Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-31
POLITICAL EYES
FACE MISSOURI
PRIMARY VOTE
Reed and Wilson Bout
Is Issue That Draws
Attention of Nation.
Long Is After Women;
Sitting Senator Puts
on His Regular Line.
By JACK


Kansas City, Mo-. July 29.-Posing
As a political weathercock. the demo
cratic rooster points in the direction
of "Or Mizzouri' today.
For on the eve of the Missouri pri
mary set for next Tuesday, half the
still in the balance of opinion. On
one hand stands Senator James Reed,
firebrand of the senate hall. crying
from stump and platform the cause of
"a United States free and independ-
emit" On the other is Breckenridge
Long-a symbol for the followers of
Woodrow Wilson. More politicians,
the country over, have their eyes on
Missouri this week M next than any
other spot in the nation.
Missouri is the arena where the last
round of the nations most spectacular
political contest of the summer pri-
mary season is to be fought.
Both republicans and democrats are
naming party candidates for the SEN
atorship race. The republican contest
is little more than a ham and egg"
preliminary to the main bout-the
"grudge fight" between Jim" Reed
and that class which "Breck" Long
typifies. For the result of this demo-
cratic primary national politicians
will swing one way OF the other in
their calculations as to the immediate
and future party leadership. they will
decide whether the ideals of Wilson
may lead in the next presidential
campaign or whether there must be a
new deal" The fact that Brecken-
ridge Long is the man running against
Aro~ Dad l-a e&1o -
Missouri.
Any Other Would Be Same
Any other man might serve as well.
For it is not Long against Reed. 1t
is the leadership Long represents
against the strong administration and
the harsh and bitter luminosity which
Reed. in his countless senate fights,
and the outspoken attacks against
things democratic under the Wilson
regime. which are at stake.
Outside of the senate the results of
the next Tuesday primary election
means little more than the preliminary
for Reed.
In Washington Reed too is but a
figurehead-a man carrying a banner
for at least a wing of his party.
Whether the conclusions which will
De uIdWu 1TOHl tue TtSlHl Slbutu Ue
drawn is not the question. The nation
10 likely to read the passing or the
retention Of the hand Of Woodrow Will
son on democracy as it counts TIL
votes cast by Missouri democrats.
Wilson. incapacitated. has left a heri-
tage of control behind him. And that
control he puts at stake In the result of
the Jim Reed race" in Missouri.
If Long wins the prophets will say
that Wilson's hand will still be the guild
ing spirit Of his party.
But if Reed wins they will say the
power of Wilson will have passed.
There are no neutral corners either
in Missouri or the nation.
Here in Missouri the excitement is at
fever pitch. The entire state is
aroused as not even Missouri, where
politics is a fast and furious game, has
been aroused before. Wearied and
worn from the fray both candidates
are supremely confident of victory to-
day.
But dismissing the natural conclusions
of candidates it is doubtful if a political
test ever came so close to the end with
the followers-those shrewd inside
managers-as implicitly sure as in the
present case.
Each Side Confident
Long headquarters said today:
Long will carry the country districts
with 10000 votes. Reed cannot get
more than 10000 in Kansas City and
$1,000 in st. Louis"
Reed answers:
kansas City is mine by $4,000 and
I'll poll 10000 in st. Louis. Long will
not get more than $4,000 in the coun-
try Districts
Political dopesters who view the race
from the angle of their pocketbooks
say Reeds figures on Kansas City and
st. Louis are nearer right than Longs.
In. Kansas City the name of Reed
brings a cheer even from Wilson demo-
Gratis.
For Jim Reed is great if not good
they say.
Three out Of every five editors believe
Reed will win.
Long has been casting bait for the
women's vote. Much of his campaign
ing has. been done at afternoon teas in
hotel parlors and homes.
Reeds fight has been typical Reed
-"Rearin' ~tearin'. sometimes swear
in" vOileys of vitriol shafts directed at
Long and the ideals of Wilson