Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-25
IN FAVOR OF LEWELLING
The Populist Governor of Kansas to Be
Renominated.
Disagreement Among the Democrat
HOnOrs Among the Republicans.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
TOPEKA, Kansas, April q, 1894.
Every week brings new changes In the
political situation in Kansas. Reference is
made especially to the populist and demo-
cratic parties. There has been change
of sentiment in favor of the denomination
of Governor Lewelling among the rank and
file Of the populists during the past two
weeks. The populist state central commit
tee will call its convention for the latter
part of May, and that means the renomi-
nation of Governor Lewelling and the en-
tire state ticket.
Not all of the fusion democrats are in
favor of indorsing such a ticket. 1t is the
belief Of well-advised democrats that one
third of those who voted for the populist
state ticket in 1892 could not be induced to
support Lewelling this year. They would
be willing, however, to vote for Congress-
man Harris or Ex-Governor Robinson. who
have been lifelong democrats.
The latest political gossip is to the effect
that the regular or fusion convention will
take no action but adjourn without either
putting a ticket in the field or indorsing
the populists. Senator Martin, United
States Marshal Nicely, Chairman Jones,
John A. Eaton and other democrats are
said to be in favor of this plan. and the
populist leaders are in hearty accord with
them.
1t is believed that IL there be no regular
democratic ticket in the field all the fusion
democrats will support the populist ticket,
leaving the stalwart democratic ticket to
be voted for by such democrats as would
vote the republican ticket IL they had no
ticket Of their own in the field.
1t Is evident that the advocates of a
straight democratic ticket have changed
their plans. They are going to work on
the assumption, they say, that the call for
a convention July was made by the regu-
lar committee in good faith, and that 1t is
the purpose of the democrats who attend
that convention to place in nomination q
full state ticket. If, they say, ii shall be
ascertained that Senator Martin, Marshal
Nicely and others have packed the conven-
ton with fusionists there will be enough
democrats to walk out and nominate a
straight ticket.
The fusion democrats say they are in
business in Kansas to defeat the republican
party, and that any policy which will
divide the opposition and allow the repub-
licans to win is not In the interest of de-
mocracy. They have never intimated that
they were in sympathy with the populists.
but they believe 1t good politics to join with
them. II 1t be necessary, to accomplish the
defeat of their ancient enemy.
Until recently the republicans seemed to
have no troubles in their ranks, and were
watching the movements Of the opposition.
MAJOR Morrll appeared TO nave IL all his
own way for the governorship nomination,
but since E. w. Hoch announced himself a
candidate 1t has created a great deal of I'M
rest in the camp, and a big fight in the
convention will follow.
Hoch is a member Of the legislature, and
is speaker pro tenn. of that body. He was
the leader of the republican house on the
floor during the late legislative war, and on
that account has a large following among
the men who served as assistant sergeant
alarms and deputy sheriff, and their name
was legion. When Speaker Douglass made
| the first blow at the doors of representa-
tive hall, Hoch stood by his side and
grabbed the sledge hammer and assisted in
breaking in the panels and smashing the
locks. The sledge hammer enthusiasts are
pretty thick among the republicans, and il
is difficult to tell just how much strength
this element will develop in the convention
Speaker Douglass is also a candidate for
Congressman-atlarge. If he and Hoch poo
their issues they may make 1t interesting
for the other candidates.