Evening star., 1924-10-19

go for Davis by about $4,000, which
is not much of a vote in a State
which casts a million and quarter
votes.
Result Hard to Forecast.
In 1920, when there was a great wave
OF protest against the Wilson admins
tration Harding carried Missouri by
$4,000 votes. In 1916 Wilson carried
the State by $4,000. Four years
earlier Wilson won in Missouri by
about 2,000 votes less than the com
bined strength of Roosevelt and Taft.
So while Missouri has been commonly
spoken of as a Democratic State" "
the division between the two old
parties is very narrow in number of
votes. That being SO, if La Toilette
breaks into the Democratic strength
with anything like the effect that he
does into the Republicans, then the
race between Davis and Coolidge here
in u real horse race indeed
Now for La Follette's chances of
carrying Missouri. 1 think that ques-
ton can best be answered by taking
the words out of the mouth of a La Fol-
lette leader here, with whom / talked
today. After saying that the reports
which had been brought in showed that
La Toilette had an excellent chance to
win-the kind of statement which
any political leader thinks he ought to
Inake-he got down to bed rock, say
ing, IF La Toilette carries Missouri,
he'll carry the whole country
There you have it. In other quarters
both Republican and Democratic. the
idea that La Toilette has any chance to
carry the State is not regarded Seri-
ously. In Missouri, third parties have
not been given much assistance.
Farmer-labor and non-parisan league
parties seem to have made little appeal
10 the farmers of Missouri.
Designated as Liberal.
The La Toilette presidential electors
are safely on the ballot in this State,
designated as the Liberal party espe-
cially organized here to comply with
the law.
Jackson County. in which Kansas City
is located. has been a Democratic strong
hold, largely through the vote of organ
lied labor. But a ance at the La Fol-
lette meeting in Kansas City a week
ago and crowd attending, taken in con-
nection with the popularity of Frank
i. Walsh of that city and a former
Democrat, tells much.
On the other hand the Republicans
have played poor politics in Missouri
since the Harding administration
came in. The German-American
who rallied to Harding in such num-
bers in 1920. have been given prac-
tically no recognition. This has hurt
a great deal, l was told by a promi-
nent German-American today. The
German Americans like recognition,
they like sympathy and they have
received neither.
The German-American is essentially
an individual:st, and for that reason
will be hard to deliver as a block
by the Steuben Society, for example,
which has promised La Toilette g.
100000 votes of German
Dry Issue Is Factor.
The administration of Gov. Hyde,
Republican. i not popular with many
of the st. Louis Republicans. 1t has
been dry" in the extreme, while
the St Louis people have been wet"
a mayor to succeed Mayor kiel, Re-
publican, takes place next Spring.
He wants to succeed himself, al
though he has been elected three
times already, and this is kicking
up some trouble.
There have been defections from
Democratic ranks to the cause of
Coolidge. and some of them have
hurt. Sam Lazarus, for example who
hdS Dcch strung bef1OCTdL IOE many
years, and was probably the largest
single contributor to the Democratic
chest in the State, has come
out in a statement for Coolidge
There is considerable stir over the
negro vote-there are some $1,000
registered in the State this year. The
La Toilette people are hoping for
their support because of La Follette's
strong stand against the Ku klux
klan. But 1t has been difficult to
convince people here that Coolidge
favors the klan. notwithstanding mis-
silence.
state Race to Democrats.
The candidates for governor are
DR.. A. w. Nelson, Democrat, wealthy
farmer at whose place near Bunston.
the big Davis meeting and barbecue
was held a month or more ago, and
Sam A Baker. Republican, former
State superintendent of schools. Nell
son was Endorsed by the Ku Klux
Khan in the primaries. The State Re-
publican platform denounces the
Khan and the Democratic platform
follows the Democratic national plat
form, Baker has personally de-
the Klan.
Dr. Nelson denies that he has any
connection with the Klan. But he
is regarded as the Klan candidate
m00. parts of the State. The