The Washington herald., 1920-02-08
MISSOURI VOTE
TESTS LEAGUE
Election to Choose Alexan-
der's Successor Watched
By Political Leaders.
DEMOCRAT IS LEADING
District Adjoins That Of
Senator Reed, Treaty
Irreconcilable.
DEMOCRAT IS LEADING
lFrnm a STAFF Correspondent }

Kansas City, Mo-. Feb. mo
State election in Missouri of re-
cent years has attracted more
Statewide attention or aroused
more interest than that being
focused on the Congressional cam
paign in the Third Missouri dis
trict. The Third district borders
upon Jackson County, of the Fifth
district, home of United States Sem
ator Reed. Senator Reed is avow-
edly one of the most irreconcilaple
Of the treaty irreconcilables, while
in the Third district is being waged
a battle for vacant seat in Con-
Cress and the chief issue OF the
campaign is the league of nations
The contest is one of the most
uniaue in political annals and the
speakers on behalf of both the Re-
publican and Democratic candl-
dates among thet most dominant
national figures of the two parties.
The result of the election. which
is to be held on February IA, VIII
be not only the choice of a Repre-
sentative in Congress to fill the seat
made vacant by the resignation OF
Judge Joshua Alexander, now Sec
retary of Commerce. but will de-
termine in large measure just how
the people of the country feel
about a league of nations.
May Vindicate President.
If Capt. Jacob l.. Milligan, the DEM
ocratic aspirant, is elected by plu-
Iality of 800 or more votes. the event
will be hailed by administration DEM
ocrats as a yindication of the Presl-
DENTS stand on the treaty and a re-
pudiation of the attitude assumed by
irreconcilabIe and strong reservation
Senator's. Incidentally. the choice OF
Capt. Mlligan by a plurality OF at
least ], 500 Votes will be regarded as
Sian in the face for Senator Reed, ad-
ministered' by citizens of his own
State, ana more particularly by Sec
tion of Missouri bordering upon
Reeds own Congressional district.
On the other hand. either the elec-
tion of John Frost. the Repuollcdn
candidate, or the choice of capt. MIL
IiCan by a majority of not more than
from 1000 to 1900. will be considered
as Indicative of a we'll grounded SEN
timent for strong reservations, II not
against the league itself.
During the past two weeks Sem
ator Hiram Johnson, candidate Tor
the Republican Presidential nominal
tion, has been making speeches
throughout the District. The doml-
nant note of the Johnson speeches
has been hostility to the league.
His audiences have been large ana
have received his fiery speeches
with enthusiasm, but a canvass OF
prominent business men and 1arth-
! ers in Vicinities where ne mas
spoken fails to reveal that the Cai-
I fornian has convinced his audiences
that the Senate should not ratity
the treaty embodying the league
covenant.
Others Follow Trail
Other Republicans of nationwide
repute have followed Senator john
sons trail. re-eChoinS his arGu-
ments. while such seasoned cam
paieners as Third Assistant Secre-
tary of State Breckenridge Long
who is a candidate on the Demo-
cratic ticket for the United states
Senate; Attorney General Palmer,
United States Senator Spencer, OF
Missouri. and others have been max
: ing a vigorous speechmaking tour
/ of the District.
| Long delivered addresses at Lib
erty. Cameron. Gallatin. Albany
King City and other parts
1 of the Third District and his
/ speeches for the league were hailed
with great enthusiasm. A thorough
/ canvass of the situation leads to
I the forming of the conclusion that
| the people of the country. If the
Third Missouri District can be ta-
! ken as a criterion for gauging
sentiment. favor ratification of the
I treaty of peace with such reserVa-
tions as will not totally emascu-
| late il or destroy it's effectiveness.
! Farmers from remote districts have
! arrived with their families at
points where league advocates
were to talk hours in advance of
the time set for the speechmaking.
Concentrations with farmers and
business men throughout the dis
trict reveal a grasp of the treaty
situation on the part of the aver
age citizen with which the poll
tician fails to reckon.
As nearly as can be estimated.
present indications point to the
election of Capt. Milligan and the
Endorsement of the league of ma
tions by a plurality ranging from