The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-11
DEMOCRATS MISSING UP
THE L. S. SENATORIAL RACE

ment, decided to enter tie contest for
the Democratic nomination for United
States Senator. His principal appeal
to the people is that he is in favor Of
the "wet" side of tie prohibition
question and is against the League of
Nations. Charles M. Hay, the able
and aggressive "dry" leader, in view
of Judge Priests candidacy, felt it
incumbent on himself to enter the race
to combat the Judges attitude on both
of these issues. Their entry into the
race is going to muss up things con-
siderably in the Democratic party in
this State, for they are both able
men and convincing speakers and are
sure to stir up bad feeling and cause
no end of bitterness. They are both
Democrats, of course, but neither Of
them appears to give any prominence
to general Democratic principles, hav-
ing but one idea, or rather two, in
view. They are important issues, it
is true, but it strikes us as a rather
narrow gauge platform for men as
piring to the Senatorship.
Breckenridge Long has been for
some time recognized candidate for
the Democratic nomination for Sena-
tor, and although few of the polit-
ical bosses have been indeavoring to
induce some one who would suit their
purpose better to come out against
him, they had failed up to the last
moment. The brewers and kickers
against the eighteenth amendment,
however, seem to have welded
more effective influence in bringing
out man of Judge Priests standing,
though perhaps the close friendship
existing between him and Senator
Reed may have had something to do
in the belated decision of the Judge to
become a candidate. Approving of
Reeds belligerent attitude on the
nomination and election would be a
great satisfaction to Mr.. Reed and be
considered by him as vindication of
his bitter fight against the League
and President Wilson, for which the
State Democratic Convention rebukcd
him in such a pronounced manner.
There never has been any question
of Mr.. Hays recognition of Mr.. Long
as man Of eminent ability and in
every way worthy of the nomination
for Senator, for he so expressed him
HCll "ICll llC uGIIutu W stay OUT OIL
the race at the time Major Harry b.
Halves relinquished the idea of run
ming on "wet" platform; and while
we admire Mr.. Hay as an able, hon
est and fearless man, we cannot help
feeling that it would have been a far
wiser course on his part to have tGdk-
EN- up the fight for Mr.. Long against
Judge Priest. He would have &C.
complished more for the cause on
which his heart is set and made surer
Of defeating Judge Priest and the
cause for which he stands, than he
will be in swift three-cornered fight
with two other less-known side candi-
dates who have imagined that the peo-
pie are unduly interested in them.
The "wets" and anti-Leaguers-the
Reed party wreckers-will line up SOL
id for Judge Priest, while the "drys"
and those favoring the League of Ma
lions will naturally be split up be-
tween Mr.. Hay and Mr.. Long. With
all his force and ability as speaker
and leader of the dry sentiment of the
State, it is very questionable that Mr.. |
Hay has done that cause favor by |
entering the race for Senator under |
existing conditions. For, of course,
Mr.. Longs friends expect him to stay |
in the race. He cannot in justice to
his friends and himself withdraw if |
ne contemplated any such idea, and
thus proclaim himself gutter. His
friends will stand by him, for he is in
every way worthy the position to
which he aspires, and his experience
in matters with which the United
States Senate as to do, gained
through his association with the Sec
rotary of States department, better
equips him perhaps than either Judge
Priest or Mr.. Hay is equipped to deal
with the delicate international ques-
tons that must come up for the Sen
ate's consideration within the next
few years.
And then he is not a candidate ask
ing for the peoples support on any
single narrow-gauged idea, but
stands on a broad, comprehensive
platform of forward Democratic prin-
ciples, as set forth in his initial an
nouncement as a candidate. 1t is
worth reading and considering, and
we give it here:
II believe in our form of gov
CihHcht, III Tile OTucTly pTOCeSS-
es of law, in the maintenance of
order and in the proper function
ing of the agencies set up to eff
fectuate the will of the people.
Accordingly, | am opposed to vio-
lence-in action, in language, and
in thought; in radicalism; and to
any activities which has as their
object interference with the ope-
ration of law. These principles
are vital to the preservation of
American Institutions.
II am an advocate of clean pol
itics, of fair elections, and of I'M
restricted exercise of suffrage by
the qualified voters. for these
things touch the very foundation
of democratic government.
II am a firm believer in the
Federal Reserve Act, in the gen
eral provisions of the Eight Hour
Law. in the Rural Credit System,
in the rehabilitation of the Mer-
chant marine, in measures for
improved marketing facilities for
farm products, in the Child Labor
Law, and in the many various
other constructive achievements