Evening star., 1942-10-10
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Oct. 10
This "show me" State, scene of
many bitter political battles in
the past, is indulging in its quiet
est campaign in years. With no
gubernatorial or senatorial bat
ties to stir up the interest, the
political activity has sunk to a
low ebb, even for a non-presi-
dental year.
Missouri, however, is electing its
House delegation, 13 in number. AS
at present constituted, the delega-
ton is made up of 10 Democrats
and Republicans. It is in these
House elections that the COP has
q chance to gain some ground. The
Republicans may pick up two, three
or even four seats now held by the
Democrats If things go well for
them. The, voters are not particu-
larly happy over lot of things, and
in that frame of mind may cause
trouble to incumbent office holders.
Specifically. the Republicans are
given chances to take Democratic
seats in the 1st, 5th and 11th dis
tricts, and possibly in the Sd and
9th districts.
OF the Republican incumbents,
Representative Bennett. in the 9th
district, has fight on his hands to
be returned. This district has been
Democratic in the past. Mr.. Ben
nett's opponent is Sam Wear,
Springfield lawyer, long active in
Democratic politics and good
speaker
The 1st district, in the northeast
part of the State, is represented by
Representative Romjue, dean of the
delegtion from Missouri. In the 1910
election the result was fairly close.
The Republican nominee today is
S. w. Arnold, a lumberman who
made a good showing In the pri-
mary election.
Representative Shannon, veteran
Democrat and long leader in Kan
sas City, represents the 5th district.
He declined to make the race again
this year and there is an outside
chance the Republicans may win
there. Ralph B. Innis, an insurance
man and active in American Legion
circles, is the Republican, running
against Roger c. Slaughter of the
Shannon faction.
Kansas City has been Democratic
stronghold. However, the continu-
ing rows over the rotteness of the old
PendergaSt machine in recent>yea
has split the Democrats considerably.
There remain the Shannon faction,
the independent Democrats" and
the remnants of the Pendergast fac
ton itself.
While the city has a Democratic
Mayor, its government now is on a
non-partisan basis with City Coun-
Gil and city manager.
Even Republicans hold some of the
city. jobs. Unless the Pendergast
people get busy and work with the
rest of the Democrats, it is possible
the Republicans might take this 5th
district. The. 4th district, also a
Kansas City district, is regarded as
sure to re-elect Representative Bell,
a Democrat.
Fight Faces Williams.
Representative Williams, Demo-
crat, has fight in the 9th district,
where he is opposed by w. P. Elmer,
Republican nominee. Representative
Dewey Short, Republican, in the 7th
district, will win in a walk. This is
a strongly Republican district and
has been ever since a Democratic
Legislature successfully redistricted
the State number of years ago so
as to make most of the districts safe
for Democrats. 1t placed lot of
Republican territory in the 7th dis
trict and let it go at that.
In the 9th district, represented by
Clarence Cannon, chairman of the
House Appropriations Committee,
Mr.. Cannon will have no trouble
being reelected. Nor will there be
any change in the 10th district seat,
now held by Representative Zim-
norman, Democrat.
AAC1C 4CAlAdll1 Vic Cllk &C oL. LOUIS
districts. st. Louis apparently has
swung back to the Republican fold
to large degree. One of these dis
tricts is held by Representative
Ploeser, Republican, and another
by Representative Cochran. Demo-
crat, veteran of the House. Both
are due for reelection. Mr.. Ploeser
was an arden isolationist before
Pearl Harbor. A drive was made to
defeat him for denomination, but he
won hands down.
st. Louis 18th district is good
fighting ground. 1t is represented
today by Representative Sullivan,
Democrat. Lewis F. Miller, a lawyer
and rated good campaigner, is the
Republican choice in this district,
and the Republicans confidently
predict he will take it.
1910 Trouble Plaques Party.
Much of the Democratic trouble
in St. Louis grows out of the effort
which was made after the 1910 elec-
tions to deny Gov. Donnell, Repub-
lican, his seat as chief executive of
the State. The Governor won with
a lead Of $500 votes, while President
Roosevelt carried the State by 81 1000.
The Dickman Democratic machine
IN st Louis-so-called because for
mer Mayor Bernard Dickman headed
twas attempting to grab control
OF the State. It played a leading
part in the attempt to override the
election of Gov. Donnell.
Charges flew thick and fast, that
the Democrats-and particularly the
machine-were trying to steal the
governorship. The contest was car