The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-16
In State Politics |
THEY Give IT up
Democrats Abandon Hope of
Carrying Kansas.
Direct Fight Against Congress
: siOnaI and State Ticket.
TWO DISTRICTS CLOSE
VIII Be Real Scrap in Third
and Eighth.
Senator Harding WILL Garry
State by Big Majority.
Be Real Scrap in Third
and Eighth.
BY A. L. sHULTZ.


With but two weeks for active cam
-palgning, Republican and Democrat
Headers are preparing today to concen-
ttrate their fire during the remaining
days of the Rre-election fight. Demo-
Gratis have virtually abandoned any
thought of carrying the state for Gov
-ernor Cox or against Senator Charles
Curtis. Their fight will be directed en-
tirely against the congressional and
state tickets.
Two Districts Close.
In only two of the eight congress
.sional districts is there seemingly a
close fight. That is the Third and
Eighth districts. Democrat opposition
TO Congressman Phil P. Campbell in
tho Third has been augmented thru
enlistment of recruits from the Social
list ranks. The Third polls the heav-
lest Socialist vote of any district in the
state. This vote is particularly heavy
in Cherokee and Crawford counties,
the heart of the Kansas coal fields.
Down in the Eighth district Judge
Richard E. Bird is in finish tight
with Congressman w. A. Ayres, the
lone Democrat in the Kansas delega-
ton in Washington. Effectiveness OF
the two candidates during the closing
days of the campaign may determine
results On the face of conditions
Judge Bird seemingly holds the lead
by virtue of the strong HardtHe sentl-
ment in the district. However. the
Ayres personal following has saved
him from defeat in former campaigns
and is likely to give him a far strong
er vote than either his state or ma
tional ticket in the district. Reports
- of hard fight in the Third nave .oeen
somewhat discounted. In practically
every campaign Campbell Is beaten
on paper.
Harding to Carry State.
That Senator Harding will carry the
state for the presidency by an over
whelming majority is conceded by al
most every political observer. Inc
range OF Harding's majority, tho' Is
somewhat speculative. Actual money
transactions are on a b. sis OF some
thing under 100000. Conversatfonally
and on paper tho candidates lead Is
anywhere from $50, 600 to 100000.
There is almost as much hope
among the Democrats that Senator
Charles Curtis will lose the state as
that Cox will defeat Harding in KAN
sa-. While George H. Hodges, the
Democrat nominee, Will poll large
vc:o and may run ahead of Cox In the
state. the Curtis strength will proba-
h. he moro nearly equal that OF
Harding than any other candidate.
Fight In Sixth.
As result of the strength of the
heaGs of the ticket. the fight in Kan
sac has really narrowed to few places
on the state ticket and to the con-
Ercssional districts. Out in the Sixth
there are evidences of a determined
fight on Congressman Hays 3. White.
In the Second there are rumors that
thetd.strict is not unanimous for Con-
Rrcssman Ed c. Little. Yet the only
bona fide contests as they appear at
this time arc in the Third and Eighth.
Governor Aliens relative strength in
the campaign is speculative. That he
will finish behind the national ticket
scpt to Topeka. Yet none of the Re
publican leaders admit that his slump
is sufficient to endanger his chances.
In Rural Districts.
On the other hand the Democrats
hive displayed some evidence of genu-
inc confidence in the gubernatorial
fight and have directed their attention
to the rural districts. Their plan is to
combine, If possible, the farm and
labor clements in opposition to Allen.
Rural district opposition to the gov
crnor is being developed thru the pro-
posed constitutional amendments
which hold forth promise of enormous
tax Increases. And a prospective tax
advance is never popular in the rural
regions. .
Richard ]. Hopkins. attorney gen.
ernI. and Miss Lorraine E. Wooster
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton are each due to meet old mar
trouble. Neither Hopkins nor Miss
Wooster have entirely succeeded in
popularizing themselves with the Kan
sas voters. There is seemingly nc
question but that the strength of the
Republican national ticket will carry
them thru to second terms.
A Matter of Guess.
Just the extent to which Hopkin:
and Miss Wooster will be cut in the
general election is entirely a matter OF
guess. The two candidates appear or
% ticket below governor and hun
1reds of voters will doubtless fold
zeir ballots and leave the booths be.
middle Of the ballot In consequence
me vote on the two offices will be
short. This situation works PCtf
S-Ars 1t tends to withdraw fire
.---sIinst a candidate whose name doe!
not appear near the head of the tick
~. But it tcnds also to lessen interes
- success of such candidate.
Has Hcard Both.
Kansas has heard both Harding and
Cox. With the feature attractions
disposed Of, both parties will mex
week begin final plans for intensive
-, ,Rni.ation Of their voters. Boti
parties are planning local organiza
items which will get the voters to thu
polls November 2.
On the surface Kansas looks safel!
P~publican. But the Democrat
haven't quit fighting. And results o
the campaign of 1916 have not entire
ly escaped the memory of a goot
Flhny Republicans who believe in tn,
policy of staying in the fight to tn
finish.
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