Wichita eagle., 1888-07-25
snec,al disnatch to the Daily Eagle.

winds.
Special dispatch to the Daily Eagle.
TOPEKA, Kan, July 24-The state CAPT
tai is alive tonight with the active Repub-
licans of Kansas, as she never was before
on the eve of a state convention. All OF
the hotels are crowded to their utmost
capacity Big fat men and little scrawney
ones are doubled up in single beds. Cots
are scattered about in all conceivable ways.
During meal times hungry men stand in
line and peer through the dining room
doors. Surging masses jostle each other
in corridors. The headquarters of the varl-
GUS caIiidates are constantly thronged by
their anxious friends and adherents. Each
candidate is in constant whispered con-
sultation with trusted lieutenant, or is
being introduced to some new or desired
acquisition to his strength.
This was the scene tonight inside of the
hotels.
The scenes on the streets were no less
animated. Bands played in front of the
hotels or paraded the streets, and at the
close of each selection the crowd would
give three cheers for the candidate in
whose interest the band played.
A little incident out of the usual order
occurred tonight. Farmer Smith is max
ing the Windsor hotel his headquarters.
He also has two Mcpherson bands here.
AS one of the bands was playing in front OF
the Windsor along came the Montgomery
and Cherokee county Humphrey contin-
gents. who waited until the band had fin
lshed and the Smith crowd gave three
cheers for their man. The Humphrey men
then gave three rousing cheers for Hum
phrevfand moved on to their own hotel,
the Copeland. At this house Humphrey
and most of the candidates, but Smith are
making headquarters The friends of
Humphrey called him out on the balcony
tonight and insisted upon speech which
he gave them briefly. Loud and unavail-
ing calls were made for Anthony and the
others,
The Wellington Plumed Knight Glee
club is out on Kansas avenue tonight
entertaining large and appreciative
crowd with good campaign songs.
All day and tonight all sorts of estimates
have been furnished as to the relative
strength of the several candidates for gov
ernor which is the all absorbing topic of
Interest The asDirants for the other
places have their active workers, but not
much is talked of except governor. Messrs.
Humphrey and Smith are admitted to be
the strongest candidates. That is they
will lead on the first ballot. One or two
enthusiastic Smith men told the EAGLES
representative tonight that Smith would
be nominated on the first ballot, but they
were possibly too exuberant. Humphrey
III f,t, 11t., IS
delegates after they have discharged obi
cations to others. About the Windsor the
talk is that Smith will win, while about
the Copeland, Humphrey is looked upon
as a sure one. Probably as good an indI
Gator of the strength OF the leading candi-
dates as against the field was held this
afternoon, when Lew Finch, OF Usage
county, who is 4 Bradford man but not
bad against any other candidate, was
selected for temporary chairman, the field
polling twenty more votes than the two
favorites. Ii is further stated that Hum
phrey acquiesced to Finch's selection. but
that Smiths friends felt hurt about
it. The sergeant-at-arms will be 5. ..
Mcdowell. the one armed veteran
sergeant-at-arms, from Cherokee county
Senator John Kelly, OF Sedgwick, as mem
Der of the state central committee, has the
distribution of tickets.
The convention will be called to order
tomorrow at noon. The strength of the
two leading candidates, Farmer Smith
and Humphrey, is stated differently by
differently inclined authorities. Hum
phrey ranges from 125 on the first ballot.
while Farmer Smiths strength is quoted
at from So to 10. The other candidates
are averaged about as follows: D. Il. An
thony, thirty to forty; Green, fifteen: Case,
forty-fiye to fifty-five: johnson. thirty:
Taylor, twenty to twenty-five; Bradford
thirty, and Murdoch twenty to twenty
five. The whole number of delegates be-
ing AIS, necessary TO choice 2lO
Should the fight be prolonged 10 the fifth
or sixth ballot it will he hard to tell
who will be the successful candidate. The
Sedgwick county representatives are here
in good numbers and expect TO be strength
ened tomorrow morning by the arrival of
many more. They are not making any
aggressive movements but are on good
terms with every body. They are making
no attempt at show, but simply have n
room on the first floor of the Copeland
which is open to any and every one The
Is no opposition at all TO Jim Hamil of
Sumner county. for treasurer, nor is ere
any to Tim Mccarthy, of Pawnee, for
auditor
The weatheris cool and pleasant, caused
by refreshing showers during the day
Everybody is working hard but quietly
tonight. Just what may develop after
the first ballot is something which every
fellow would like to find out.