Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-17
Native Americans in G. o. P.
Threaten to Support Mr..
Wilson Against Teutons.
CONDITIONS OF GRAVE
CONCERN TO REPUBLICANS
West Views National Preparedness
Campaign With suspicion-st.
Louis Progressives Discouraged.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

| KANSAS CITY. Mo, August lit
will be generally conceded, l take 1t,
| that barring New York city, Washing
ton is the poorest place on earth to
| gain a correct impression of what IS
going on in the country. So, lets make
journey into the west and through
| the eyes of The Stars correspondent
see what's doing in politics, business.
prohibition, sentiment for military
preparedness and what not.
NO, we will not go to the exposition.
This is business: besides, they say San
Francisco is sinful, wicked city and
no place for a minister's son.
Summing up political conditions as
found them in st. Louis and Kansas
City l should say they are largely the
same as in the east. That Is to say,
dependent in great measure upon the
dura ton of the European war and TINS
countrys continued acknowledgement
from that debacle.
In the present situation with the
country except one element Of the
population. standing solidly back OF
President Wilson, politicians are adrl1t
and the channel buoys are missing. the
President has all the best of it.
Germans Oppose President.
L
ing political situation the crux OF
which is the attitude of the German
Americans, with side issues relating to
prohibition and national preparedness
In that city 20 per cent of the popula-
ton is German extraction, and feeling
runs high on the question OF shipments
of munitions to the allies.
Intense bitterness is manifested to-
ward President Wilson. and he is held
| IL h%-t
the traffic. But, more than that. me
Stars correspondent was told by i'm
partial and unbiased residents in posi-
ton to observe. that the feeling is ex-
tending to native born Americans, and
is being shown in business and social
life by spirit of German clannishness.
However. the latter phase is OF local
interest, and need only be referred to
in passing.
The political significance is important
in this way: the German element is Ger
tain to oppose President Wilson in the
next national campaign. But the Ger
mans in st. Louis are republicans. any
how. ST. Louis is republican strong
hold, made so by the German vote. So
President Wilson will not lose very
much.
The point is this land here is where
the significance comes inn: The German
Americans purpose to make POLITICAL
issue out of the Presidents attitude is
serving to anger the American element.
and republicans are saying that if the
German-Americans raise the issue OIL
the Administrations policy they will
support the President regardless of
politics
| l may add that this condition is not
confined to Missouri. The Stars
correspondent heard the same thing in
New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania very recently, and heard it from
republicans of lifelong fealty to their
party.
Make Votes for Mr.. Wilson.
My observations and inquiries in the
course of extensive travelling in the
past three months lead me to the con-
clusion that this is the most important
phase of political conditions in this
country today, namely, that the increas-
ing bitterness of the German Americans
toward the President on account of his
notes to Germany and his refusal to
violate neutrality by advocating the
prohibition of munitions shipments is
an asset of incalculable value to the
democratic party and seriously menaces
republican autonomy.
1t must be remembered that west of
the Ohio river party lines are rather
shadowy at best. The days of rock
ribbed republication and democracy
are past. Men are becoming more in
dependent in politics. especially in this
Republican leaders and party man
ayers realize that the German Ameri-
cans are playing directly into the hand
of President Wilson and, through him,
the democratic party, because. while
not adding to the republican strength
in opposing him, since they are repub-
licans already. they are turning good
republicans over to support of the
President. The condition is a source
of grave concern to the republican
managers.
I made careful inquiry in st. Louis
as to the feeling toward national de-
tense and preparedness. There Is no
enthusiasm in favor of large expend-
me by competent authority that the
Missouri delegation in Congress will be
| lukewarm for big appropriations and
that part of the delegation may be ex-
when the bills come up in the House.
Progressives Discouraged.
In st. Louis I found the republican
progressives pretty we'll discouraged,
with tendency among the rank and file
to return to the old party. Julian Glib
son, chairman of the progressive city
committee, Is very much cast down over
the prospect of keeping up an effective
organization, although he says that if
the leaders of the party can raise some
funds he can rally the scattering fol-
lowers and maintain fairly good or
ganiZation.
Mr.. Gibson thinks, however, that if
the republicans nominate a presidential
candidate who is not reactionary the
greatest number OF the progressives
will support him. Elihu Root will not
he acceptable TO the Missouri republic
ans. it is said.
Senator Weeks boom for the presi-
Dental nomination will be sprung here
September "a, when the republica ps
will hold big love feast. The senator
will come out to banquet and let
them look him over.
II the war ends in time to allow mol
tiles to drop back to normal political
lines the republicans propose to make
la fight for the United States senator
ship to succeed Senator Reed Walter
S. Dickey of Kansas City, several times
millionaire. Will run. as will also for
mer Gov. Herbert s. Hadley if his
health improves. He has been in Ari
zona some time and is now in Colorado
for his health.
Prohibition will be an issue in Mis-
souri, next year. OF the ia counties
outside of st. Louis eighty-five are now
dry, and the drys propose to put the
lid on the state il possible. Speaking
of prohibition, here is an interesting
phase: st. Louis is now dry on Sun
days, former Gov. Joe Folk having dug
up an old blue law and closed up the
Sunday beer gardens.
At first there were loud outcries from
those who wanted their Sunday beer
and music l. was told in St Louis
that conditions have SO improved in the
city under Sunday closing that IL the
question were submitted to ponular