The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-07
Democratic State Committee and
Cockrell Meeting VIII Bring
Many Statesmen to Town.
QUESTIONS TO BE SETTLED.
Candidates Will Have Headquar-
tiers. and Cities Will Make Il
Fight for the Three
Conventions.

Chief political interest attaches to this
Weeks meeting of the Democratic state
Committee and the meeting to boom SEN
ator +. NJ. Cockrell for the presidency.
The two meetings promise to bring prac-
tically all the working politicians OF the
State to st. Louis when 1t is possible de-
~Nelopments will be of such Il nature that
some sort of a forecast may be made re-
garding the strength of the candidates Tor
the various State offices.
By this evening it is probable that the
hotels will be filled with the visiting
statesmen. At least two of the candidates
for Governor-Harry B. Halves and Mayor
James A. Reed of Kansas City-will have
headquarters at the Southern Hotel. Con-
gresham Vandiyer will look after the in
terests of Circuit Attorney Folk, who VIII
be engaged in the trial of Charles +. KEEL
ly. Judge CAN'T usually stops at the
Planters, and as he has announced that ne
VIII be here, it is supposed he VIII be there
tomorrow.
The chief fight Of the State Committee
meeting will be over the time of holding
the State Convention. No one processes to
know whether this will be before or after
the National Convention. Advocates OF
early action Claim that 1t would promote
party harmony, while the opponents OF an
early convention say that there would be
no chance to indorse the national platform
unless 1t was delayed until the middle or
latter part of July.
There is some division of sentiment over
the number Of conventions. The Constitu-
ton requires a separate judicial conVen-
rion. 1t is possible that the delegateS-at-
large to the National Convention and the
State nominees will be chosen at the same
time, but there is a strong movement,
promising to dominate, that Is opposed 10
such a programme.
A np1nber OF cities are after the conven-
tons. At present jefferson City may be
v%ention, though Joplin. Springfield. ST.
JOSEF phi. Kansas City and Moberfy are atso
after it. or one OF the other gatherings.
1t is possible that st; Joseph Will get me
judicial, as it had the State Convention
two years ago. Joplin wants the big con-
ventlon. Springfield has never had a Dem
ocratic Convention except in an on year.
1t is practically settled that the basis 81
representation will be on the basis OF lyo,
which will permit the conventions to have
10 delegates, 121 of which will be from ST.
A few Democrats arrived last night to
attend the Monday and Tuesday meeting:
a. z. McGlashen of Salem; a member OF
the State Committee, registered at the
Laclede Hotel. A party from Carrol!ton.
composed of Russell Kneisley. William
Tull, William A~rterburn, Hugh 4 Rea
State Committeeman Gilbert Barbee OF
Joplin arrived, ready to push the claims
of his city for one OF the State conven-
lions. State Committeeman NJ. z: Davis
of Springfield. a member of the Missouri
Worlds Fair Commission, will remain
over until Wednesday. State Senator John
+. Morton of is at the South
ern. He has been here all week on private
business. Former Congressman r. III.
Norton of Troy registered at the Laclede.
A well-informed politician said last
night that in his opinion a ma jority of the
State Committee were pledged to vote for
the holding of the State Convention after
the National Convention. 1t Is probable
that it will be in jefferson City unless
plans are changed. st. Joseph may get
the convention to select delegates to the
National Convention, while Joplin may
draw the judicial Convention.