Evening star., 1926-10-19
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on any question. He has made en-
emies ruth -essly, but at the same
time he has made strong friends,
botn because of his courage and his
ability
He might have had the indorse-
ment of the Democratic State con
vention this year for the presidential
nomination in 1928 if he had raised
his hand. But Senator Reed. what
ever his thoughts on the subject may
be, has not sought to force pre-
maturely his boom for President. He
contents himself with saying that
the talk of his nomination for Presi-
dent has not come from him, but
from others. He has announced that
he will not be a candidate to succeed
himself in the Senate in 1925 but
with regard to the presidential nomi-
nation he has said nothing. If he
were nominated on the Democratic
ticket, he would be a strong candi-
date in Missouri. He has many fol-
lowers among the Republicans them
selves, who doubtless would vote
for him, both out of regard for him
personally and because Of State
pride. He would be a difficult can
1tdate for any Republican nominee
to beat in Missouri.
Strong i'm Home Town.
Out here in Kansas City, his home
town, Senator Reed can have any
thing from the Democratic organlza-
ton he wants, according to the lead-
ers. 1t is true that he carried the
Kansas City district by only some
600 votes four years ago, but that
is largely attributable to the fight
made on him at that time by the ku
Klux Klan. Some twenty thousand
votes, it is estimated, were turned
away from him by the Klan and by
the pro- Wilson sentiment. But the
information today is that the klan
has disintegrated here in the last few
years, and that many of its Demo-
cratic members are getting back into
the regular organization, headed by
Tom Pendergast. Pendergast esti-
mates that jackson County, which
includes Kansas City, will go for
Hawes this year from 5000 to 10000
votes. This is higher than impartial
observers admit, although they say
the county should go Democratic by
from $500 to 5000.
The Klan still continues to be a
somewhat mysterious element in the
coming election, Notwithstanding re-
ports of disintegration. 1t Is pre-
sumed here that what strength it
has will be thrown against HaWes
and for Senator Williams, the Re-
publican candidate for the Senate.
Grand Dragon Campbell has given
his personal Endorsement to- Will
liams, although Williams is given
credit for having written the anti
Khan plank in the Republican State
Platform Of 1924. Hawes has been
an outspoken enemy of the Klan and
it is believed that the Klan will
take Williams as the lesser Of two
evils.
G. o. p. Primary Vote Leads.
For the first time in history, the to-
tai vote cast in the Republican sena-
torial primary this year exceeded the
total vote cast in the Democratic pri-
mary. This has given the Republicans
hope for the general election. In the
Republican primary, however, there
was a bitter wet and dry fight, with
Proctor, the dry. opposing Williams,
who, while not a pronounced wet, Is
regarded as anti-dry. On the Demo
cratic side of the fence there was,
lOO, d wei dIlO A5AAS ~ AASiP 9SS
out the vote. Williams won more I'M
pressively than did Halves in the pri-
maries.
The leaders both among the Demo-
Gratis and the Republicans are doing
their best in these final weeks before
election to stir the voters out OF their
apathy, to get them to go to the polls
November 2. They are swinging into
action with all their big guns. If the
apathy persists, it is likely to hurt the
Democrats more than the Republicans
The Republicans have a f1rst-class or
ganization throughout the state, ana
where the organization is perfected
the leaders are usually able to get
ont the vote where a. less perfect or
ganization falls down. 1t appears now,
that. in spite of an opinion just given
by the attorney general of the State
that the referendum on the proposed
repeal of the State prohibition laws
cannot properly go on the ballot, the
opinion comes too late and that 1t
must be placed on the ballot unless
there should be court action to elm
mate it, This referendum Is being
fought actively by the drys. The In,
terest in the referendum Is expected
to be a real assistance in bringing the
voters to the polls.
While Democratic leaders are seek
ing to convey the impression that
prosperity under Republican rule does
not really exist in Missouri, 1t appears
that in Kansas City and the part OF
Missouri adjacent thereto is not as
badly hit as the Democrats would
nave il believed. Bank clearanceS, safes
nv department stores and mail order
houses located here indicate that con-
ditiSns are better than they were last
year.
Postal Receipts Increased.
AS Kansas City business depends
largely upon state of the farmers, this
condition Of affairs does not argue
that the farmers are as badly off as
thew are pictured. There have been
hank failures in Missouri this year,
hut they have been more frquent IN
the section covered by the st. Louis
Eederal Reserve Bank than in the
territory governed by the Federal Re-
serve Bank of Kansas City. Another
indication Of at least a measure of the
prosperity in and about Kansas City
is the large increase this year IN
postal receipts over the receipts OF
last year.
The Kansas CIV Star and Times
Is giving equal opportunity In Its news
columns to both Williams ai.J N"wes.
The Kansas City Journal, on the oti.~4
hand, has attacked Senator Williams
vigorously, although it has not de-
clared support for Hawes. Walter 5.
Dickey, Republican, proprietor or the
Journal strongly backed Proctor, the
dry candidate for the senatorial nomi-
nation against Williams in the pri-
mary race.
Former Gov. Hyde. dry Republican.
Is starting on a campaign tour for
Senator Williams, which may cause
the fur to fly. Gov. Hyde is tower