The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-01-30
JEFFERSON CITY LETTER
by A. T. Edmonston.l

| sudden and unexpected entrance OF
Representative Frank II. Farris Of
Phelps county into the race for the
Democratic nomination for Governor,
has aroused the keenest interest in
this contest and injected the spirit
necessary to bring out full party
vote at the August primary, and the
State ticket which will result there
from will be one all hundred per cent
American electors of the State will
support, regardless of party affilia-
tions, with an enthusiasm which will
dmphatically demonstrate that real
true-hlue patriotism still holds full
sway in Missouri. 1t is predicted that
all other Democratic gubernatorial
possibilities, such as John NJ Akin
son, the St. Louis and Ripley county
| lawyer; Lieutenant Governor Wallace
Crosslcy, a former newspaper man of
| Warrensburg, Johnson county; Geo.
| Fl. Moore, a Lewis county lawyer, now
United States Internal Revenue Col
Iector for the Fist District Of Missou-
RI with his headquarters in st. Louis;
Col. +. d, Garrett Of Kansas City, who
saw actual service in the world war;
Judge John S. Harrington of the
Springfield Court of Appeals, and
others mentioned for the same honor,
will now either officially file a candi-
dacy declaration or positively an
nounce they have no such high aspira-
ton.
Two months ago friends OF Repre-
sentative Farris began looking upon
him as formidable gubernatorial tim
Der, and voicing this opinion all over
the State. The boom gained consid-
cradle Roadway and was acquiring
large proportions when some Demo-
Gratis of Dent and Phelps counties
launched a boom to tender him the
Democratic nomination for Congress
from the Sixteenth District, propo-
sition which was at once well received
in that portion of the State. For Il
time the higher honor for Representa-
tive Farris was lost sight Of by many
of the main boosters. Thursday the
Phelps county orator and statesman
appeared in jefferson City on bus
mess mission. The word was quickly
passed around that he was there.
Prominent Democrats swooped down
on him and he was not again liberated
until he had solemnly promised to en-
ter the gubernatorial derby. Saturday
afternoon Representative Farris Off
cialIy recorded the fact with Secre-
tary of State Sullivan that he would
seek the Democratic nomination for
Governor. Then came the statement
for publication in all Of the newspa-
pers of Missouri that "the die is cast
and Caesar has crossed the Rubicon",
Farris meaning thereby, in brief, that
as a candidate he stood fully and fair
ly and squarely for all of President
Wilson's policies and issues, and that
he would conduct his campaign from
that standpoint.
To File for State Auditor.
State Treasurer George H. Middle
kamp, who, under the State constitu-
ton, cannot succeed himself, will file
for the Democratic nomination for
State Auditor before the close of jan
uary. He has positively made it
known to close friends that he aspires
to that honor, and that he believes the
party electors will confer this honor
on him in recognition Of the general
efficiency he displayed in managing
the affairs of the State Treasury dur
ing the war years, and the prominent
part he took in carrying out to the let
ter the provisions of the new revenue
measures which enabled Governor f.
D. Gardner to pay back in two years
81 ,250,000 borrowed by the common
wealth to meet State deficit of that
amount of ten years standing. While
J. w. Reyes, Sheriff of Saline couny,
and R. E. L. Mars, who was secre-
tary of the last State Senate, have
been mentioned for the same nomi-
nation, it remains for the two to pub
licly announce their cadidacy through
Officially filing declaration.
Sullivan to Succeed Himself.
Secretary of State Sullivan will be
candidate to succeed himself. This
statement is a certainty, unless death
or some other mishap prevents. 1t is
Secretary Sullivan's first term in Of
flee, and all citizens of Missouri, re-
CARELESS Of party affiliations, who
have been in close touch with the af-
fairs of the office of the Secretary OF
State during the last three years, say
the present incumbent has made a
success in managing it. 1t has long
been a Democratic policy in Missouri
that when a State Auditor, Secretary
of State or Supreme Court Judge
makes good to give such an official a
second term. So far no Democrat has
come forward to dispute this party
doctrine with Secretary Sullivan, and
therefore, this same Democratic NOM
nation will, in all probabilities, be
again rendered to this Sedalia man.
State Senator Carter M. Buford Of
Reynolds county still looms up as the
only Democrat in Missouri who aspircs
to the exalted honor of being the. Dem.
cratic nominee for Lieutenant Govern
or. Friends announce, and without
fear of contradiction, that the sole rea-
son for the lack of opposition to then
choice for second place on the nexi
party ticket, is the knowledge that a
defeat is impossible, owing to the gen.
eral popularity, acquaintance anc
strength of Senator Buford.
The candidacy of Senator Mark A