Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-20
All Want to Come to the Senate From
Kansas,
PETER WANTS 10 SUCCEED HIMSELF
The Other Aspirants Are All Work
ing for the Place. "a
BREIDENTHAL'S CHANCES
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

ton when the new Congress convenes, and
1t Is possible that the familiar face and
beard Of United States Senator PETER may
disappear from Pennsylvania avenue after
the fourth of next March. There are a
number Of aspiring populists In Kansas
who want his job. Whether the fierce con-
test that will soon be on for this desirable
plum will tend to strengthen PETERS
chances. cannot now be conjectured. With
a half dozen other candidates in the field,
PETER may secure a reelection easily, but
If they finally concentrate on the strongest
nan. Mr.. PETER will return to Topeka and
colt his populist newspaper. The express
ed desire on the part of the friends of sew
eral of the opposing candidates is that
Senator PETER can best serve Lis party in
the capacity of an editor. The populist
leaders who have borne the brunt of bat
tie In the various contests in Kansas are
aware of the feeling among republicans
that PETER would be the best man for
the republicans" Although the republicans
have nothing to do with the selection of the
reXt Senator, they nevertheless have
choice as between evils. Ind it is but natu-
lal that they should desire to choose the
let st. This explains the republican senti-
ment for Senator PETERS return.
Six Other Candidates.
Up to date. there are six other candi-
dates. five of whom are actively at work
anerg the new members and state sena-
tors soliciting votes. The election had not
passed a week before they started out in
quest of the statesmen who have been
chosen to make laws for Kansas. Some
went to the short grass" country out in
western Kansas, where the game is thick
est, while others invaded the more popu-'
ious districts in the eastern section. A
Few days ago Ex-Governor Lewelling ran
into Topeka to change shirts, but he was
out again before nightfall hunting up the
farmer members. to whom he discourses on
the butter and egg market, and incidentally
the protection that should be thrown
around the Kansas COW and the American
hen. Lewelling Is engaged in the butter
and egg business at Wichita, and when he
drives up to farm house and unhitches
Tor the night. If that particular farmer
haIpens to be member of the legislature
ex-governor IL a good mixer besides he
would stand by the Wichita commission
inercnart When the vote setaken in joint
convention for United States Senator The
ex- governor is good mixer, besides he
mas an advantage by being on the inside
he was elected to the state senate from
Sedsw1ck county. He would like to initiate
the effectual work done by Senator Baker.
When that gentleman was chosen to the
United States Senate he was q member of
the state senate, and, Of course in the
various caucuses, he managed to be on the
compromise list when it was discovered
mat the other candidates could not sue,
coed. If Lewelling is as successful as
Baker was, he may win the prize.
EX-COnxressman Harris. .5s',- 81
Lewelling will not have any advantage
over ex-Congressman Harris however
Harris Is a candidate for the Senate, and.
like Lewelling, he is a member Of the new
state senate, and, strange to say, he halls
from Senator Bakers county-Lsayen-
worth. He watched Bakers career and he
tn fvr-
harris is farmer, and is identified closely
with the agricultural element in the state
de IS strong man. The interest that will
attach to the many senatorial conferences
win Lewelling and Harris, both on The in
side. Is a subject for discussion anon. the
friends Of PETER and other candidates y. no.
must stand outside the breastworKs until
the planning and scheming is ended f,-.o ;
Kansas may send a laundryman to The
United States Senate. The seventh distri1t
picked up Jerry Simpson when lie was
town marshal of Medicine Lodge, at a saia-
~ OF $fo per month, and made Congress
man out of him. Why rot take d laundry
man for PETERS place. say some of the
leaders? They argue that such scie6t ton
would forever put quietus on the Te;rib-
hcan contingent that insinuate tirnt I he
popullst party has no use for the laundry
or the bath tub. Mr. George M Munger Is
the laundryman. who is just, DOW receiving
much attention. and it is stated that he is
able to shine in Washinetons .tfour hun,
dred'' set. Mr.. Munger lives ON a big ranch
IN Greenwood county. and is surrounded
by every comfort that man could Wjsn lie
Is rich, and, it is said, will not hesitate to
use some of his money in the preliminary
campaign for the United States senator
ship. This announcement has greatly
stimulated railroad travel to. Green wood
county. Munger made all his fortune in
the laundry business in Chicago. His ;iaun-
dries are scattered all over that city. Mr..
Munger has not been in the pop,,list move
ment long, but he thinks his probation has
been served, and is now ready to enter
upon the duties of United States Senator
for six years.
Ex-COnsul Little.
The free silver republican contingent that
tolted the party in Kansas carried enough
votes with it to win this state for the
fusionsts That fact is proven by the re-
turns. If the 1000 republicans who would
Lot accept tie gold standard declaration
had remained with the party, Kansas would
have given it's electoral vote for Mckinley,
elected the entire republican state ticket
six republican Congressman instead of two,
a republican legislature on joint ballot,
which would have insured a republican
United States Senator to succeed PETER. A
change of 1900 votes reversed all this and
gave to the populists the entire control Of
the executive, legislative and judicial
branches of the state government. Now the
free silver republican element wants to
know what there is in this victory for
them. They not only expect several of the
best places under the state government but
they have candidate for United States
Senator in the person of E. c. Little, ex-
consul to Egypt under President Harrison
Little made play for the nomination for
Congressman-at-large at the populist state
convention, and in his speech said he ac-
cepted all the doctrines of the populist
party. He thus burned the republican
bridges behind him, and his opponents
argue now that ne is entitled to considera-
ton only as populist, and that he has no
claim on the free silver republican element
who are figuring for places under Governor
elect Leedy. In fact, the other free silver
republican leaders feel that Little's candi-
dacy on the grounds Of the bolt from the
gold standard will injure their chances for
state jobs, and they intend to make him
stay in the populist camp, where he chose
to go when he asked for the nomination for
Congress.
When the republicans renominated Con-
gresham Curtis last March the Opposition
In the fourth district looked about for n
candidate who would be willing to be led to
the slaughter. They knew 1t would be inn
possible to defeat Curtis, but the effort ha Il
to be made and John Madden, a bright
young lawyer at Emporia, offered to make
the race. Curtis had been in the habit ~
carrying his district by 1900 majority. and
Of course, there was no hope of materially
reducing 1t. However, Madden undertooi
the task, and to the Surprise Of everybody
Curtis majority was reduced to 400 This
great race at once gave Madden a boom
tod Gf,to1 fnr