Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-15
THE MISSOURI ELECTION.

Kansas City Journal-The election
returns in Missouri are too vague and
incomplete as yet to afford a clear
analysis, but a general review Of the
situation gives substantial grounds for
encouragement to the republican party
in spite of the defeat of the state
ticket and the loss Of several seats in
congress. The closeness Of the vote
on the state ticket proves the truth
Of the republican contention that Mis-
souri, is doubtful state and can be
carried by the republicans in 1908 If
the proper effort is made and the peo-
pie are thoroughly arounsed.
In the campaign this year there
were no issues of especial interest
and it was natural that the political
pendulum should swing backwards in
some sort OF reaction from the republi-
can landslide of two years ago. Then,
too, there was a strong undercurrent
of dissatisfaction this year in the re-
publican ranks with the management
of the party arising from the heart
burnings and bitterness caused by the
split in the legislature over the cleo
ton of United States senator. An
analysis of the vote shows that In
some counties many republicans who
voted two years ago stayed at home
this year.
On the other hand, the claim of the
democratic managers that the election
was lost two years ago because $4,000
democrats stayed at home, Is complete
ly exploded by the outcome of Tues
days voting. Instead of the 100000 to
$4,000 majority which the democratic
leaders confidently predicted this year,
their state ticket barely managed to
squeeze through by a nominal majority
variously estimated but probably less
than 10000 votes When the fact is
considered that the democrats put
forth extraordinary efforts not only
to win but to win by one of their
old time overwhelming majorities,
their victory was ominously small and
disheartening as guide for the future.
Missouri has ever been William J..
Bryan's greatest strongholds, and
Bryan was brought here to stump the
state, and he certainly left no stone
unturned to rally his devoted follow
ers. Again, although, the state demo-
cracy is divided into two hostile
camps, each faction figured that it
was absolutely essential to it's future
supremacy to make a.good showing
of strength in this election, and the
Folk men as we'll as the Stone ma
chine crowa exerted all their energies
to surpass each other in the results.
Finally, the fact that the democratic
state ticket was practically nominated
by railroad lobbyist, Colonel William
H. Phelps, who had 400 proxies out
of the 4S1 votes necessary to control
the convention, is sufficient evidence
to convince any disinterested thinking
man that the democrats had the bene-
fit of powerful backing in the cleo
tion
Nevertheless, with all these COM
bined forces the fact that the demo
cratic ticket barely pulled through ef-
fectually dispels the illusion that Mis-
souri, Is a Bourbon democratic strong
hold. The old-time $4,000 majority is
cut down to Insignificant proportions,
and, measuring the future by the
past, particularly in the light Of ever
increasing education and progress, the
petty majority of this election will be
entirely wiped out in a republican vic
tory two years hence.