The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-14
LABOR FOR DAVIS
Will Seek to Win Cause by VOt-
ing Democrat Ticket.
Something Happened to En-
dOrSement of Fred Knapp.
UNABLE To HOLD LABOR VOTE
Kansas Trades UniOniSt of To-
peka Into the Campaign.
Democratic Nominee Is Run
ming as a Sod Farmer.
UNABLE TO HOLD LABOR VOTE


Having lost its fight in the Repub-
lican primaries, organized labor will
seek to win its cause by voting the
Democrat ticket in November. At
least such portion of organized labor
as can be controlled will be directed
to vote for Jonathan NJ. Davis for
governor.
Something happened in the attempt
to deliver the labor vote to Fred w.
Knapp. The support which was ex-
pected to be a big asset in the indus
trial centers was a milestone in the
country. But the effect was worse.
Even tho he travelled under the stamp
and seal of the state federation.
Knapp was unable to corral anything
resembling a solid labor vote.
Fifth In Field of Seven.
The labor candidate came under the
wire fifth in a field of seven candi-
dates including two women Many of
the votes which were expected to be
consigned to Knapp went to Stubs
and McNeal. Stubs play to the rad
ical labor vote in the final days of
the campaign, however, caused dis
aster out in the rural precincts where
the former governor was once a pop
ular idol. When Stubs came into the
home stretch with a chance to win the
governorship nomination his old
farmer support was missing and he
AOSL the IlEnL- MOST OF Ine OODeSLeTS
believe the situation was due to re-
fusal of the farmers to join with the
railroad shop and coal strikers in en-
dorsement of candidate.
One of the big features of labor's
attitude in the primary, tho. is the
fact that its slate no longer brings
terror to the candidates. W. Y. Nor
gan, the EOvernorship nominee. is for
the industrial court. w. p. Lambert
son is for the court law and refused to
much hid for the radical q
altho he was invited to slate making
caucus. He did not go to the meeting.
To Davis in November.
The vote which labor delivered to
its favorite candidates in the towns
was promptly checkmated in returns
themselves are trying to explain the
situation to their followers and have
urged union voters to take new cour-
age and go to Davis in November.
Two years ago Davis was the DEM
ocrat nominee for governor against
Governor Allen At that time he re-
ceived the anti-industrial court vote. |
Governor Allen finished the race tho
with los. 900 ma jority over Davis.
The real chance for labor to win
was in the state primaries. With a
heavy field its slate might have been
carried thru by a well organized and
deliverable minority. Under the Kan
sas primary law the voting is a free
pitch in and Democrats were per-
mitted to enter the Republican pri-
maries without interference. The fact
that the labor organization was unable |
to deliver its vote even with printed !
states and wide publicity is the big |
matter of interest in politics.
Carefully selected Slate.
So carefully did the state federation |
center its fire for Knapp that it !
dation- Democrat candidates were
not mentioned. Practically all of the |
voting was done in the Republican |
primaries. With thousands of men
on strike labor was in position to
thoroly organize for the campaign |
The fact that it did not control its own |
vote is apparently puzzling the labor /
leaders. Last week the Kansas 4
Trades Unionist of Topeka. devoted |
exclusively to the cause of the union i
labor worker, appeals to labor to be |
strong in the faith and vote for the
Democrat nominee for governor. In |
an editorial il says in part:
Labor is not laying down since |
the recent primaries. 1t has ad-
vanced beyond the habit and is but
getting its breath for action in the fall
campaign. Labor failed to get its /
candidate for governor across because
it was misled as to the support which
Mr.. Knapp would draw from other
sources.
But now what labor can do and
will do in the November election is to
vote for Jonathan Davis who has won
the Democratic primaries-defeat w.
Y Morgan, who has been recognized |
as the Allen administration candi-
date Let no one tell YOU
that the voting power of labor Is
negligible because of the showing in
the primaries
Davis Sod Farmer.
Davis is running as a SOC farmer |
But with the labor endorsement he
may need additional speaking time
IN the rural districts. Stubbs and !