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Show Hi if J HEji II I Since James H. Anderson came back from B jiff ' Washington, whither he was sojourning ostensi- HI III kly in the interests of Senator Smoot, considerable flr J 1 activity has been noted on his part in the Legisla- Hj 111 tlve balls. In this work he is receiving the warm Hgj ill ancl cor(lial co-operation of Mr. E. H. Callister. fljl ill' There is much conjecture as to just what their B J 1 I mission Is with the Legislators, but sufficient has H 'III been disclosed to indicate that they are lobbying Hi 1 I 1 f with a view of being able to name Senator Smoot's If f f successor in case, of the latter's ejectment i during the present session. The name of their choice for the place has not as yet been disolosed, , j but sufficient has been revealed to lead to an adult I conviction that Mr. Callister would not be at all I adverse to securing the prize. h I I One method by whichthey are endeavoring to H I ( entrench themselves Is by casting discredit on the H 1 j Wells administration, in order to, if possible, elim- Bj' I inate the ox-Governor as a probable successor to H I Senator Smoot. This was shown in the case of the HI I I land board affair, and in the present investigation H I I relating to an alleged deficit in the St. Louis com- B I 1 mission fund. In both instances, the investiga- j B 1 4 tion may have been well timed, but there can be B Jfl t" little question regarding who suggested the ex- flj ; mm l ploltation or of the political aspect of the invest!- HI HI I gation. jH HI I If the possible retirement of Smoot becomes a Hg HI certainty, Governor Wells would be the logical BBtl HI i candidate for the place, and it is conceded that HI ill t he already has a strong following in the Legisla- iture. The breaking down o this following, in all probability in the interests of Callister, is the real f and strenuous aim of the internal revenue collec tor and his political colleague. ' Mr. Smoot is quoted as having favorably men- tioned Callister for the place two years ago, when the hazard of Smoot's going to the Senate was first suggested, and it is known that for a number num-ber of years Mr. Callister has cherished senatorial ambition. This was known to his friends four years ago, when he was chairman of the State i Republican organization, and two years ago, had Smoot concluded to retire, he would have been an active candidate for the place. Among those to whom the scheme is known BK '" IBI1 and wll are actlvely opposed to it, there is a H, fl : strong sentiment in favor of an independent can- Hpf B I ' dldate other than Mr. Callister. They realize that jKjf H the active ork u. the cousins is injuring the ex- flflif fl '1 Governor' ncos, as he is scarcely in a position If jKjL J;iliBHBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBEBBBBBBBBBI to conduct an active campaign at present, or otherwise counteract the adverse inroads now being be-ing made. Whatever the outcome may be, the present lobbying lob-bying on the part of the twain indicates that they have a wholesome fear that the Senator's seat is untenable. Further, it would seem to show that the campaigning favorable to Mr. Callister is part of a compact and programme formulated at the time of Senator Smoot's election. |