Evening star., 1942-10-11
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Corra.no,s.

BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.
TOPEKA, Kans., Oct. 10
Kansas, banner Republican State
In 1910, shows no signs of relent-
Ing In its opposition to the New
Deal administration this year.
The farmers, despite higher
prices for wheat, corn and other
produce, are discontented.
The sore spot is the labor situa-
tfon. Farmers sons and farm labor
have been drafted into the military
service in large numbers. Farm
wages have increased materially
where labor is still obtainable.
Thousands of farm workers are
going into war plants and construc-
ton work for wages that appear
astronomical to farmers. The wage
scales for all kinds of employment
throughout the State have been in
creased by the pay in these war
plants and on construction work for
the Government.
For example, a farmer with a
herd OF 80 dairy COWS once was able
to operate successfully with the aid
OF his two sons and helper. Now
this farmer is left with only the aid
OF his wife, for the sons have been
drafted and the helper has moved
to a war plant. Obviously, he and
his wife cannot handle the dairy
herd. The answer, so far, is that
the herd must 60.
Dust Bowl Vanishes.
Kansas wheat production will
reach the high total of 10000, 900
bushels this year, it is estimated
The dust bowl" which threatened
Western Kansas farming with ex-
tinction few years ago. has van
ished. For two years there has been
plenty of rain
The New Deal administration
however, is not benefting politically
from this, although in its earlier
years it came to the aid of the
stricken farmers materially. Presi-
dent Roosevelt's Labor Day speech,
in which he seemed to crack down
on the farmers especially for the
increased cost of living in this
country. rankles in their minds
For the first time, however. in
dustrial plants on huge scale have
entered this agricultural State. They
are war plants. located in various
parts OF the State In the Wichita
district the population has jumped
to more than 10000. an increase of
more than 10000 due to the war
plants.
Much OF the labor going into the
plants comes from Kansas itself
but there are thousands who have
come into the State from Oklahoma
and more distant States. This new
industrial population is the only
riddle in the. campaign here. No
one knows yet how many are voters
In Kansas, or can qualify. The an
sWer will be found when all the
registration figures are in 20 davs
before election day 1t is assumed
That labor, having high wages. will
largely support the party of the New
Deal Administration.
Farm Vote Huge Factor.
The farm vote still remains the
tremendous factor in Kansas elec-
tlons. Joined to this vote is that of
the small businessmen whose at
utude is reflection of that of the
farmers with whom they must deal
1he labor that has come off of
Kansas farms may vote Republican
too.
one OF the irrita tions appearing
more recently is growing out of the
administrations rationing of easo-
line and fuel oil There is plenty
OF ooth IN Kansas, which could pro-
ouce far more Oil If it were allowed
to do so.
Ihe kansans who have oil burn
ers, and there are many of them, saw
IL does not make sense for the Cow
ernment to demand that they con-
vert to coal when there is a plethora
of fuel oil on hand and a scarcity of
coal in Kansas.
kansas has full-scale election
this year. barring presidential
race. 1t elects Governor and all
State officers, a Senator and House
delegation. After serving two terms
as Governor. Arthur Capper was
elected to the Senate in 1918. He
is seeking reelection on the Repub-
llcan ticket, His last election was
In 1896, when President Roosevelt,
was carrying Kansas against its
favorlte son. ALI NJ. Landon, then
Governor, by 81 900 votes.
Senator Capper was reelected by
2l.O00 votes. Two years ago Presi.
dent Roosevelt lost the State to
Wendell l., Willkie by margin of
100000 votes. One consequence of
his lack of enthusiasm for the New
Deal is that the Democratic candi-
dates in Kansas are not trying to
run on the president coat-tail. Ur
to the present they have avoided
mention of the national administra
ton and the President in their
speeches, except in rare instances.
McGill Opposes Capper.
Senator Capper's opponent is for.
mer Democratic Senator McGill
Mr.. McGill was defeated for the
Senate four years ago by Senate,
Reed, Republican. Senator Capper's
reelection is regarded as certainty
He has wide circle of friends in
all parts of the State.
Mr., McGill has been hammerine
away at Senator Capper on the score
of his pre-Pearl Harbor isoiationist
record. That was raised against
Senator Capper in the primary elec-
tlon, but he won denomination by a
wide margin. 1t is not likely to be
effective against him now.
In the gubernatorial race the
Republicans have as their candidate