The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-13
There Was Storm Brewing For
the Handwriting Secretary
Of the Republican State Central
Committee,
BUT HE WEATHERED
Through 1t With Cy Leland's
Assistance.
J. n. Simpson Made Chairman
of the Committee.

In1S IS a hard year for harmony IN
central committees. The PopuIists
started a row in their convention over
the craftsmanship of the state central
committee and the storm after making
several revolutions around the conven-
ton hall at Abilene on Friday morn
ing, transferred its center to the meet
ing of the committee at Topeka on the
following Tuesday, and resulted not in
the defeat of the former chairman but
in twisting off the head of the secre-
tary.
The Republican central committee
met yesterday morning and effected
temporary organization and then ad-
jOurned till in the evening to await
the recommendation of the candidates
as to who should be elected officers.
When the committee met they found
the candidates had recommended J.
M. Simpson for chairman, he was
promptly elected.
The officers were disposed to recon-
mend Mort Albaugh for secretary, but
Albaugh refused to have the place so
the committee could not elect him and
a further adjournment was taken till
10 o'clock last evening.
The candidates had meeting that
lasted two hours last night and they
had lively time of it and finally end
GU Oy RECOMMENDING the present Secr6-
tary, J. L. Bristow by vote of four to
three. Those present were Governor
Morrill,, R. w. Blue. H. E. Richter, w
c. Edwards, F. B. Dawes, Superintend-
ent Stanley and Auditor Cole
Governor Morrill, did not vote. If it
had been necessary he would have vo-
ted for Bristow. Those favoring Bris-
tow were Blue, Richter, Carver, and
Cole, while those that voted against
him were Edwards, Dawes and Stan
ley. It is rumored that Atherton was
to have been present and voted with
the minority, but Mr.. AthertOn was
not present; he says that he made
promise over a week ago to help with
the parade that took place last even
ing and that it kept him from attend
ing the meeting as he always keeps his
promises.
The reason which those opposed to
Mr.. Bristow gave for their votes was
that it would take the entire time of a
man to do the work and that they did
not think that a man ought to do the
work and at the same time draw pay
from the state as the secretary of the
governor. Those that favored the cleo
tiOn of BristOw claimed that he was the
man best suited for the place and that
he now had the work better in hand
than it would be possible for anyone
else in the state to take it up and be-
come familiar with the situation dur
ing the entire campaign While the
reasons given by those opposed to Bris-
tow may seem plausible on their ia ce they
are not the real ones. The reason that
some of the candidates there did not
want BriStoW is that they think that
he is not very good mixer and that
when a local boss comes to town he
does not get out and show him the
town in the manner that some of the
politicians say the job ought to be
done. With others it is a personal mat
ter.
One state house official suggested this
inc toll
with a friend, that some one else ought
to have been chosen and said:
'"They talk about no one else being
able to do the work; why we would
have the benefit of Joe's experience and
I think we really ought to start some
one in and let him learn the thing in
the interest of the party, before Bris-
tow dies, Joe will die some time and
then what an awful fix the party will
be in
Cy Leland used his influence in favor
of Bristow. It is reported that Blue
said that Cy threatened that the COM
mittee would be cut off short without
cent of the campaign fund if they did
not harken unto him and recommend
BristOw. Mr.. Leland Indignantly denies
any such assertion and adds:
I never made any such statement or
thought any such thought and if you
hear of any one saying that 1 made
such a statement you go and ask them
and they will tell you that I did not"
The recommendation was finally made
to the committee and when the vote
was taken on it there We're three votes
against ratifying the choice of the can
didates. w. E. Sterne of Topeka Fred
Trigg of Reno county and another mem
Der whose name could not be learned
casting the votes.
J. NJ. Simpson, Cy Leland and w E
Sterne are today talking matters over
with the various candidates and will
name the members of the executive
committee sometime this afternoon or
tomorrow.