The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-14
Campaign Fight in Kansas Cen
tiers Around the Conflict.
Democrats To Uphold Wilson
G.. O. P. Has a Few Complaints.
FOOD IS BONE OF CONTENTION
Price Fixing and Pr0fiteering q
Republican "Big Stick"
And Then "He Kept Us Out OF
War" Will Be Chorused.
BY A. L. SHULTZ.

Price fixing, profiteering and food
substitutes are the long range siege
guns which Kansas Republicans will
use in the drive on Democrat con-
gressional districts. Practices of
sectionalism by a Democrat congress
which refused to fix the price of cot
ton, but put a price on the Kansas
wheat crop, is the argument which is
expected to send the farmer to the
polls to vote 'er straight" for. Re-
publican candidates.
General campaign plans of both
parties are quite evident at this time.
Another two weeks will see a half
hundred leather hinged campaign
orators on the platform for the various
parties. The gospel which these men
will preach is already quite clearly
defined.
Both parties will make strong win
the-war appeals. The Republicans
will argue from the angle that they
would improve on the work of the
Wilson administration if sent to WASH
ington. They will support this logic
with a terrific bombardment of the
national administrations price fixing
plan. They will have a dray load of
evidence to show that Democrat cot
ton growers of the southland were al
lowed q free rein on war profits while
the Republican states of the north
were saddled with restrictive profit
on wheat. The food substitution pro-
gram and profiteering in all its evils,
forms and branches will be driven
home by Republican orators who are
filled with facts, enthusiasm and an
intense desire to keep the Democrats
at home.
Kansas will probably hear some-
thing of the kept us out of war" slo-
gan of two years ago which won the
state to the Democrats. Things will
! be said about the airplane program
l. i s-1.<
ening manner. But there will be no
criticism directly of President Wilson
or the war. National Chairman Hays
probably outlined the general attitude
of the party in a denial of his reported
criticism of the governments war
aims. Hays said the two dominant
parties were in a race as TO which
could give the most ardent and effec-
tive support to the war.
Democrats Are Awake.
In spite of some of the heavy guns
in possession of the Republicans, the
Democrats will probably arouse con-
siderable doubt as to the party which
senatorial offensive. The state organ
ization took quick and rather eff
fective advantage Of the liberty which
Republican Chairman Motter ASSUME
ed in quoting National Chairman
Hays. Facts are the action of the
Democrats probably compels the Re-
publicans to take the defense for the
present. The Hays-Motter matter is
an affair of national concern and the
Democrats are not lodging opportun-
tiles to discredit few leaders in the
opposition ranks.
Don't change horses in the middle
of the stream" is the big war slogan
of the Democrats. Uphold the pres
ident," and "Vote for Democrats for
senator and congress-" will be the
messages of the heavies on the speak
ing platforms. The Democrats will
go to the voters with the war program
and record OF almost solid support
of the president by the delegation OF
Kansas Democrats in Washington.
They will point to Senator Thompson,s
record-"every vote a vote for the
president"--andi incidentally Governor
Capper's knuckles will be cracked
and rather critical reference made
to his position on several war meas
ures and particularly his opposition
to preparedness and the selective
draft.
Each party registered congress
sional vote against the war. So is
sues are even on that score. The fight
will be waged in the congressional dis
tricts and for United States senator
No one contends that the Republican
state ticket will win by less than u.s.
900 to 100000. The concern of all
hands is the senatorship and congress.
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