The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-23
IN TWO DISTRICTS
Real Contests for Congress in
Third and Eighth.
w. A. Ayres' Comeback Holds
Republican Interest.
TO DIG UP A HODGES PLANK
Democratic Failure in Tax Re-
ductiOn Revealed.
G. o. p. viii Battle Davis With
His Own Record.
BY A. L. sHULTz.

Earnest and enthusiastic workers |
for the good of the party will likely |
draw trips into the Third and Eighth |
congressional districts this fall. 1t
looks al this time as tho the real tus- |
Sic will be in the selection of a sue |
cessor for Phil p. Campbell in the |
Third with an almost equally heated |
argument regarding w. a. Ayres' |
comeback in the Eighth. Some of the !
hottest fighting of the campaign will |
be in these districts.
In the last few weeks the state |
ticket problem seems to have cleared |
up. With almost remarkable rapidity |
the idea seems to have filtered into !
the rural districts that the move to |
amalgamate the farmer and labor vote |
for Jonathan NJ Davis was of greatest |
importance to the labor unions. Re- |
calling their little troubles in recent
labor disturbances there has been a
marked reluctance on the part of the
farmer to unite behind the Davis pro-
gram which seemingly offers a dream
land to the fellow whose dues are
paid in the local union.
Davis hasn't made hay in the last
month, To the contrary he has
slipped. Shortly after his nomination
was assured he sought to duck the
Industrial court as the dominant issue |
in the governorship fight. He pre-
ferred to talk taxes which is always a |
vapory subject and permits of the use
of numerous general terms par
property owner. Now that the Bour-
bon nominee really insists on discus |
sing the tax question. it looks as tho
he may be accommodated.
Take Up Hodges Plank.
Just at this time a lot of campaign
thunder is being prepared for the Re
publican orators. They are going into |
the state with copies of the Hodges
speech of 1912 in which he indicated
that rs per cent tax reduction was
the easiest possible attainment.
Then the stump speaker will read
the record of tax increases during the
Hodges regime. Incidentally they may
recall that Davis himself was a mem
Der of the state senate while Hodges
was governor and that he had a part
in the tax increase and helped create
the numerous new boards and COM
missions which came into existence
during the 1913 session of the legisla-
ture. During the time Davis was in
the senate and George H. Hodges was
governor, the Democ"@ts were in
complete control of tax making
machinery The fact there was
a tax increase over tn previous two
years Of the Stubs administration
contributed largely to the defeat of
Hodges in 1914.
= Most of the state campaign will be
built around the Governorship contest.
Consequently the Industrial court and
of the attention from state speakers.
Fight in 3rd and Sth.
In the fight to retain control of the
eight congress- nal districts, tho, the
Republicans will center their fire in
the Third and Eighth districts At
this time it looks like a horse race in
both districts with the Republicans
holding advantage by virtue of their
normal heavy majorities and stronger
organizations.
When w. H. Sproul defeated Con-
gresham Phil p. Campbell after
twenty years service as representative
from the Third district, he kicked up
so much trouble that it may be diff
cult to complete qualification tasks be-
fore November Sprouts frenzied
campaign was in the interest of Sproul.
He overthrow the veteran Kansas con-
gresham. But now he is facing a
hard fight for the election.
There is an enormous labor vote in
the Third 1t seems to be headed
straight for Charles Stephens of
Columbus, Democrat nominee. The
big coal mining vote as well as rail-
road votes at Arkansas City. Chanute,
Coffeyville. Parsons and Pittsburg are
in the district. So the fight in the
southeast corner may develop into a
real center attraction long before cleo
ton day.
Ayrcs a Strong Man.
The Eighth district also holds pos
sibilities. denomination of W. A.
Ayres by the Democrats following his
defeat for reelection two years ago
gave the Bourbons another chance in
that district. Ayres is perhaps the
best campaigner and has a greater
personal following than any Demo-
crat in the district.
Two years ago Ayres was unseated
by Congressman Richard E. Bird. Re-
publican. Birds final majority was
something like IFS votes. 1t isn't
decisive defeat in the district which
includes Sedgwick, Harvey, Sumner,
Butler and Mcpherson counties. But
1t was a big Republican triumph, as
the Democrats had been in control in
the district since Victor Murdoch
quit his house job to run for the
United States senate as a Bull Mooser
in 1914.
Both Bird and Ayres live in Wichita
In the eighteen months Bird has been
in congress he has had an opportunity
TO develop something of an organiza-
ton, Republican claims from the dis
trict are to the effect that he is
stronger than in 1920. On the other
hand, Ayres has been at home since
March last year, and has had a chance
to patch holes in his political fences.
He has lacked, however, the party or
ganization which the Democrats
formerly held in the district thru their
patronage swing.
Unless conditions should change
materially in the next few weeks, the
fighting in the First, Second, Fourth,
Fifth. Sixth and Seventh districts may
be quite interesting. But the dope
sheets at this time fail to show re-
suits seriously in doubt.