
st. Louis within the next ten days. 1t Is
said that Flory will go into every precinct
Of the Tenth District and make one Of his
old-time campaigns. He has not very much
money-in fact, has always run as a poor
mans candidate-but has enough energy
stored up to last hin for a month, with
out extra sleep. AS the primaries will be
held Saturday. May L. he will have a short
and quick time Of ii.
Opponents of Bartholdt are making the
most of the fact that he has plenty Of
money behind him. They are counting on
this to swing the tide in F1ory's favor.
The laboring men do not like the idea VI
any man sunni that they can be
bought" said a F1ory supporter yesterday.
THE more money that is let loose by the
other side the more campaign capital we
will have"
Flory's record as a member of the labor
unions is expected to be of great service to
him. After reading the news in The Re
public regarding the conference in Flory's
interest. st. Louis Division No. 3. Order or
Railway, Conductors, passed resolutions
asking him to stand for the n9minaIion;
This was done without any solicitation on
the part Of F1ory.
Consents to Talk.
Mr.. F1ory was more communicative yes
terday regarding his candidacy. In reply to
questions. he dictated The IoIlowing ,rs,t
number of Republicans of ST. Louis, and
more. perhaps, from the Tenth Congress,
upon me and asked me to make the race
for the nomination for Congress, hrst an
swered by saying, I don't want TO run for
any office Then the proposition was put 70
with various so-called factions:
Can you be induced to make the race?
NV indirect answer was as follows: 1t goes
without saying that l appreciate what my
party has done for me in the past. and it is
an honor for any man to be nominated
parties. 1 would like to be a member OF
Congress should 1t meet with the Wishes
of a majority Of the people Of my district.
shall make the race. but will do so within
the next thirty-six hours: this in Justice to
my friends. In the event OF my deciding 10
ask for the nomination / wish 1t distinctly
understood that there will be no aftiliation
or connection with Mr.. Kerens. Mr.. Ziegen-
helm or any other so-called leader OF rae
lions. ! claim to be a clean-cut Republican,
and IL 1 engage in this contest 1t will be
along the above lines. asking the support OF
the Republicans of the Tenth District with
the understanding that this is not a contest
between factions. but my own Individual
fight for the honors referred to.
81 viii further say that l am now. as l
have ever been. from Lincoln down to and
including our present President. Theodore
Roosevelt. first, last and all the time, for
the administration In this the mother OF
Republics We have been taught to believe
that even a railsplitter or canal boy has a
right to aspire to the presidency. 1t has
been fully demonstrated by the people OF
our greatest Presidents have been men
reared In cabins in AFFECT poverty, Should
l decide to become a candidate. be NOM
mated and elected. It viii be my purpose pose
whether they be bankers, merchants. pro-
fessional men or laborers. to the best Of my
ability"
fractional Fight.
Notwithstanding Mr.. FIory declares he
will not be allied with any factions. the fac
tional fight will be the paramount issue in
the contest. State Chairman Atkins has been
making speeches in the wards OF the Tenth
District in Bartholdt's interest. He has lit
tie use for F1ory, especially since the fiasco
over the United States marshalship.
Though National Committeeman kerens
declares he is taking no interest in the con-
test. his friends are all aligned with Flory.
II Flory is elected. the Atkins faction openly
claim that Kerens would control the patron
age. Both sides claim that Election Com
missioner Louis P. Aloe is not taking sides
in the congressional fight. His standing as
a party man is such that his statement to
this effect is sufficient guarantee. In his
own ward matters have been fixed so that
there should be no contest in the primaries.
Last Saturday a secret caucus was held I'm
the Office of Mark R. Chartrand in the
Carleton building. where the st. Louis Re-
publican and Merchants League clubs We're
represented. The Twenty-eighth Ward will