Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-28
MISSOURI IS TORN
BY BITTER CONTEST
|. FOR j. s. SENATOR
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service to The Journal
DOWNRIGHT. 1921

souri, is aflame with the fires of
personal and partisan rivalry in
politics such as no other state in
the union is experiencing this year.
The issue in brief, is Jim Reed,
nominee on the Democratic ticket
who will owe his election, If he
wins, to the support he will get
from the Republicans Of Missouri.
There are those who hate Jim
Reed with as intense a political
hate as has been visited on a pub
lie man. There are those who would
fight with the drop of a hat with
the mention of his name in ad
verse terms. Jim Reeds remarkable
personality, his singular eloquence
and power of persuasion on the
stump will have been responsible
for victory if that be the outcome.
One says "if" with feeling that
it ought to be eliminated. For, on
canvassing people of all beliefs and
prejudices,s the fear is much more
pronounced on the part Of Reeds
Democratic opponents that he will
win than it is among Republicans
The League of Nations, the wet
and dry issue, the martyrdom of
man who says that he paid the
penalty of independence OF judg-
ment when he incurred the dis
favor. of Woodrow Wilson, and tho
fact that Missouri was torn apart
by the bitter primary fight be-
tween Reed and Long+all this has
completely upset all calculations.
Men who have been able, for years,
to call the turn on Missouri cleo.
tons, throw UP their hands In de-
spair-they have never seen such a
mixed up situation.
Opposing Lineup
First of all, the forces behind Jim
Reed are these:
l.. Practically all the Germans
and their kinfolk, most Of whom are
Republicans.
state. Democrats and Republicans.
3. The foes of the League Of Ma
tions-Democrats, who have stuck
to Jim Reed throughout. and many
Republicans, who care more about
voting for a man who helped kill
American participation in the league
LudH Lhey SdIS NaOou| pnAIJ C1AIIlo-
ton.
4. Many independents, who like
man Of Jim Reeds fighting quail
ties.
Summing Up the forces behind r,
date, one finds:
l. The regular epublic a n
strength minus, of course, those who
~ fov To 1oIya Tim
Reed.
2. Most of the Democratic wom-
en- who fought against Reed in the
ences in previous speeches by the
senator to women in politics.
3. Tens of thousands of men who
dislike Reeds policy and his oppo-
s.tion to Woodrow Wilson. They
openly say they will bolt the ticket.
Curiously enough, most observers
think the Republicans deserving
Brewster would be greater in num-
her than the Democrats deserving
Reed.
1t. is because nobody can tell in
advance of the actual count how
many boilers there will be or either
ticket that the result is so uncertain.
The state is normallv Democratic.
The Democrats, who fought Reed in
the primaries, are not a solid bloc.
Many to Stay Regular
Many will stay regular at the last
minute. This state is a Democratic
counterpart e the solid south. 1t
was, perhaps, due to Walter S.
Dickey, of Kansas City, and other
Republican leaders, that Missouri
went over 100000 for Harding in
1920.
Senator Reeds victory in the pri-
maries is, of course, the only basis
for any forecast, but it is so I'M
satisfactory because while Brecken
ridge Long, who ran against Reed.
is a man OF high principles, he is
not as forceful a character as the
recent senator from Missouri. AS
for Mr.. Brewster, he is more like
ly to attract neutrals tan was
Mr.. Long. He is, in other words,
stronger candidate against Senator
Reed, and the chances are he
would have won easily this year If
Mr.. Long had won the Democratic
nomination.
Senator Reed has made a spec.
tacular and dramatic campaign.
His desperate desire to win has not
interfered with his calm and care
full political tactics. He is not rush
ing in so violently to attack his op-
ponents and their issues as he was
in the primary. He isn't even an
swering many Of the attacks Of Mr..
Brewster. He isn't playing to the
"wets" but is trying hard for the
labor vote.
It's hard, however, for Jim Reed
to eliminate invective and sarcasm
in his speeches. Some one asked
r. r. Brewster what his full name
was, and the newspapers printed
his reply as: Reginald Raymond
Brewster" Jim Reed always refers
to his opponent now as Reggie"
It's his characteristic way of cam
paigning.
Enemies and friends alike say Jim
Reed will win single-handed, if he
does triumph. His organization is
secondary. His party support is of
doubtful value. He is fighting at
this time, however, with a better
chance to win than his opponent,
though one is amazed at the num-
Der Of Democrats VIII osupported
Long who hint that they will vote
the Republican ticket, but who
probably will never acknowledge the
fact. It's anybody's race at the
finish.
Alleged Yeggrnan Gets