The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-29

Republican National Committeeman, who
depends upon Colonel Phelps to send him
to the United States Senate.
Latest developments in the harmony
agreement" of the Republicans show that
Colonel r. c. Kerens is depending upog
Colonel William II. Phelps to elect hin
to the United States Senate. According tc
the facts which came to light yesterday
after the arrival of Frank 2. Roberts from
Springfield, the Republican National Com.
mitteeman has practically given the man.
agement of his campaign into the hands OF
Colonel Phelps and the Missouri Pacific
Railroad lobby
The recent agreement" about which 80
much has been said in the two Republican
newspapers of this city, was engineered by
Alex G. Cochran. general attorney of the
Missouri Pacific. and Colonel Phelps. leg
isiative agent" for the same road. The al
legged basis of harmony" was fostered in
the office Of Attorney Cochran where Colo
mel Kerens and his friends We're in confer
ence previous TO calling Frank Roberts
from the side of State Chairman Atkins.
No Agreement Made.
This. in brief. is the essence of the plot
which the overanXiety of the Republican
National Committeeman has made public.
With the arrival of Roberts came the grad
ual unfolding of the scheme upon which
Colonel kerens has been depending for so
long a time, So far as any agreement
having been reached between Atkins and
kerens is concerned. there IS none. So far
as Roberts is connected, he repudiateS an
agreement both in statement which he
gave out for publication and in private dec
larationS to his friends.
The GlObe-Democrat and the Star
have declared that there will be no action
taken at the State Convention relative to
the United States senatorship, this being
part of the agreement made under the
direction of the two Missouri Pacific at
torneys. If the sentiments expressed yes
terday at conference in the office. of
Charles Nagel hold good. the only ''har-
mony" which will be tolerated will be
through the elimination of Kerens. Having:
him beaten in his efforts to elect a State
chairman. it is the intention 10 have the
State Convention take action upon the
Will be the issue before the State Conven-
ton.
Many Conferences Are Held.
Frank Roberts arrived at the State head
quarters YESTERDAY morning. He was ac-
companied by ]. H. Duncan of Springfield.
Seventh District Shortly after their ar
rival they went into conference with Chair
man Atkins. They. then Went to the head
quarters of Colonel Kerens. where Roberts
made the atmosphere blue by the use of
several choice adjectives describing the ac-
tion of the Kerensites in proclaiming that
an agreement and "compyomise' had
been made between Atkins and Kerens.
a score or more of party workers called
at the headquarters OF the State Com
mittee to learn Robertss explanation. An
Roberts, Charles Nagel and James l..
Minnis. As a result another and larger
conference was held at Mr.. Nagers office
in the afternoon. those present discussing
the situation from 2So until after 6 o'clock.
At the afternoon conference We're Bert
ID. Norton of New Cambria J. H. Duncan
and Frank =. Roberts of Springfield d.
Pat Dyer, Charles Ii. Gallenkamp. James
l. Minis. George u. Reynolds, Matt G.
Reynolds, Robert c. Day. W. Lafe Sturde
want, f. c. Rowse, Clinton II. Welsh.
Charles r. Graves. II. A. Baker and NJ.
Nacel.
The Lobby in Charge.
To his friends gathered in this confer
ence. Frank Roberts explained his part IN
received telephone message from Mr..
Cochran asking him TO step over to the
office of the general attorney for the Mis-
S0rd Pag bns Mhsn he arpySd there he
kerens, Nathan Frank. f. A. Rozier and
L. L.. Durham. They had been in confer
ence for some time, Durham, recently ap-
pointed United States Marshal in Kansas
City. was hand in glove with the Phelps
kerens combination. and remained so
throughout the discussion which followed.
Mr.. Cochran opened matters by stating
that Akins had kerens beaten on the State
craftsmanship. and that the latter wanted to
make some sort of terms whereby the con-
vention would not take up the senatorship
matter. Roberts understood this to mean
that Kerens and Phelps thought they could
control the Republican members of the
have more difficulty in directing the con-
vention.
Roberts remarked that he could not see
any compromise in kerens quitting the
fight for the craftsmanship. as Rozier.
Kerens's candidate. had captured only one
county out of sixty-five. Mr. Frank IN
less. Roberts said that as far as he was
personally concerned. he did not believe
that the convention should take up the
senatorship: that he had always thought
so. and that he intended 10 work against 1t.
Phelps Was Much Interested.
Other matters were then discussed. Phelps
offered many suggestions and took lively
interest in the proceedings. In regard To
vice chairman. Roberts said tha: he
would fight either John b. Gwen or Nathan
Frank. whom kerens sugSes:eI Roberts
a man-the convention mad thai in charge.
kerens asked him how he liked Howard
SbaE Sbar OF ] ]Csrthase: srethe; -lm,law nera 2i
had no grievance against Gray Regarding
an executive committee CT five. Roberts ex-
planned that that matter would have to &c
decided by the new State Committee. ard
not by them.
Rozier suggested that tine Globe..Democrat
be informed of the aSresmen on Ire
matter. Roberts then went over the Glcae
office with Rozier. where the later said
the Craftsmanship. Roberts said that he be-
lieved no Endorsement of a senatorial can
didate would be made at the convention.
The editorial announcement of "harmony''
followed in both the Globe-Democrat ard
the Star.
Roberts's Statement for Publication.
All that Mr.. Roberts would say FOR pup
lcation is contained in the following state
ment. which he gave out after the confer
ence in Mr. Nagers office:
II was teiephoned to come to the Office
of Mr.. Cochran. Mr.. Keners and some
OF his friends were there in conference
They told me that all opposition to Mt
Akins's election would be withdrawn. which
was. of course, glad to hear. They asked
me how I stood on the question of in
dorsing any one for Senator in the State
Convention. told them that I had always
been and was now, as matter Of good
politics. opposed to such indorsements; that
it would be unfair to do this when the
call of State Committee did not include
it, and that 1t would be unprecedented In
this State. and I promised to oppose any
such attempt.
''Other things were afterwards talked of.