The Washington herald., 1910-09-24
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.

son City which / have just left. there
is a decidedly live wire in the person of
Gov. Hadley. the present Republican In
cumDent There are few men in public
life who impress one who has studied
public men as he does. II he were the
candidate or had permitted himself 10
become the candidate for Senator on the
Republican ticket, would not be quite
so confident as I am to-day that the
Democratic party viii win Senator War
ncrs seat.
l asked him why he had refused
For two reasons" said he. First,
agreed TO undertake a certain piece OF
work in the state Of Missouri which in
volved four years contract 1t does
not seem 20 me that it would be proper
for me to retire before completing that
contract Second. I doubt very much
whether. with the apparent sweep of
Democratic sentiment throughout the
country, we could elect a Republican
Senator this year. I am not welded 10
the governors Office. but II would seem
10 me the part Of folly to retire from
it 10 undertake a fight which. while not
hopeless. is. at least, a doubtful one"
Might Have Had IA Chance.
You viii ind few public men in the
United States who will talk with that
much frankness about the possibilities of
their party's success. For four years
the present Gov. Hadley was attorney
general under Gov. Folk. and while two
men represented the two antagonistic
parties in Missouri, they nevertheless CO.
operated In the work for good govern
ment and reform through which Folk
made himself a national character.
II is my judgment that il Gov. Hadley
had not assumed the position he now
maintains, there might be some doubt
as to the situation politically in Mis-
souri,. Just at present there are seven
candidates on the Republican side for
the United States Senatorship. on the
Democratic side there are but two. David
r. Francis and James a. Reed II you
viii ask a Democrat whom he is going
10 work for or vote Tor. he knows at
once he is either for Reed or Francis.
But il you ask a Republican whom he
stands for on the Senatorial contest. IN
less he happens 10 be actively in politics,
the chances are he does not know The
situation would have been entirely Diff
ferenI had Gov. Hadley seen ft to be-
come a candidate. His nomination by
the Republicans would have been IN
questionably' assured.
One Republican Chance.
have found in Kansas City no reason
10 change the opinion I expressed here
tofore, that this State viii be solldIy
Democratic. out Of the sixteen Con-
gressional districts fifteen are almost
certain to be carried by the Democracy.
The one exception is the district of Rich
ard Bartholdt in 81. Louis, which is i'm
preguably Republican.
If We're going TO qualify my assertion
about other districts, I might do it by
saying there IS one here in Kansas City
that might possibly be picked up by the
Republicans. The Republican nominee,
Howard F. Lea, is one Of the few men,
bers OF his party IN Missouri, who has
recognized the trend OF the party voters
toward what in Washington we used TO
call insurgency. but which I find here to
be denominated progressiveism altogeth-
er. In the recent State convention pro-
gressiveiSm had hardly a voice. II was
standpat from beginning 10 end. and. as
tie result. the Republican voters in this
State are disconnected and practically
hopeless Kansas, on the other hand, is
absolutely insurgent Republican. and the
effect OF that tremendous sentiment in
that State. which IS separated from Mr..
Lea's district by the mere space OF a
single street, is hard TO estimate II
may do in Kansas City. Mo, what il
IS unquestionably accomplishing in the
State Of Kansas; namely, eliminate for
the moment the Democratic vote and
substitute the insurgent Republican vote
This district is the only one in Missouri
about which I think either the Demo.
cratic or the Republican Congressional
committee need entertain any doubts.
Faulty Representation Law.
Missouri is cursed with a bad law
for representation in the State legisla-
ture. Every county has one represent
alive, except the three great counties
in which are the cities Of ST Louis
Kansas City. and st. Joseph. The effect
Of this is that a county IN which there
are scarcely twelve hundred voters, has
as much 70 say in the choice OF a Sena-
tor as one in which there are twenty-five
thousand And they tell me that II Sena-
tor Warren were not physically unfit. II
would not be impossible for him 10 be re-
elected this year It. Is plain that HIS
strength In the country districts is such
that he might possibly pull through if he
made a fight But lacking Warren and
Hadley. there seems 20 be no thoroughly
well-known man IN the Republican party
who is in the field, and with the IN
questioned trend toward the Democratic
party. It does not seem probable that any
Republican can carry the Legislature and
thereby go TO the United States Senate.
Democratic Gloom in Kansas.
A man prominently identified with the
Democratic National Committee in two
campaigns called on me yesterday His
home is In Kansas. 1 told him that in
the Northwestern States, Wisconsin, Min
nesota. and South Dakota. 1 had found
that the Democratic organization had
lost heart and the Democratic voters had
gone over to the progressive Republican
ranks. "Well," said he. You'll find the
same thing when you get into Kansas
We have practically no organization left
The Democratic national committeeman
John T. atwood. has moved out OF the
state and most Of our fellows down there
think that Victor Mardock is the best
Democrat In sight" This opinion I offer
without comment. for go TO Kansas to.
nigh: to study that situation for myself
Copyright. 1910 by Jossph B. Bowlesl
The use OF bicycles is decreasing. IN
Russia one dealer said he had sold 2.OOi
In 1908, but Only half that number in 1919
= s.or-,orx, H. dev,ar5 for than, e sf.