The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-12
Be FOUR PARTIES


There will be four -coznered con-
gressional hight in the Third district
this year. according to the declarations
Of political leaders and the nnal re-
suit IL matter of speculation among
the workers of the district. Repub-
licans. Democrats. Progressives and 30.
cialists will contest for the election ana
Congressman Phil r. Campbell. who
has announced that he will be candi-
date for reelection. will havo three
opponents IN the November election.
In 1919. Campbell won his reelection
by 8S1 votes in q three cornered con-
test Now political dopesters are won
dering whether the plan for four cor
nered fight in 1914 will indicate Camp
bells defeat or add to his majority OF
Democrats are united. it Is claimed
that Campbelrs chances for success will
be lessened because Of the situation In
his district But a split among the
might insure the Pittsburg mans cleo
! ton to a seventh term in congress.
Several times the Democrats have al
most elected q congressman rom the
Third district But Campbell always
managed to poll enough votes to pull
through the troubled waters. Now he
faces q new situation. The Progressive
party composed almost entirely OF the
progressive wing OF the Republican
party, will put q candidate in the field
against Campbell and the result may
be different. To be sure the Progress
sive sentiment in, the Third district il
not as strong as in some other sections
Of the state. Yet in 1919 Roosevelt
pollej 1856 votes in the district ~
compared with u, s98 votes for TAFT.
Socialists Are Strong.
But the narrow margin between the
Roosevelt-Taft vote in the Third was
offset largely by the heavy vote cast
by the Socialists. The Third district
is the prize Socialist district Of the
state. In 1912 the district gave
George D. Brewer. Socialist candidate
for congress. 1882 votes-or but S33
in 261 votes OF the Taft showing. So
Third district Socialists are not dis
couraged and win try again next year.
/ When the. votes were counted in
1912. CampbaH received POSTS votes,
as against 20.143 votes cast for Fran
els NJ. Brady. the Democratic nomi-
nee.
If Progressive leaders are able to
give their congressional nominee one
half the votes cast for Roosevelt in
1912, political leaders see trouble
ahead for Campbell The Socialist
vote, 1t is claimed, will be fully equal
to that of two years ago. In fact.
leaders claim It will be even larger.
Their vote OF 12,132 was more than
double the vote registered for G. 8.
Bendure. the Socialist nominee in
1910, when the. Third district Social
list polled 5.74S votes An increase
is also shown in the Democratic vote,
but it is comparatively small Jere-
miah d. Botlkin In 1910 received 49,
s43 votes for congress, as compared
with 20.771 for Campbell.
And now with the assurance that
four parties af4 TO contest tor the
congressional hAh6rS OF tho Third dis
trict. there is grave uncertainty in the
minds Of politicians as to the result.
Unless the Progressive and Socialist
parties can draw almost equally from
the Republican and Democratic ranks,
the figures would indicate the cleo
ton Of Democrat. But the election
IL ten months away and no one as
sumes to say what may happen in
Kansas politics III ten months.