The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-01
DEATH CLAIMS HIM
MAJOR LAWRENCE RESIGNED HIS
SOUL TO HEAVEN YESTERDAY.
Possible Com plications Over the
Question of His Successor-There
Being no Actual Vacancy the Gov
ernor May Not Order Special
Election-Sherifr May Call One,

Yesterday morning the spirit of Major
L. ~. Lawrence took its fight from earth,
after lingering illness OF three months.
His death, while expected for some time,
was quite surprise to his friends, who
unde that he was beginning to feel
better
His funeral will take place Sunday at
$50 D. m. from The house and will be in
charge of Garfield post, Grand Army OF
the Republic. Major Lawrence. in life.
was highly endowed with those twin ele-
ments Of sterling manhood and good citi-
Zenship. honesty and patriotism. He
lived here in Wichita for years and his
life Is an open book in which there is 10
record that he ever deviated from a pure,
upright, righteous life before his God and
his fellow citiz.us. When his country
was In peril; when disloyalty was stalking
over the fairest portion OF 1t, be, with the
other brave men of his community, went
to the front in defense of its unity and
during the long period OF conflict he re-
NAMED at the front ana never wavered.
Mr.. Lawrence was a man of abIlity, but
being a man of modesty he never advanced
much in public affairs. His sole desire in
life seemed to be good citizen, although
he has always had an ambition TO serve
the people. Having keen Intellect and
an honest heart he realized that many il
not most of the laws were made in favor
or tue strong and against the Weak, and
this knowledge Is what fired him with
the mbitiOu to be legislator. Last
summer the time was ripe for such
men to get TO the front. The Republics
party. true to its history and IradIt ons
buckled on It's armor to make n crusade
against corruption il public otlic- aud
with its determination 10 turn the rascals
out aud put honest capable men in their
places. Mr.. Lawrence WAS II logical can
didate at such a time and he Wa, nomiua-
ted at the convention by handsome ma
Jorlty. y few days after he took u his
beu aud was not able TO make a campaign.
The conscience OF the people was aroused
and at the polls, without the least per
sonal effort on MS part. he was triumph
antly elected. He had attained his ambi-
ton. but it WAS not willed that he should
enter the legislature and one noah be-
fore that event would have arrived he was
stricken down.
His death leaves things in a peculiar
shape, and If the relative strength of the
parties In the next house was closer some
line and intricate que-tlonS would un-
doubtediy come up relating to his success
sor aud how he could be cno,en. The
law says that when a vacancy occurs
the governor shall notify the sheriff OF
tue county to call special election
within fifteen days after said notifica-
ton. Now the question is asked, as
there a vacancy?" Clearly there Is not,
for the term of Mr. Ruble does not expire
until January 5. Another question hat
is asked: "Ctn Governor L=welling noti-
fy the sheriff To call an election for IA
prospective vacancy" There will be a
vacancy, Of course, az the end OF Mr..
Ruble's term on January 5, aud upon
that date AN election could be
called.
a. J. Henly said last night that he was
familiar with the law and that he was
Sd Listed hat an election could be called 70
iii vacancy that would exist ut a time
certain, although it did not exist at the
time of calling the election TO ill said
vacancy. He said that any sensible court
would interpret the law in that way. He
said that In case the governor refused TO
notify the sheriff 10 call IN election until
such time as an actual vacancy should
exist because of the techDcaiity of the
law, that he sheriff mi ght call the election
himself, and that the result would be rati
fed by the next house of representatives,
which will be the sole judge OF its own
members
another important point arises and it is
this, suppose Governor Lewelllug should
order tue election TO he called on "A date
between the 1sU of January, and the S-h
day of the same month. which date Is The
expiration OF Mr.. Rubles term, further
complications would ensue. The voters OF
W icuiIa would be com 0leJely defranchised
and the country voters would probably
elect "a Popuist TO the office. Every regis
trition year ends on the 3lst day of De-
cember and as voters, in cities OF tn first
class must be registered ten days before
the day of election, II would be i'm possible,
seemingly, under the law, to have "a vote
taken in the city before January IL.
Some Popuis,s think thar the best way
To unr4vel the situation would be for Mr.
Ruble to resign at once and thus cause an
actual vacancy.