The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-09
EAST SIDE WON TT
QUBER FIGHT AT CHANUTR, KAN
SAS. ENDED ON ELECTION DAY.

Railroad Divides the Town Into Halves and
the Dear People Resolved to Have a
Feud and Had 1t, the East siders Think
ing the West siders Contemplate and
Vice Versa-After a Hard Fight fol-
Mayor, Necessitated by a Resignation
the East Side Comes Out Winner-Tht
Ladies Take Hand.
Topeka, Kan, April S.-ProbaDly
the most curious election in Kansas
Tuesday was that held in Chanute. Il
was a fight for mayor between the
East Side and West Side, feudal ar
Management in the little town which is
gery bitter. The East Side won. The
election resulted in John c. Biles being
elected mayor over John Heller by a
majority of PA. H. E. Coulter, Warner
Peterson, C. A Griffen, Sam Tyffe and
&. A. Mcconnell were elected council
men, and Mrs. Frank Haredsty, Virgil
Wilson, Mrs. ". W. Henry and II. A
Mcconnell were elected for the board
Of education. The election was madi
more interesting by the candidacy OF
two prominent society women, both OF
whom were successful.
The election of a mayor was made
necessary by the resigna ton of DR.
George H. Brown, who was filling his
third term, on March z. the doctor Is
4 cripple, and enjoys a profitable prac-
lice, which, combined with almost con-
nnuous Ill health, interfered more OF
Tess with the duties of his Office, and
made resignation almost imperative
Such was the sum and substance of his
statement to the council. But, in other
circles, 1t is stated that he was not al
together satisfied with the manage
ment of city affairs, and could moi
sanction some of the arrangements
made by other officials in power. He
WAS, in one sense, at the time of his
election, the candidate of the prohibi-
ton element, and during his term OF
office used every method to secure en-
sorcement of the prohibition law. In
spite of this joints f1ouriShed, and paid
license in the way of fines to the city
Receiving on one hand abuse from the
whisky elem emit, on the other censure
from his supporters, and meeting with
no encoura cement from the council as
whole, dhe office lost its charm. How
over, through his strenuous efforts, tbs
county attorney took hand and closed
all the places. A week later the mayor S
resignation was on file, and he had
washed his hands of the whole affair.
The difficulty Of securing a satisfac-
tory candidate to fill the vacancy was
overcome by the unanimous selection
Of Thomas Inman, councilman from the
Second ward and acting mayor Of the
city. At a caucus composed Of several
hundred representative voters Mr.. In
man received the unanimous nominal
ton. Two days later the Tribune con-
tanned a letter from Mr.. Inman, posi-
lively declining the honor and with
drawing from the race, but assigning
no reason for his action. 1t has leaked
put since. however, that the Santa Fe
had something to do with 1t. Mr.. In
man is roadmaster Of this division, and
the company made it plain to him
through the division superintendent
that he could not serve two masters.
Current report says that the superin-
teadent cited him the case Of a Santa
Fee station agent at Newton whose
course while mayor, was intensely an
tagonistic to the best interests of the
Santa Fe, and whose resignation as
agent was demanded. The superinten-
DENTS little talk was more in the shape
of advice, but it had the desired effect
In the meantime another candidate
In the person of John Biles, had been
brought out and nominated by petit
ton.
Mr.. Biles is a farmer living just in
side the limits. and has held tine Office
Of constable for the city for years.
Later another man entered the race,
ErTN.
also nominated by petition. The may
or's office simmered down to an East
and West Side fight. Biles on the East
Side and Heller on the West. From the
time Chanute was first mapped out,
there has extended a deep feeling be-
tween the two sides. The railroad di-
vid)as them, and whatever one proposes
the other objects to. In this case it was
the same old strife.
John Heller is a character. He has
been a familiar figure in Chanute for
many a day. Tall, and of command
fig presence. his overcoat buttoned
tight; grasping firmly heavy cane and
walking with a slow, dignified air, he
impresses one very favorably. Former
~ in the real estate business, he has
accumulated a sufficient competence
for a desirable income, and is now en-
joying life He Is a good parliament
t3rin, and a careful business man.
OVERMYER DENIES IT.
Topeka Kan, April S.-Last night an
evening paper here published a scare
head article which assumed to give the
opinions of Hon. David Overmyer upon
the question of usion between the Dem
ocrfats and Populists at the coming
state election. Mr.. Overmyer was quot
ed as saying that he was willing to fuse
if the Democrats received one place on
the state ticket. To the corresp Ondent
this morning Mr.. Overmyer said there
was absolutely no truth in the state
ment- He had never made such a
proposition TO anyone and entertained
no such views.
Mr.. Overmyer has always been OPP
posed to the fusion idea He says that
the only way TO reorganiZe the Demo-
cratic party in Kansas rs 10 run a
straight ticket To the reporter he in
dicated that he would oppose every
proposition 10 fuse which did not pre-
serve the integrity Of the party. By
this Mr.. Overmyer means that under
certain contingencies he might be in
favor OF making 4 combination which
would give rhe Democrats all OF the
ptate ticket IN exchange for support 10
the Populist congressman and national
ticket The Populsrs have no state
policy" says Mr.. Overmyer. "exCeDt 10
get the offices. They do claim 10 have
4 national policy, and if they are in