Evening star., 1922-07-23
PO|NDEXTER FACES
CONSOLIDATED FOE
Senatorial Fight Holds Cen.
ter of Political Stage in
Washington State.
MRS. AXTELL MDORSED
Congressional Campaign Provides
Little Interest Outside First
District.
MRS. AxTELL ENDORSED

TACOMA, Wash. July 22.-With
Senator Miles Poindexter at home
opening his campaign for renomina-
tion and election, senatorial politics
is holding the center of attraction
this week.
The arrival Of Poindexter was pre-
ceded early in the week by move
ment consolidating the anti-PoiRdex-
ter sentiment upon one candidate in
an effort to defeat the junior senator
for the nomination or. in failure to
do this. split the republican vote at
the general election and bring about
his defeat in this manner.
Mrs. Frances c. AXtell of Belling-
ham, for years prominent in progress
sive republican ranks. has been given
the Endorsement for the United States
Senate by Ave organizations claiming
representation OF 100000 voters. She
will file as republican. The in
dorsement comes from the State Fed
League. the Railway Mems Political
Club. members of the State Grange.
the League of Woman Voters, the
Parent Teachers Association and the
Women's Christian Temperance Union,
Endorsement After survey.
The Endorsement of Mrs. Axten is
the result OF close political survey
of the situation in the state by anti
Poindexter groups. The entire CAM
paign from now on will be TO split
the republican vote at the general
election. To do this means the keep
ing alive Of the farmer-labor party.
the component parts of which have
indorsed Mrs. Atxell. AS a republic
can candidate Mrs. Axtell will draw
into the republican primaries the
farmer-labo!' followers. If she Is de-
feated for the nomination as a re-
publican the executive committee of
the farmer-labor party. which is au-
on the third party ticket after the
primaries. will see that the person
receiving the nomination for the Sen
ate on the ticket will withdraw.
Mrs. Axtell will be named.
This will put her back In the gen.
eral election as the third candidate.
Her strength will come entirely from
within the normal republican ranks.
The farmer-labor vote two years
ago was approximately 100000. The
democrats polled $4,000. while the
republican vote for Harding was
around 100000.
The anti-Peindexter people feel
confident that Mrs. Axtell will draw
enough votes away from the republic
can ticket to assure the defeat of
Poindexter. This meana that former
Congressman c. C. Dill. the demo-
chance of election.
The fight against Poindexter is as
suming q character which Is intended
to drive thousands of votes away
from the republican ticket. The
democratic leaders are counting on
this. They are prepared to take ad-
vantage of the G. o. p. fghts to boost
their game.
Tive Declarations Lacking
To date John E. Ballaine and George
Stevenson have not filed their dec
laratiops. Austin Grifith has filed as
a progressive republican. Efforts are
being made to keep Ballaine out in
favor of Mrs. Axtell and pressure IL
being brought to bear on Grihath to
/ Mrs. Axtell is the first woman in
the state to seek this ONCE.
Poindexter clubs are being rapidly
organised under the leadership OF
federal appointees, members Of the
old republican guard and former bull
moosers who were active In Poindex-
ter's previous campaigns.
The congressional situation remains
unchanged. Outside of the firat dis
trict there is apparently little interest
in the candidates. O. NJ, Nelson, .
light beer and wine advocate has Alsd
in the third against Albert johnson,
with little hope Of success. In the
first Philip Tindall. councilman OF
Seattle, war veteran and an active
younger republican. IL making .
strenuous campaign against Miller.
No candidates have appeared against
Hadley in the second. Webster in the
fifth or Summers in the fourth.