The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-21
A LANDSLIDE.
The Beacon" Triumvirate Badly Demora!-
lied by the Amidon Forces.
Oae of the Most Bitter Primary Fights in
the History of the City-There Was
Good Deal Of Bad Blood
Manifested

Democratic primary last Night 10 elece
delegates TO the Fusion Democratic con-
vention.
The old order of things was upset and
the old Democratic leaders struck to earth
by a crushing blow.
Sam Amidon is now king. He led last
nights fight, and when the tidings came
in that what is known as the Beacon
outfit" failed to elect Il full delegation IN
any ward in the city, he was Il great hero.
Captain Osborne WAS the next in rank,
and the night was made hideous with
the shouts of their victorious
followers. Yesterday morning the
EAGLE gave full account of the inside
workings of the Fusion Democracy, and
every prophecy made was fulfilled last
night.
The fight was made for the organization
of the committee During the past two
years Tom Fitch, Frank Smith and j. 5.
Richardson have controlled the Demo-
cratic party. This is what the Amidon
group says. They, by virtue of their posi-
ton, controlled the Fusion Democratic
committee, and dictated everything to be
done. Cleveland was elected and they,
of course, thought that the Fusion
Democrats wonld get the offices, not
regarding the claims of the Staiwarts
at all. On the supposition that Cleveland
would give fusion Democrats the offices,
they went about naming those who should
have the plums aud got their county COM
mittee to indorse them. A man was
picked out and endorsed for every post
office in the county, and of course this
made them from six to eight enemies for
every one friend. Frank Smith was in
dorsed for the Wichita postoffice, but
shortly afterwards his health failed him
and his friends advised him to give up the
race and rest himself He listened TO them
and while he has not announced himself
off the track it seems to be well known
that he has practically declined in favor
of Tom Fitch. This made the other can
didates for the postof1ice hot and they
combined to burst up the arrangements.
They carried the matter before Senator
Martin thinking that he had the patron
age of the state, but John Martin had not.
He was too sly, however, to tell them so
and in order to gain time he referred them
back TO the fusion Democrats of Sedgwick
county and said that he would recommend
candidates for postoffice appoint
ment that would be recommended
to him by the new county
committee that will be elected next
Saturday. This gave the candidates who
had not The improvement of the old county
committee fighting show and they I'M
mediately went to work fighting for the
election of a new committee. Thus two
factions were made. One of the factions
was called 1.-The ring" and the other fac
ton "the kickers." Yesterday, however,
the names were entirely changed and last
night it was the Beacon ticket" and the
"Amidon ticket" Last fall Sam Amidon
went into the Fusion convention as
candidate for the nomination for
county attorney, with ten votes
more than enough to nominate
him After three or four ballots he was
defeated. He then Investigated to ascer-
tain the cause of his defeat and he traced
it to the fellows whom he fought so
valiantly against last night. From that
day till this be has been whetting a knife
to avenge himself. The opposition to the
old committee knew this and il WAS very
natural that they should make him their
leader. That they made good choice
from their standpoint is evidenced by the
fact that his ticket carried four wards
complete out of the six and scattering
delegates in the two others. His faction Will
90 into the convention with about % votes
from the city to about twentysix for the
Others.
BEFORE THE BATTLE.
Yesterday was d busy day around Sam
Amidon's Office. Anti-ringsters were go
ing I'D and down stairs all day aud they
were suspiciously silent. It was next TO
impossible. however, to get any lnforma-
from them in reference to the plans for
the fight. Sam, himself, was tue
first man TO open his mouth
He made one of his characteristic re-
marks about what he would DO with his
enemies, and from that moment on the
EAGLE man watched matters.
THE BATTLE.
Judge McCandless was the first man at
Cooper's barn, where the First ward pri-
maries were to be held. He was polishing
his spectaoles with handkerchief when
the EAGLE reporter saw him, ard While lie
looked as cool as the proverbial cucumber,
il was easy TO see that he was preparing
for "A hot time. Ten minutes after Sam
Amidon WAS standing beside him with
blood in his eye, and pretty soon after
wards Colonel HUttmanu hove in sight.
John Farrell arrived a little later, and
when the court house clock struck
Z. the fight commenced. The Beacon
ticket was headed by John Farrell with
Colonel Huffman next, while the Amldon
ticket, was headed 10y Amidon himself. From
that hour till the clock struck 9. the fight
was hot aud when the votes were counted
it was found that the Amidon ticket
bad received 80 votes to IS for the
Farrell ticket. Willard Boone, was
fighting hard against the Amidon ticket.
aud he sent eight men, with whom he had
a pull. to the First ward to vote. Amidon
spotted them. and while Willard was
driving off after more votes, the eight
men cast their ballots for the Amidon
ticket
THE SECOND WARD.
This is the home of Tom Fitch aud his
pet Harry Stewart. 1t would be In
iudicious for Amidon's forces to make an
omen fight in this ward so they arranged
quietly to stuff the ticket with their men,
and they count on having four or i've men
sure on that ticket.
IN THE THIRD WARD.
The Amidou ticket WAS elected unani
mously in this ward. or practically SO.
The fight of the ring" was made through
Willard Boone. and the ring" was de-
feated by s. TO -.
Willard Boone, it is alleged, made the
statement that he would spend 500 to de-
feat Captain Irving Osborne. who was the
leader of the forces in this ward. This
made Captain Osborne hot and be threw