The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-10-28
KELLY REBUKES
BEN NVINYARDAND
LOUIS B. HOUCK
Tells WilsOn-Gardner Club
Officials They Are Trying
to Defeat Him.
DEMOCRATS READY
TO DECLARE WAR
Charges of DOubIe-crOssing and
Sky-scraping Treason Made
by Two Factions.

The split in the local Democratic
party yesterday resulted in Judge
Frank Kelly, Democratic nominee for
reelection TO the Circuit Court, per-
sonally denouncing L. b. Houck and
Ben Vinyard, president and secretary,
respectively, Of the WilSOn-Gardner
Democratic Club, and the recognized
leaders of the party in this county.
Judge Kelly accused Mr.. Houck ami
Mr.. Ninyard with attempting to bring
about his defeat. You have told Dem
ocrats that my denomination would
cost the Democratic party votes, >
shouted Judge Kelly at Ben Ninyard.
The secretary of the WilsOn-Gardner
Club assured the Judge that he was
going to vote the Democratic party,
but the Democratic candidate con-
tinued the discussion.
1t has been known for more than
two weeks that break was brewing
in the ranks of the Democratic party.
II is openly admitted by certain DEM
acrats that they vi; not vote for the
Democratic nominees this year. HOuck
and Vinyard have been informed
that the dry Democrats are going to
scratch Col. Gardner This has anger
ed the officials of the WilSOn-GardneI
Club, who have not attempted to con-
ceal the fact that they were displeas-
ed over certain county nominees.
The Cape Girardeau leaders, who
have accomplished all that has been
accomplished for the Democratic party
in this campaign, have taken exccp-
tons to the determination of Dem
oclatic county committeeman living in
the western part of the county to DOM
Mate the nominees. Neither Mr.. HOuck
nor Mr.. Vinyard has been able to get
the County Committee TO accept then
selections for county candidates.
This rivalry caused the first fric-
ton in the party. Finally the Wilson
Gardner leaders decided to cut away
from the County c mmittee and work
alone, ignoring the County Committee
The Bryan rally, which was planned
and executed by Mr.. Houck and Mr.
Vinyard, started the row in earnest
When some of the country Dem
ocratic leaders learned that Bryan was
going to speak here, they tried tc
"horn in" on the party, but they were
given the frozen stare.
The breach has been rapidly widen
mg ever since. During the past week
it has become common gossip that Ger,
tain dry Democrats had announced
they were going to scratch certain
wet Democratic nominees. 1t is alsC
said by influential Cape Girardeae
Democrats that certain party mer
have agreed to swap Democratic vote.
in order to get Republicans to vot'
for Judge Frnak Kelly.
Judge Kelly charged Mr.. Heuck ant
Mr.. Vinyard with circulating Store
about him for the purpose of antag
onizing the voters. Both denied the.
had mentioned his name to any voter
but Mr. Houck did not assure tn
Judge that he planned to vote for HIM
The Democrats who are opposing
Houck and Vinyard charge them witt
lingering every candidate except Pres
ident Wilson and Col. Gardner. 81
Gardner get in," said Democrat las
might, "Houck and Vinyard will ge
everything there is to get in this par
of the State, and they will refuse to in
dorse any Democrat who has not don
what they asked during the cam
paign."
| As a matter of fact, Houck and Vim
yard are the only party men in thi
!county who have exerted any effort i
behalf of Gardner. Their friends sa
the rank and file of the part are jeal
Gus of what Houck and Vinyard hav
accomplished.
II has reached the stage where ever
Democrat suspects every other part
man, and when Democrats get togethe
it is for the purpose of harpoonin
some Democratic leader instead of dis
cussing party organization for tn
coming election.