Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1915-07-29

date Tor congress at the laSt cieClloH
and an aspirant for the nomination
in 1916, gave an interview to the To-
peka Capital last week concerning
Republican prospects. He express
ed the opinion that Republican
congressman will represent the Big
Seventh after March 4, 1917, and
was modest enough to admit that he
believed he would be the man. In
support of his position he called at
tention to the fact that while the
plurality of Jouett Shouse was only
little over 1900, Ora Dawson, Pro-
gressive nominee, received more
than twelve thousadd votes. Enough
of these Progresslves will return to
the Republican party, according to
Mr.. Simmons, to elect the Republic
can nominee.
Curiously enough, Mr.. Simmons
did not tell the Capital reporter that
through deal made with certain
socialist leaders there was no social
ist candidate for Congress in the
Seventh District last year He also
failed to relate how the forty-ive
hundred socialist votes cast in the
district went soliely to him by use
of the excuse from Socialist head
quarters that Mr. Shouse, as mem
Der of the state senate, had vored to
uLseat the Socialist whose seat was
contested. The details of that piece
of political engineering would make
interesting reading if set forth in
full. The idea of Socialist voting
for a man Of simmons record and
affiliations is one of the most ludi-
crous things ever seen in Kansas
politics.
Now, suppose there had been a
Socialist candidate, as there will be
next year, then the Socialist vote
would have gone to that candidate
Neither MIR. Shouse nor Mr.. Sim
mons would have gotten any part OF
it, and Mr.. Shouse's plurality would
have been six thousand instead Of
Fl teen hundred.
What of the Progressives? Is it
possible that they will vote for one
so thoroughly imbued with stand pat
ideas as John Simmons? Through
out the campaign last year Mr.. Daw-
son, Progressive nominee for Con-
gress, denounced the stand pat rec
ord of Simmons, denounced his OPP
position to every progressive meas
ure during his legislative service, de-
nounced his corporation affiliations;
and Progressives throughout the dis
trict agreed with the Dawson point
of view.
The Gazette has no knowledge as
to whether the Progressives will have
a Congressional candidate next year
but the Gazette has very definite
opinion as to the attitude of every
sincere Progressive and that opinion
induces the belief that under no con
dition will they'vote for John Sim
mons.
Just word as to Congressman
Shouse No man familiar with Sew
enth District politics questions that
he is full twenty-five per cent strong
er than at the time of the last cleo
ton. The dirty campaign waged
against him by Mr.. Simmons and
the Republican committee has re-
acted staongly in his favor. The
good women who were influenced by
eleventh hour campaign lies, have
learned the despicable political
methods to which they fell victim
All of this will combine to increase
the vote of Mr.. Shouse very materi.
ally next year.
Here IN Reno county, MIR. Sim
mons home, Mr.. Shouse will have
strength many fold greater than las
year. The fight he made for the
State Fair appropriation in the state
senate is a service which Hutchin-
son and Reno county will not forget
Senator Ca rey and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Morgan, both Republican.
hut fair men. gave TO Mr.. Shoust