Evening star., 1926-10-20
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

| States. They have favored the Dem
ocrats in local issues rather than
national. But the result of the cleo
| tions will to = very great extent be
decided November on local issues
and conditions. Two weeks ago there
| seemed no doubt that Indiana
would elect two Republican United
States Senators, Watson and Robin
son. Now there Is grave doubt as
! to the outcome, due to the charges or
| corruption which have been made
against the Republican organization,
dominated as 1t has been by Ku Klux
| Klan. or former Klan, officials.
Further West, In Illinois, where all
| seemed serene for a Republican vic
tory, revelations of large contribu-
tions to the primary campaign fund
| Of Col. Frank l.. Smith by Samuel
| insult, a public utilities magnate.
| and other utility interests have led
| to the entry of an Independent Re-
publican candidate for the Senate
Magill. The chances Of the Republi-
cans are dimmed by so much, as the
| strength Of the independent cand1-
date may increase before election
day. The belief still prevails that
Smith will be elected, but Democratic
hopes for George e. Brennan. their
| candidate, have been raised.
On the Pacific Coast lies Oregon.
| a strongly Republican State as a
rule. When Frederick Steiwer was
nominated by the party for the
Senate against Bert e. Haney, for
mer Shipping Board commissioner.
the Democrat, it was believed Stei-
, Wer would come through with flying
colors. But Senator Stanfield, the
Republican incumbent. asserting that
unfair tactics had been used against
MIN IN the primaries, has entered the
| lists as an Independent and threatens
to upset the kettle of fish. Indeed,
the Republicans have pretty nearly
| decided to wipe the Oregon election
Off the books as q dead loss.
In Missouri, where the Democrats
have been at one another's throat
Ior the last six years because Of the
direrences between the followers of
woodrow Wilson and the followers Of
Senator Reed, the hatchet has, to a
very large extent, been buried and
the chances Of the election Of Repre-
sentative Harry Halves, the Demo.
cratic nominee, against Senator George
II. Williams, Republican, have been
greatly enhanced thereby.
Back in the East there is a terrific
night ahead to re-elect Senator James
w. Wadsworth, jr. His reelection was
regarded not so long ago as fairly
certain. But the liquor question
cropped up. with Wadsworth on the
wet side. although the Republican
party Of New York has long record
for dryness. State Senator Franklin
w. Cristman Of Herkimer County, a
bone dry, has been put up as an
independent Republican-"independent
Rep" is the designation that will go
on the ballot. The Democrats, sensing
their opportunity for victory, have
nominated Justice Robert F. Wagner
OF the State Supreme Court, popular
with Tammany and reckoned a
stronger candidate for the Senate than
the Democrats have had for some
time. If Cristman. with the aid of
the drys, Is able to roll up $50 900
| or 300, 900 votes, more or less, Wagner
Is likely winner.
The wet-and.dry issue in Massa-
chusetts is making it hard for Sena.
tor Butler, chairman Of the Repub.
lican national committee and spokes-
man for the President on the Senate
floor. 1t may not beat Senator But.
Ter, but 1t is another instance OF
the unkind fate which has followed
A@CPuDLlCdl AOI luuCS Ill tuS Il,
Former Senator David I. Walsh. the
Democratic nominee. has seized upon
the wet sentiment in the Bay State,
which is considerable. and Is seeking
to capitalize 1t against Butler, who
is regarded as the dry candidate,
although he admits that at the time
the eighteenth amendment was under
consideration he was opposed to ma
tion.wide prohibition.
Even in rockribbed Republican
Pennsylvania the Democratic nominee
for the Senate, former Secretary of
Labor William B. Wilson, is to have
more of "look-in" than any Demo
cratic candidate for the Senate has
had for years in that State. This is
traceable, as in Illinois, to the cam
paign expenditures made in Repub-
lican primaries this year. Representa-
tive William S. Ware. the Republican
candidate. Is under cloud because
of these excessive expenditures. He
will doubtless be elected, both because
he is a Republican and because he is
a wet in a State where the sentiment
against the Volstead act is pro-
nounced. Wilson will get great
many Republican votes, because many
Republicans are disgusted with Ware
and Varism. Gov. Pinchot, Republic.
GLI, IlclO NCSAdl GU Ilc SLdIlu
Ware. and he may take many dry
Republicans into the Wilson camp.
Wilson is bone dry. Senator Norris Of
Nebraska, Republican. is campaigning
for Wilson in Pennsylvania, and he,
too, may help to swell the vote for
the Democrat.
And so it goes throughout the coun-
try. Democratic luck. 1t is called in
some quarters. But 1t Is Democratic
luck because the Republicans have
blundered or worse in many of the
States. A few more blunders by Re
publicans such as those in Pennsyl.
vania, Illinois and Indiana and the
country will be ripe for a crusade
against corruption in politics. The
Democrats In the West believe they
have the man to lead that crusade,
Senator "Jim" Reed of Missouri, who
more than any other man has been in.
strumental in uncovering the eXces.
sive use Of money in Republican cam.
paigns. AS chairman of the senatorial
investigating committee he has had
the limelight turned full upon him.
The people in Missouri are getting a
great kick out of Reeds success. And
some Of the wets-althoueh Reed In.
sists he must not be classed a wet
are looking to Reed as a national
leader. The st. Louis Post Dispatch
in Il recent issue published a letter
signed Esau Cooley, Wentzville, Mo.
anent Senator Reed and his presiden.
tial possibilities, which said. in part:
"an whereas wants to say farther
that when you all are pushin fur Sena
tor Jim fur president you aint barkin
up no Holler tree, he's the best thing
the Peepul has had since mr.. Voal
ST cad made nC Hrfnk Yaooroto;ro ~. - r.
ticker atall. an Of course nobody WIZ
goin to be plumb bull headed, an
whereas when he gets elected you will
sec washington reckonize these unite
states an a man will feel Purfectly
safe to spit through his teeth agin. an
that will be purity tollable good for O
change"