The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-14

ment of Congressman w. A. Ayres, the
last Democrat member of the congress
sional delegation.
Personal support, greater than the
sense OF party responsibility by many
voters. retained Ayres in congress in
spite of the hard fights against him in
1868. Added to his strong per-
sonal following, Ayres has built up an
rganization that functioned far bet
ter than anything prepared for the
Republican nominees who sought his
retirement to private life. This year.
however, there is decided evidence of
a turn to old-style Republicanism.
In the main the voters who desire a
house cleaning in Washington want to
do high-class bit of work. Conse-
Quently they may show new interest
in selection of a Republican congress
as well as Republican president.
Ayres Has Following.
In 1914 Congressman Ayres won his
first term in congress when the Re
publicans and Progressives were un-
able to get together after their differ
ences of 1912. Victor Murdoch had
withdrawn from the congressional
race to become the Bull Moose norni-
nee for United States senator. So the
Progressives nominated Charles L.
Davidson of Wichita, and Ezra Bran
inc of Newton was the Republican
nominee In the November election
Ayres polled 21,512 votes as against
1907 for Davidson and 1850 for
Branine.
Two years later Judge Thomas C.
Wilson of Wichita was entered against
Ayres. Wilson's popularity failed to
offset that of Ayres and the Democrat
was returned to office by 7.773. altho
the district gave Tom Botkin a ma
tority of 1854 for secretary of state.
In 1918 Ayres carried Harvey coun-
ty, the home of c. c. Mack, his Repub-
ncan opponent Ayres's majority in
he ri f n ga me
election L. ]. Pettijohn, Republican
for secretary of state, carried the dis
trict by 9,276.
While Pettijohn carried Butler coun-
ty by 1919, Mack lost it by 1895. Har-
vey county gave Pettijohn a majority
over the home county congressional
candidate. Mcpherson went for Pet
tijohn by 2,032. Mack carried it by
.1,190. Sedgwick county gave Petit
john majority Of asa, while Ayres
carried it by 2,754. Sumner county
registered 1853 for Pettijohn, but
Mack's majority in the county fell to
.21S.
Nominal Republican majorities in
the district-as shown by returns of
the last four years-range from 5000
to 10000. Yet in two elections after
the Republican-Bull Moose wounds
were healed, Ayres's personal follow
ing held him on the job.
In Presidential Support.
Two years ago Ayres gained hun
dreds of votes thru appeals for sup
port of the president. This year, with
every chance for a Republican presi-
dent in the White House, Judge Rich
ard E. Birds friends are winning sup
port thru similar appeals. The contest
in the Eighth will clearly hold main
interest among Kansas congressional
fights. Judge Bird, the Republican
se, CT in
trict, but is expected to break into the
Ayres following in Wichita and Sedg-
wick county, the home of both candi-
dates.
lican national committeeman. spent
a couple of days in the Eighth dis
trict Mulvane isn't disposed to talk
much. But he came home with
smile and really expressed the belief
that the Republicans will do mighty
well in the district"
Clean G. o. p. Slate.
All that is necessary to give Kan
sas a solid Republican delegation4 in
Washington is for some 1,40O Repub
licans who have supported Congress
man Ayres thru personal friendship to
swing back to their party for a straight
vote. It looks very. simple on paper.
But in two elections the move has fail
ed. Yet this year conditions are quite
different.
Two years ago Ayres won in an Off
year. Four years ago the Republicans
were bucking the Adamson law and
the labor organizations and trying to
divide support among candidates OPP
posing Democrat congressman in six
districts That year the state went
$4,000 for Wilson.
This year it is practically certain
that Kansas will register an over
whelming majority for Harding. The
strength of the Republican organiza-
ton in Kansas will be centered in the
Eighth district. If Kansans interested
in politics want to see a pretty fight.
they will keep their eyes on the
Eighth.