The New York herald., 1922-07-27
Wild SENATE Fight
IN MISSOURI, With
REED A lone WOLF
Woodrow Wilson the Real
Issue in a Campaign Full
of Excitement.
PRIMARY ON TUESDAY
Breckenridge Long Seeking
Reeds Seat With Bit
ter Earnestness.
CASCADES OF ORATORY
CASCADES OF oRAToRY
Speeches Fairly Bristle With
Liar as a Start and Grad
ually Working Up.
BY LOUIS sErBoLD.

Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
ST.. LOUIS. July 2S.-Missouri. which
fights out it's differences somewhat af-
ter the Irish methods, is determined
to make a holiday of the Democratic
Senatorial primary contest. which is
to be held next Tuesday.
There are several hundred candi-
dates for about half as many offices
to be filled: but the popular interest,
which is more or less Of a sporting
character, is almost completely mo-
nopoIized by the struggle between
United States Senator James A. Reed
and Breckenridge Long. former As
sistant Secretary of State. There Is a
third aspirant named Young, rank
outsider. who seems to be helping
Reed more than himself.
The Reed-Long contest already has
reached the impressed brick and passe
egg stage. the yeomanry in the rugged
Ozarks and the hog and corn raisers
along the Missouri bottoms manifest
ing the most avid interest as we'll as
finding a lot of entertainment in the
row. Circus tents, movies and all the
enticing features of modern political
contests have been employed to bring
the folks from their farms and forges
to give ear to cascades of oratory and
straight-from- shoulder talking.
The leading actors in the conflict
start in by calling each other liars and
work along progressively to more
trenchant forms of metaphor
seven Republicans sedate.
The seven Republicans who are
competing for the honor of opposing
the Democratic nominee are indulging
in most decorous and almost ladylike
campaign, interesting. but lacking the
pep" and acrimonious attractions Of
the Reed-Long dispute. But that is
another story. to be told later. 1t is
the Republican contention that the
Democratic family row is bringing
grist to the Republican mill that will
assure the election Of a Republican to
the seat now held by the stormy petrol
of the Democratic side of the Senate
chamber.
In one respect the Missouri primary
contest differs from those in other
States. The radical wave which en-
gulfed regular" Republican candi-
dates In Indiana, North Dakota, Ne
braska. Iowa and Pennsylvania does
not appear to have spread this far
south or to be affecting either party.
,tc Inns NJ kIak
the voting mind in Missouri is not
grasping at vagrant straws in an ef-
fort to find relief from irksome politi-
cal evils, real and fancied.
But 1t does mean that the matters
with which the Missouri voter con-
Germs himself are not connected with
any Of the things that have dictated
results in other States save on one
point. This touches the extent to
which .he regular Republican and
Democratic machines have held or
lost their hold on the voters. The re-
suit Of next Tuesdays primary contest
for the Senate and sixteen Congress
sional seats to be filled perhaps will
furnish an answer to the question.
An Important Contest.
The Democratic Senate fight is un-
questionably the most important event
In the history Of that party since the
unprecedented victory Of Mr.. Harding
nearly two years ago. Upon the re-
suit Of it will turn the control of the
party machine in the future. This is
because the real issue is not whether
Senator Jim" Reed accurately re-
fleets Democratic sentiments in his
own State. but whether the policies
and principles OF Woodrow Wilson
shall be respected or thrown aside
with contempt by the spokesmen of
his party
The issue in Missouri, therefore. is.
In fact, Woodrow Wilson. Mr. Long.
the opponent OF Mr. Reed. has made
H. 40 His campaign has been con-
ducted on the theory that the vast ma
jority Of the $50 900 Democratic voters
who registered their approval of Mr..
Cox two years ago and who indorsed
the casting aside OF Mr.. Reed by the
Democratic national convention look
upon Mr.. Wilson as the leader of the
party.
Mr.. Long therefore offers little else
t;,sB tihis sentimental appeal. which is
admitted by some OF the more lucid
Of Mr.. Reeds supporters to have
taken deep root in Missouri Around
the Wilson. sentiment. Mr.. Long and
his supporters have built up, a fol-
lowing which under ordinary condi-
tions would spell success. The regu-
lar State. organization is arrayed
solldly behind Mr.. Long and against
Mr.. Reed.
The greater number OF farmers