The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-23
Many Democrats Are Willing to
Become Candidates.
WANT REEDER'S SEAT.
Opposition Say That This Is
Year to Defeat Him.
Sixth District Congressman Is
Mute as an Oyster.

Norton, Kan, NOV. ZS.-WDlle the Re-
publicans who want to succeed Con-
gresham Reeder are keeping still I'M
til after the holidays. several Demo-
Gratis are stirring themselves in the
hope that one of their party can beat
the Republican who wins out in the
next primary election. The Sixth dis
trict can usually be depended upon to
furnish its quota of politicians, and
then some, so far only two Democrats
have put on bold front to get into
the race. Many others will declare
themselves later on. Some OF them
have taken the advice of Congressman
Reeder, and will let all the other fell
lows be candidates this year, and next
year l will be the candidate as Reed
ed so expressed it.
Two Democratic Candidates So Far.
The two Democratic candidates now
in the race are r. S. Hendricks of At
wood, ex-member of the legislature
from Rawlins county, and ]. D. Flani-
gan of Oberlin, present member Of the
legislature from Decatur county. The
friends of Mr.. Flanagan are in earnest,
and expect to win the nomination at the
primary.
A we'll known Democrat in the dis
trict says of MIN: He is probably the
Oldest and most experienced man in
the race, and the best known in the
farmed in Decatur county for over 80
years. ne fully understands the needs
of the people of the Sixth district. He
is a close observer of political issues
that in any way affects the welfare of
the Kansas farmers. and that it is pos
sibIe for him as representative in con-
gress to be of great benefit to the peo-
pie of the district. as we'll as to be
able to show that his work is of direct
benefit to his constituents"
M V1nr 1Tfrenr hi II f6NV lnf
ocrats are entitled to a trial and if
they prove themselves as useless to the
cause of the farmers as the Republi-
cans have in the past that the party
lame should be entirely dropped from
the ticket" Another Democrat says:
1T can be shown that Mr.. Flanigan's
experience in the last three sessions of
the legislature is greatly to the ad-
vantage of his constituents and the
Kansas farmers generally, and will be
more fully brought out during the cam
paign for the nomination"
Other Democrats who are liable TO
get into the congressional race are II.
o. Caster of Oberlin, present county at
torney of Decatur county His friends
throughout the district are urging him
to become a candidate. They have not
forgotten the gallant race he made in
1904 He is a splendid campaigner, and
if nominated he would be strong can
didate. He has made special study
of the tariff question for years, and his
ardent friends claim that there is no
one in the district better able to tackle
this question than is Mr.. Caster.
Senator Robertson May Get in Race.
A reporter for the State Journal who
has lately been over the Sixth district,
which has been represented In con-
gress for five or six terms by w. A
Reeder says there is no question but
that Senator Fred Robertson of A>'~ood
is one of the strongest and most popu-
lar men that can be found in the Demo-
cratic ranks of that district. Beside, his
election last fall in the strong Repub-
lican Thirty ninth senatorial district in
the face of one of the fiercest fights
that has been made in Kansas politics
has given Democrats confidence In his
ability to win even against the great
est odds.
His senatorial district comprises thir-
teen counties of the Sixth district and
if contains more people than any other
senatorial district in the state. He
made a record of which the Democrats
are proud last winter in that body. The
reporter called on Senator Rooertsoh
while in Atwood but he declined to
give an interview. His neighbors think
he would accept the nomination If it
came to him without fight. He is a
busy man with his numerous farms
and large law practice. and Is not in
clined to want to get into politics.
other Democrats who have been
spoken of for congress are John B:
Rea of Jewell county. Harry Gray OF
Osborne county, Frank Lutz of Mitch
ell county, John r. Connolly OF ThonaS
county Henry Oshant of Ellis county,
and there may be others
In the opinion of prominent sixth
district Democrat: 1T is a Republican
scheme to get into the race as many
Democrats as they can for the purpose
of making the fight bitter among the
Democrats, and in the end it will result
in them using the scalping knife on one
another and make Republican success