The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-09
.SHOUSE IS LOSING
Democrats Must Say Goodbye
to Big Seventh.
Every Indication Points to
Election of Simmons.
CAPPER BACKS HIM UP
Governor Makes so Speeches
for G. 0. p. Candidate.
PrOgressives Aid in COmbina-
ton for Victory.

Unless they 10 something to turn
the tide, Seventh district Democrats
must say goodbye to Congressman
Jouett Shouse. Conditions in the dis
trict based on visit last
week to sixteen Seventh dis
trict counties indicate the election of
John Simmons of Hutchinson. Repub-
lican nominee, by 1000 to 5000 plu-
rality Two years ago Shouse won the
election over Simmons by plurality
of 1859 when the district gave 49,
537 to O. W. Dawson of Great Bend,
Progressive candidate.
Desperate efforts are being made by
KANSAS Democrats and by the ma
tional organization. They desire 10
hold the Seventh district in line.
Large sums of Ironey are seemingly
being spent in the effort to save
Shouse. Information gathered by an
Independent political observer for the
State Journal. however, indicated that
a generally thoro Republican organ
ization in the district would secure
Simmons election. Two vitality impor-
tant factors favor Simmons nor
mally strong Republican majority and
party organization.
An observer personally visited SIX
teen counties and talked to Repub-
lican and Democrat leaders from
twenty-four of the thirtytwo coun-
ties in the district. In all of these
counties, with the exception of Lane
ground both thru the return of the
Progressives to the Republican fold
and thru superior party organization
In Edwards county the Republican or
ganization is lamentably weak. Lane
county has n light vote and Will douot-
less go for Simmons altho it may not
increase his 1914 showing.
Dawson Out for Simmons.
O. w Dawson, who made the race
for congress as a Progressive IN 1913
fl3A
Two years ago Dawson carried Bar
ton, his home county. His vote was
2 O01 as against l 1888 for Shouse ana
953 for simmons. Normally the coun-
ty is the Democratic stronghold on
the district. Thru the return OF the
Progressives, however, Simmons is eX-
pected to hold Shouse to an even vote
Right here the game of politics is
being played most adroltly- Charles
p Iobdell, of Great Bend, lifelong
ReDublican, was made a member of
the federal land bank board The
fact is being used in an effort to Sc
cure Shouse votes. BY the same token
Reno county Democrats have dangled
the federal land bank before Hutch
inson Republicans with the lure for
votes.
The situation in Barber, Harper,
Pratt Reno and Kingman countles'
tho is probably the key to the entire
mons received 1O,034 votes in these
counties as against 1882 for Shouse
and 4,432 for Dawson. This year 1t
is apparent that Simmons will carry
Barber, Harper and Pratt counties.
Stand-Off in Kingman.
Kingman is a stand-off. Two years
ago Shouse polled 1865 votes in the
county against 1926 for Simmons and
739 for Dawson. The Callahan in
fluence is doing effective work for
Shouse in kingman county, altho the
territory is fighting ground. Cover
nor Capper gave the kingman county
Democrats an awful Shaking-up in
five effective speeches in the county
last Saturday.
In Reno county, Simmons's home,
it is claimed that fully 80 per cent of
the Progressives of 1914 will support
the Republican ticket this year Two
years ago Simmons received 5,439
votes in Reno against 4,525 for Shouse
and 1,493 for Dawson.
Two years ago Simmons had a plur
atty of II in Edwards, Shouse's home
county, after PAS men and women
had voted for Dawson. This year the
Republican organization in Edwards
is running on low and the county is
u stand off.
T. c. Wilson, Progressive legislative
candidate in 1914 is this year a can
didate for representative on the Re-
L
claims 95 per cent of the 1914 Bull
Moosers are back in line. In 1914
Pawnee county gave Shouse, 323;
Simmons, Oil, and Dawson, $40.
Finney county Republicans and
Progressives are doing good team
work. r. J. Hopkins, of Garden City,
former lieutenant governor and Pro-
Sressive leadec in 1914, is now chair
man of the Republican committee.
He gives 400 as a conservative esti-
mate OF the Simmons lead over
Shouse in that county. Two years ago
the county gave Simmons, 1871; Shouse
67S; Dawson, 404.
Germans Against Wilson.
Stafford county. with keen hard
working Republican organization, is
due to return to the fold with renewed
ma jorities. The German vote in STAFF
ford and adjoining counties is turning
on Wilson and Shouse is feeling the
reaction. Two years ago the county
gave Simmons, 1904; Shouse, 124S:
Dawson. 52T. Chairman II ]. Corn
well has strong county organization.
More than fifty speeches v ere made
for Simmons in Seventh district towns
last week by Governor Capper The
effect of those speeches-backed by
the governors indictment of Congress-
man Shouse for pork barrel methods
in state and national legislation-has
tended to cement all factions of the
party against Shouse.
But Shouse is not n weakling in
Seventh district affairs. He is stronger
than Wilson and far stronger than the
Democrat state ticket. A careful
analysis of the Seventh district situa-
ton at this time indicates d majority
of 1000 to 5000 for Hughes in the
district, with 10000 for Capper. The
state ticket below Capper is on an even
footing, possibly a little stronger, than
Hughes With allowance for the
Shouse personal following. MS adroit
campaign methods. his postoffice or
ganization and the seeming liberal
| campaign fund in his behalf, the
Seventh district congressman should
cut the Simmons plurality to some
where between 1000 and 5000.
| One clever campaign move in be-
| half of Shouse is a boosting by the
| Democratic press of the frequent
! lax-T