The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-09-21
ELY MEETING IS
OFF; DEMOCRATS
BLAME REP'NS
Kcnnett Conference Was
Called to Embarrass Sen.
atOrs Stone and Reed.
G. o. P.LEADERS IN
SCHEME, is BELIEF
Chairman Cowgirl Charges Politi-
cal Opponents Want to Start
Missouri Fight.
Special to The Tribune.


Kansas City, Mo-, Sept. 14.-The
meeting called by former State Sena-
tor Ely for Saturday at Kennett, for
the purpose of condemning United
States Senators Stone and Reed, was
called off when it became known that
many cities in the State planned to
hold non-partisan rallies and indorse
the two Senators. This became known
today.
kilograms and letters were sent to
Mr.. Ely by the score, condemning him
for attempting to wreck the Demo-
cratic party in this State, and many
who communicated with the Dunklin
County politician, were men high in
the councils of the party.
James Cowgirl, chairman of the
State Democratic Committee, it is
said, wrote letter to Senator Ely,
urging him to cancel the meeting.
Chairman Cowgirl is one Of the lead
ing Democrats, who is defending Reed
and Stone. He says the movement to
embarras the two United States Sena-
tors is fathered by Republican leaders,
and done for the purpose of wrecking
the Democratic party in this State.
While Governor Gardner has refused
to come out in the open against the
Senators, he is charged with attacking
them under cover. Gardner was not
the choice of either Stone or Reed dur
ing the last campaign, and his close
friends say they did not assist Gard
ner to any great extent when he was
a candidate. This charge, however, is
emphatically denied by friends of the
Senators.
1t is believed now that the meeting
called at Kennett was inspired by Re
publicans and influences outside Of
Missouri, but it merely offered an OPP
portunity to get the sentiment of the
people. Had the Dunklin County
meeting been held, it would have re-
suited in a series of Stone and Reed
rallies in many counties.
Friends Of the two Senators were
planning to meet and condemn the
Kennett conference. Democratic lead
ers in one large Southeast Missouri
County notified one of the two Sena-
tors by wire that the Democrats Of
that community were going to hold
Stone Reed rally. The Senator at once
wire his friends, urging them to aban-
don their plans.
The Senators were compelled to in
tercede in several counties in the
northern part of the State to prevent
rallies in honor of Stone and Reed.
Some of these facts were transmitted
to Senator Ely early this week. When
it became known in Washington that
the movement to condemn the Sena-
tors would result in subsequent con-
ferences to indorse them, outside in
fluences were brought to bear, and nu-
merous messages were dispatched to
Kennett.
1t soon became apparent to Sena-
tor Ely that there were more Mis-
sourians ready to commend the Sena-
tors than there were those who want
ed to condemn them.
1t has been known for weeks by
Democratic leaders throughout the
State that meeting similar to that
planned in Kennett would be held; at
least efforts were made in a number
of towns to find a leader who would
bear the responsibility, but Dunklin
County was the only community where
it was received with approval. 1t has
also been learned that many influen-
tial party men in Kennett refused to
be identified with the condemnation
proceedings and wired the Senators to
that effect.
Many reports have been circulated
concerning the attitude of the present
State administration toward Stone and
Reed, but it has been positively learn
ed that virtually all of them are stand
ing by the Senator'S. 1t was reported
that Acknowledgement McAllister did
not approve Of the course the Senators
have taken toward the President, but
he has emphatically denied this report.
General McAllister has been using
his influence to head off the movement
instigated by Republicans to embar-
rass Reed and Stone. He is reported
to have written some strong letters to
leaders in certain counties in defense
Of the two Missouri leaders in Wash
lngton. Wallace Crossley, the present