Evening star., 1928-03-04
STATE CONVENTION
IS RULED BY REED
Foes Join With Friends in
EIecting Delegation
Pledged to Him.

Special Dispatch To The Star.
KANSAS CITY. Mo-. March s.
Senator James A. Reed. after being de-
MED for nearly eight years voice III
his party councils in Missouri. took
charge Of the Democratic organization
at the State convention early this week
in St Joseph.
The Senator's bitterest political foes
Joined with his friends in clecting an
instructed delegation for Reed to the
Houston convention. pledged to vote for
the Missouri Senator for the prcsiden-
tisl nomination until released person.
ally by him.
The men who led the Woodrow Will
son forces against Reed In the state
for many years. virtually have become
reconciled to the new party leadership.
This is not entirtly true with some OF
the women. On hand at the ST. Jo-
Seph convention were several OF the
members of the old Rid Us Of Reed"
Democratic Women's organization. who
fousht the Senator for denomination
in the 1922 primaries. and who went
to the State convention, they said, ito
see what a harmonious Democratic
convention looked like.
See New Leader,
These women saw what they went
to witness but with new leader III
charge. AT no time in the State con-
vention. when the delegates to cast
Missouri's Sc votes for the presidential
nomination were chosen did they sec
the Reed managers lose control Of the
State gathering. BY general agreement.
the convention gave Reed everything
he asked without dissent.
Among those eliminated from active
leadership in Missouri politics by reason
Of the Reed faction gaining the ascen-
6ency was Mrs. Emily Newell Blair.
national committeewoman. and for
several years vice chairman of the
Democratic national committee. She
has been bitterly anti-Reed. In the
preliminary convention two weeks ago
In her home county. she led the fight
TO prevent an Endorsement Of Reed for
President. Her name was not pre-
eented to the State convention for re-
election. Mrs. Blair will be succeeded
as national conmitteewoman by Mrs.
c. B. FRris Of ST. Louis. Reed sup
porter wife of the Federal judge.
An exception was made in the case
OF W. T. Kemper of Kansas City. re-
elected national committeeman without
fight The fact he had fought Reed
In former years was overlooked. pos
sihlv due to the fact his sponsors for
reelection were the Senator's close
political advisers.
IL Women Named.
For the last two national conyen-
tons, Missouri has divided its delega-
tions on a $3.50" basis. But that did
not happen this year Only IL women
we're elected delegates TO Houston on
O delegation of nearly 60 members.
Fewer women than usual were elected
alternates. The Reed leaders never
have played to woman politicians. AS
virtually every national delegate was
subjected TO the Reed test before
elected this year. the Senator's man.
ayers naturally were somewhat wary
Of woman candidates. The women for
n1erly were Reeds bitterest foes.
Whether Reed will be able. II he
cares to. 10 retain control of the
Missouri Democratic State organization
after the election this year. must be
decided later Many Of his friends
earlier attempted TO induce him TO run
for denomination as Senator as we'll as
for President The idea was TO have
him on the State ticket ii not NOM
mated for President at Houston. and
IN hold together his State organization.
With Reed as a candidate for some
thing. II was generally conceded that
the Democrats would BE- able 10 carry
Missouri. But Reed emphatically de-
clined TO run for Senator.
T. c. AFFORD.