The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1896-03-12
THE aASTERLY FIGHT OF NIKE
SUTTON AT WICHITA.

At the congressional convention held
at wichita on Monday, h. j. Bone, Of
Clark county, and Frank Vincent. OF
Reno. were elected delegates to the re-
publican national convention at st.
Louis. This result was effected by a
combination entered into by Bone, Vim
cent and r. p. McCulloch of Harper
county, who did the bidding of Cyrus
Leland and the State administration In
forming this combination. Mr.. Sutton
took the position early in the fight that
if he went as delegate to the st. Louis
convention from this district, he would
90 without sacrificing his manhood, NOT
owned or controlled bv anybody, and
submitting to the desires of none except
the people of this congressional district
supporter of Mckinley for President,
and that in the matter Of national COM
mitteeman he was willing that the con-
Mr.. Sutton was known to be strong
vention should instruct the delegates
from the district as to who was the
choice of tina people, and he made II
clear that their choice would receive his
hearty support. 1t appears that Mr..
Leland was not satisfied with this, and
proposed to dictate the selection of Mr..
Bone, of Clark county, as delegate from
the western part of the district.
1t was conceded prior to and during
the fight that the western part of the
district should have one of the delegates.
Three-fourths of the western delegates
present at Wichita were earnestly de-
mandiug the election of Mr.. Sutton, and
protesting against the selection being
made or dictated by man who does not
reside in the district, assisted by those
living in the eastern portion of it. Their
wishes, however, were disregarded, and
Mr.. Leland, who it was conceded would
be elected national committeeman. and
who to a large extent would control the
federal patronage of the state, combined
with the state administration, which con-
trolls the state patronage, to defeat SUIT
ton and override the will of the delegates
from the western portion of the district.
The counties in the eastern portion Of
the district, by the terms of the combina-
ton, were to cast their votes for Mr..
Bone and Mr.. Vincent, and NJ. NJ. MUIR
dock of the Wichita Eagle. and c. A.
Swcnsson. a professor of Lindsborg Col
lege in Mcpherson county, were to re-
ceive the support of the combine for del
egates- at-large in the convention on
Tuesday.
In order to effect this combination
and to conciliate Murdoch and his
friends who had been at war with the
state administration because of its APP
narent endeavor to enforce the prolibito-
nv LIQUOR law in Wichita, the policy OF
the administration as to the enforcement
of this law in that city was reversed,
and ON Saturday S. L. Leurancc, the
strongest member of the police commits
sion and the man who was leading the
fight in the enforcement of the law, was
by Gov. Morrill,, and Oscar
Smith. an advocate of open saloons, was
appointed in his stead. The connection
of the state administration in this hight
is the generally expressed opinion OF
Mr.. Sutton's friends.
Notwithstanding this strong comoina~
ton, the friends Of Sutton entered the
fight earnestly and vigorously, and
deemed it greater honor to 60 down III
defeat with Sutton against the unhOly
alliance than win with it.
The western men rallied around Sui
ton like heroes and stood with him to
the last, and by their earnestness and
enthusiasm, coupled with the popularity
of Sutton all over the district. came very
near stampeding the convention to him.
1t was demonstrated early in the fight
that Sutton was the popular choice, and
fears began to be entertained that the
combination could not be held together.
When Bone and Vincent were placed
in nomination very little enthusiasm was
manifested. but when Sutton was nam-
ed the convention went wild, and the
enthusiasm was so great that business
could not be proceeded with for some
time.
When the roll was called the faces Of
the leaders of the combine were blanch-
ed with fear. The first county called
was Barber county, the home of Con-
gresham Long. That county had been
instructed to cast its solid vote for Bone.
and CONSERVATION sat upon the faces Of
the gentlemen at the head OF the combine
when two of BARRIERS votes were cast fol-
Sutton and two for Bone.
Harvey county had been expected to
cast its eleven votes for Bone, but rebell-
ion existed there in favor of the Dodge
City man. and seven Of the eleven voted
against Bone.
Mcpherson county was there in the