A candidate for the Missouri House has made an initial court appearance on a federal drug charge accusing him of trying to plant cocaine and Adderall on his Republican primary opponent. Thomas Ross, of Joplin, appeared in court Thursday on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He's accused of asking a campaign manager to plant cocaine and a prescription pill on his opponent, Louise Secker, before the Aug. 4 primary, which Ross narrowly won. Missouri's Republican Party chairman, Peter Kinder, has urged Ross to drop out of the general election race. Ross didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.