Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-23
SENATOR FROM KANSAS
How Lucian Baker Was Elected Martins
Successor.
The Kansas POpulists Dismayed at
the Result-AbOut the
New. Man.
sDecinl Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
TOPEKA, Kan, January 23.-Kansas has
sprung another OF her surprises by select
ing for the United States Senate man
whose name has never been openly con-
nected with it at any time In the history
of the state. A man unknown as a poll
tioian, who has never sought Office, though
office has come to him twice without So
Hcltation,in state where politicians thrive
like the native blue stem, State Senator
Lucian Baker who will now afHx United
States to his title of senator. Is a man
whom Kansas Is honored in honoring.
The fight has been a short and deter
mined one each of the avowed candidates
having his supporters and holding them
In Kansas. when a senatorial election Is
TO be the outcome, the legislature and SEN
ate are each pledged bodies, so Tar as q. a
candidate for the United States Senate Is
concerned. Having declared himself ana
his choice, a supporter has got to ABIDE ny
his declaration, until he finds beyond All
possibility of a doubt that his man can [
be elected then he goes to the support OF
the one who, in his opinion, IS the next
best man." There was some very shafp
work done in this campaign, for as every
body knows the whole election in Kansas
revoIved around the United States senator
ship. The state ticket was matter OF
small moment compared TO the SAFE eiec-
ton of members of the legislature. Inc
ing out their legislature state ticket, for
they were maddened at the thought or
losing the senatorial plum There were a
great many thousand fusion democrats le1t
in Kansas, despite the drubbing given them
by the state d5nocl attic committee, winch
declared unanimously against fusion.
How Burton Lost.
Soft was that Mr.. Burton, Mr.. Ady. Mr..
Thatcher. Mr.. Hood and Mr.. Smith came to
the republican caucus in Topeka with a
dozen or more votes each, pledged to stand
by them till demonstrated that failure was
fate Mr. Burton had more votes pledged
than any other one candidate. But he had
talked too much. AT memorial day serv-
ice in Wichita two years ago he eulogized
Jeff Davis in a remarkable flow of elo-
uuence, and spoke Slightingly of Lincoln.
In Kansas either action is reasonable,
and the old soldiers took up the matter
of his candidacy and fired protests into
the legislature so fast that they nearly
blocked business. In the caucus. Mr.. Eur
ton lost two votes on the first ballot.
That finished his chances, and his forces
began TO scatter but he held forty-siX of
his votes TIL Baker was declared the
nominee.
The New Senator.
Since a dark horse of excellent qualities
has won it is not probable that there will
be much bitterness exhibited over the re-
suit. because Mr.. Baker was not in the
race till the afternoon of the last caucus,
and then he was precipitated into it by bis
friends Before he fully realized the situa-
ton the hall was ringing with the shouts
of his friends and his calling and election
were assured. Mr.. Baker is college
graduate and man of culture He stands
high in his profession. His face is young
and his finely shaped head is covered with
prematurely gray hair. He is of medium
height and slender. He has fine forensic
powers is quick at repartee. tenacious
and rather dogmatic in debate. Being a
man of good business qualifications, he
has amasSed a fair fortune, but cannot
rank as one of the wealthy men of the
Senate. He is a man of genial and kindly
nature, and has no entangling political
affiliations or feuds
Mr.. Baker is a republican, born and bred
He is also a resubmissionist. The republi-
cans fathered the prohibitory law. and
when republican goes agin" that law
and clamors for "reSubmission" he Is usu-