The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-21
By WILLIS j. ARROT.

Special to The Washington Herald
Jefferson City, Sept Alt was curious
q week ago 10 md in jefferson City the
conventions Of at least FIVE parties.
There were gathered there not merely the
Democrats. who have recovered Missouri
absolutely, but the Republicans. who
have lost Il, the ProhibitiOnists. who
hope TO make inroads upon it, and the
lesser statesmen, who have a vague idea
that at some time they may get control
OF the State.
OF course. out of the gathering OF the
various clans. there came above all
things the determination on the part OF
the Democrats 10 nominate for the Pres
idency former Gov. Joseph w. Folk. but
at the same time there was present
David r. Francis. frankly a candidate
for the Senatorship, and also. but not at
all frankly. a candidate for the Presi-
dency.
Gov. Francis has tremendous pull
with the Democracy Of Missouri. It would
be difficult for ME 10 believe that in the
next legislature he could be defeated for
the Senatorship, II is entirely true that
Hon. James A. Reed. or Kansas City. Is
making a more strenuous campaign, AMI
probably delivering the better speeches.
Nobody need question the ability OF Mr..
Reed He talks well and he thinks we'll
lie has the one advantage over Francis
that he did not get entsngled in that dis
asTOus campaign OF 1896.
Reeds Strength Waning.
He never held Office under Cleveland,
and on these two points he lays great
stress. Bat information received would
seem 10 indicate that Reeds strength
is waning. Francis, with almost unlimited
funds, with an extraordinary ability for
organization. with a knack OF mixing
among men and making friends among
those who. for many reasons. might be
his political enemies. is emphatically in
the lead, In, my opinion. if the State
goes Democratic, Gov. Francis VIII be
elected Senator
AS matter OF fact. there is not any
very material night between the two
men, except on the single issue OF past
loyalty TO the Democratic party. on that
issue. OF course, Mr. Reed has the better
position. on the issue OF business stand
ing. OF possible knowledge of the mat
ters that might be Of the most advantage
10 The country. II is a grave question
whether Mr.. Reed has the better
Since there Is no possibility OF the
election of a Republican legislature, the
Senator win be either Francis or Reed.
Curiousiy enough. / was told by a man.
in whose opinion place the highest con-
fidence. that If the present Senator, War
ner, had gone back into the night there
would have been a good chance OF his
nomination and possible election.
Dominated by County,
They have a system in Missouri which
they have in Rhode Island and. 10 a
lesser degree, in Connecticut. by which
the legislature is dominated. not through
the amount Of the population that the
legislator represents, but merely by the
county or the district The gentleman
with whom I talked represented 6. 600
people. He told me that the man who
sat next 10 him. with an equal vote in
the legislature, represented about 1000
II was for this reason that he held that
Senator Warner. who Is strong In the
county districts. could have carried the
legislature for himself but with Warner
out there seems 10 be no active fight on
the part OF the Republicans for the Sen.
atorial place.
Up 10 the present moment have been
unable to discover that Gov Folk has
thrown his influence TO either Of the Sen
atorial candidates. Between Gov. Francis
and his opponent. Gov. Folk seems 20
have stood neutral, yet there are people
in the State who cherish the idea that
perhaps there may be a later chapter 10
this story. There are even some who
think that through the clash on the SEN
atorial candidates. a third man might
slip In. ! do not believe this is true
There is one third man who is strong in
this State, but his ambitions do not run
in the direction OF the Senatorship.
Champ Clark viii not be candidate
for that Office. At the same time. there
is much talk about his possibly appearing
In the end as a possible candidate for
the Presidential nomination Talk To
Champ, and he will say NO" His one
ambition is 10 be Speaker OF the House
and in view OF the vote In Maine It
looks reasonable 10 believe that his am
bition can be satisfied.
At present the State OF Missouri has
one Democratic Senator and one Republi-
can Senator. It has. out OF IFS sixteen
Representatives in the House. ten Demo-
Gratis and six Republicans. If the in
formation that 1 have been able 10
gather in the State Is at all indicative
Of the general popular sentiment. II will,
in the next Congress. have only one Re-
publican Representative left, namely.
Richard Bartholdt In the Tenth.
say this with regret, because there