The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-25
With Dissension Over Harris
and Lewelling For Governor.
The Biggest Element of the
Party With Breidenthal
Are for Harris, but the Other Fellows
Are Up to Ways That May Make
Trouble.

The Populists are having as much
If not more trouble just now than the
Republicans. Colonel W. A. Harris
says he viii not take the nomination
for governor if he has to make a fight
for it; that he would rather stay out
Of the race than to do this, and that
he viii do anything to prevent dis
cord and dissension in the party John
Breidenthal declares that Colonel Har-
ris must take the nomination, fight or
no fight, while the other fellows, the
kickers, the opponents OF Breidenthal
and the old associates of Lewelhng, are
trying their utmost to force the eX-goV-
ernor upon the party for second
term.
If anyone imagines for a minute that
smooth work is not going on in favor
of LeWellIng, that person is not We'll
posted on the situation. There are few
smoother workers in the POpulist or
any other party, than Coal Oil' Iay-
Tor Of Wichita Colonel Coal Or was
inspector Of that article under Level
ling, and all on earth LeWellling ever
gave him the job for was because of
has ''smoOthnessH and his value in cam
paigns- LeWeinng cOnhded this to one
of the leading Populists of the state
at the time he made the appointment.
Taylor was a politician of the prac-
teal kind in Kansas as Ions ago as
1865 He has been located in and
around Wichita all his political life and
has held mum Der of offices by and
through L1AE 51aAle OIL LLle ElEIl0D4tdtL
party About the time LeWelllng was
inaugurated governor he experienced
a change of political faith and landed
squarely in the POpulist fOld-appar-
/ entity for office. Now he is travelling
around the state doing all he can for
his fellow tOWnsman. who befriended
I him with one of the latest Offices in
/ the gift of the governor. and one that
/ has always left a faint upon every one
who ever filled it,
Then there is Snider, S. II. Snider of
/ Kansas City Kan Snider. the ex-
/ insurance commissioner and erstWhile
standing candidate for the Pop guber-
I Material nomination himself, is scarce
! less busy than Taylor to bring about
4 the nomination Of his old chief. Then
! there are others Van Prather. RUFF
/ Gone and COstigan, head of the Snow
/ factlOn in Bob Semple's town.
/ The best elements of the party insist
] upon the nomination of Harris They
/ say he is the cleanest, the best the
/ most available man in the whole Pop
! Uilsr party OF this state, and that he
I is entitled to the nomination because
! OF his qualifications. Breidenthal is
I doing all he can for Harris and this
means good deal TO the Linwood ex-
I congressman. Whatever BreidenthaI
says generally goes in the party.
Secretary Bob Semple of the state
I cantral committee predicts the nouaina-
/ ton of harris at Abilene just as Ger
tainly az the 9Th day of August shall
/ come, and all who affiliate with the
E5reldenthal-Sem crowd agree with
him. Eut there are those who are
| predicting Just as Sanguinely that Lew
elling viii be the nominee. and not only
the Populist nominee, but viii have the
Endorsement of the Democrats. That
is precisely what the Republicans are
hoping for. because they believe that
Leweling is the easiest Populist to
( beat this year.
There may be fun ahead for the Re
! puDllcans, but there certainly is for
the Populists as well, for they have
troubles of their own