Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-06-29
POLL FARMERS
ON MEXICO
CAPITOL ROAD
(st. Louis Post Dispatch

OUI HUl tIUUy
Est. Louis Post Dispatch)
One Of the matters Of most fire.
quent speculation among politicians
who have followed the Reed-Long
campaign for the Democratic nomi-
nation for United States Senator is
the effect among the farmers of the
State of Senator Reeds speech at
lacking Herbert Hoover and the
Food Administration during the
war, and his attempt to lead the
farmers to believe that if his oppos-
ition to the food control bill had been
successful they would have received
from SIS to $40 a bushel for their
wheat instead Of 1920, the price fix
ed.
IAN interesting sidelight on this
situation was revealed when a, Post
Dispatch reporter, on his way from
Mexico to jefferson City, visited ev-
cry farmhouse on the main road
which pass through Galloway Coun-
ty, and inquire about the number Of
votes in each household for Reed and
the number for Long.
This particular stretch of road
runs through strong Democratic ter
ritory, and within this territory Reed
had delivered his speech three times
once in Mexico, once in Fulton and
once in Jefferson City. There are
no farms on the section of the road
in Cole County, the road crossing the
Missouri River from the farming COM
munity on Galloway County directly
into Jefferson City. The result Of the
canvass was:
Result of the Poll.
Number of voters 226.
Number Of voters who announced
their intention of voting for Long. 80.
Number who announced their inten-
tion of voting for Reed, GA.
Number who said tney were unde-
cided, SO.
Number of Republicans who said
they We're not interested in Demo-
cratic primary, 40.
Sixteen of the "a who said they
intended to vote for Reed said they
wei Republicans, but expected to
vote in the Democratic rpmiary. Two
of the 80 for Long said they were
Republicans who expected to vote in
the Democratic primary.
Considering solely the recognized
Democrats, which is proper because
it is likely that means will be found
in rural Missouri to prevent Repub-
licans from voting in the Democratic
primary, the Long supporters num-
bered 80 and the Reed supporters 48,
very nearly two to n for Long,
which has been the general prediction
Throughout most Of the Democratic
counties visited by the candidates
and by POST Dispatch. correspondents
during the campaign.
Republican Family Strong for Reed.
Reed was found to be stronger
among the farmers residing just out
Eside of Mexico in Audrain County
than in Galloway County, % Of his
GA supporters being found on the
eight-mile stretch of road between
Mexico and the Galloway County
line. or these, however, eight were
in n family, and all said they were
Republicans who intended to vote for
Reed. In this eight-mile stretch
there were only IL supporters of
Along, but all were Democrats.
1t was found that the farm women
generally vote as their husbands do,
although one farmers wife said she
intended to vote for Reed and her
husband for Long. Four women,
who said their husbands were for
Reed, said they would vote for Long,
The wet and dry issue was the
subject Of much discussion among
the farmers and appeared to be
more of a controlling factor than
Reeds attack on Hoover and food
control. The farmers OF the COM
munity generally are drys and some
Of them said they opposed Reed be-
cause of his "wet" views and his OPP
position to dry measures in the
Senate.
The Republican family Of eight,
Including the father and mother and
three sons and their wives, who said
they intended to support Reed, gave
as the reason that he had opposed the
entry of the United States into
war.
Two Republicans For Long.
The two Republicans who said
they would vote for Long declared
they were influenced by a desire to
eliminate Reed from the Senate and
that they believed it should be done
in the primaery If possible, and if
mot then, in the general election.
Breckenridge Long, democratic cam
didate for the nomination of U. $.
lISenator, will arrive in this city from