Evening star., 1918-07-30
HOT F|GHTSM MARK
SENATORIAL RACES
Political Contests in Missouri
and Michigan Bring Re-
examinations.
WEST VIRGINIANS tHET up

Echoes from those sections of the
country where politics is simmering or
sizzling bring interesting gossip to this
the political center of the nation. For
the most part. to be sure, it's personal
politics. but with enough of real party
flavor to lend zest.
There is Missouri, where the liveliest
kind of a campaign is going on over
the democratic nomination for United
States senator. Our erstwhile fellow
townsman, rJoe" Folk, who between
times of holding and running for office
in Missouri has held Official position in
Washington, is making it hot for Sena-
tor Whitley, appointed to succeed the
late Senator Stone and who Is now a
candidate for nomination for the regu-
lar term Senator Wilhey is backed by
the governor and what is called the
state machine" that is to say the or
eanlzation which is built around the
immense patronage Of the governors Of
nee and the police and excise depart
Tents OF the four largest cities in the
state.
Mr.. Folk is going it on his own,"
the same being his record as former
governor. "fair-haired boy of the plain
people" and his sflver-tongued ora
tory. The campaign is described as
being of the rough and ready, catch
as-catch-can character.
Signed Anti-War Petition.
For example, it developed that Mr..
Wiley had signed a petition before
tho war praying the President to
keep this country out of war, If pos
sible. 1t isn't so much the terms of
the petition that are now being ami
madverted upon, but the fact that near
ly all the other signers were Germans.
Mr.. Wilfiey's name appeared plumb
in the center of collection of a list
of jaw-breaking Teutonic names.
Upon first being sprung. it is said
that the petition scared away people
from Mr.. Wilfley's support in droves
and flocks. The American patriotic
sentiment didn't take to it. Mr.. Will
fey was on the explainer's bench; he
had signed the petition inadvertently,
or in the regular course of many
such papers presented to him. OF
course, nobody doubted his patriot
ism. but they didn't like the company
he was in.
Mr.. Folk, it is said. found this a
great card, but he overplayed his
hand. He began to describe Mr. will
fey as pro-German and said the kaiser
doubtless would like to shake his
hand. Missouri fair play wouldn't
stand for this. and a reaction set in
for Mr.. Wiley. Then. Mr.. Polk had
another stroke of good luck. Some
member Of the Retail Liquor Dealers
Association sent out an anonymous
communication to 1.-The trade warning
them that Mr.. Folk had always been
their enemy and they had better LAY"
for him in the primaries. At this the
good church people and plain home
folks back in the counties began to
allow that if the liquor dealers were
against Folk, reckon they'd better be
for him. There was another reaction,
and so it is going.
The candidates for the republican
nomination are Selden P. Spencer Of
St. Louis and J. L. Torrey of Fruit
vile.
Ford a "Peck's Bad Boy.n
Michigan sends along some hot
weather political gossip about the
United States senatorship campaign.
too. Henry Ford is described as a
regular "Peck's Bad Boy In politics,
on account of the shindy that is kick
ed up over his Endorsement for the
senatorial nomination by the demo-
Gratis and their suggestion that as Mr..
Ford is a republican. the republicans
should indorse him, too.
The republicans balk at the idea,
claiming that Mr.. Ford is sitting
in the game only to play President
division in the Senate he would go
with the President every time. Mr..
Ford is not saying word, has no
oraniZation, no representatives, and
plain. has not tapped any "bar'I." He
is allowing things to take their
course. Some time he will have to
declare which ticket he will choose
to run on, democratic or republican.
but the way things are going, he
maries on both tickets. and therefore
have no opponent at the polls in
November.
Peace Expedition a Factor.
Opponents of Mr. Ford are circulat-
ing copies of his interview and the rec
ord of his famous peace" expedition
entered the war. and asserts that his
talks and records disqualify him for
effective service in passing upon the
final treaty Of peace which the Sen
ate must ratify.
made ous the eaps saeasnT is Of being
Ford's son from the draft, in which
he was caught He Is exempted on
the ground that his services are need
ed in the war work of the factory he
superintends. This is said to dis
please the farmers whose boys have
been taken from the farms, where the
are needed, and that the wicked anti
Ford men are saying that II the son
is SO much needed for war work in
the factory how can the father, the
head Of the whole concern, be spared
to go to the Senate.
Hot Contest in West Virginia.
Il heated political contest is being
waged in one Of the congressional dis
tricts near neighbor to Washington-
the second West Virginia. which bor-
ders the Potomac and takes in Mar
tinsburg. George M Bowers. the re-
publican incumbent, is being opposed
for the nomination by William T.
George of Philippi. Mr.. Bowers was
nominated in 1915 by majority Of
nearly 10000. He has served with