The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-09
SOME POP POLITICS
JERRY SIMPSON GETS BOTH NoMI-
NATIONS AT LARNED.

| at the POlls-A. Local Pop Politician
Tells . Few Secrets of Inside Pop Poll
tics-How Jerry Simpson and Brieden
thai Formed a Great Cabal That is Now
Busted-Signs and Grips.
Jerry Simpson was nominated for con-
| gress by acclama ton at Larned yester-
day by both the Democratic and Popu-
list conventions. The opposition to him
did not develop for the reason that he
had enough delegations pledged TO him
to secure his nomination before he had
aroused the opposition that his action
at the ST. Louis convention caused, -
| say nothing about his opposition to Mr.
| Lewelling. Regardless of his nomina-
| ton by reclamation he is as sure %
meet defeat on election day as that the
sun will set. He is the weakest man
who could have been nominated. Hun
dreds of Democrats and Populists in
this county do not hesitate to say pub
| licly that they intend to slaughter him
| at the polls. He belonged to the same
cabal that Breidenthal belonged 10.
Breiden thai has fallen and Jerry will
| fall in November His sun will set 20
rise no more.
A prominent citizen who was once
| q member of the Populist committee
gave a reporter for the Eagle some in
side facts about Breidenthal and Simp-
son yesterday. He said:
There are some "reminiscences OF the
Populist convention which will be of
interest, particularly to those who are
familiar with the politics OF the state.
The Peoples party was preceded by
the Union Labor party, which en-
braced the most radical socialistic ele-
ments of the country. This party had
its rise and decline, and it's followers
were emerged into the Peoples party
when the Farmers Alliance gave birth
to the latter. The old Union Labor
party. with its anti-monopolists. grips
and signs, Immediately became an i'm
portant factor, and largely controlled
the new party.
At the convention held in this state
in 1892 this element named a chairman
and introduced an innovation in poll
tics in the election by the state con-
vention of a chairman of the state CEN
trail committee. jerry Simpson nomi-
mated J. w. Breidenthal. Both Simp-
son and Breidenthal belonging TO the
secret cabals of the anti-mono polists.
This method of electing a chairman of
the state committee was unwise, "a
subsequent facts have proven. The
state chairman thus elected, owes no
allegiance. TO the committee over which
he presideS. There IS no power of re-
moval, even FOR cause. and il might be
expected that most men under the cir
cumstances, would arrogate 10 them
selves such power as TO become dam
gerous.
The Populist convention in 1894 fol-
lowed the precedent, reelected M.
Breidenthal, and it was well known at
the time. that this gentleman was OPP
posed TO nearly every candidate NOM
mated by the convention. The defeat
Of the party in 1894 was largely attrib-
uted to this fact. The fractional strife
between the chairman and the candl-
dates continued TO grow. and when ex-
Governor Lewelling was considered a
possible candidate for denomination.
he was at once antagonized by Mr..
Breidenthal. The latter gentleman,
had in the mean time, called to his as
sistance Mr.. Robert Semple. A brother
of Mr.. Semple had been employed in
the state penitentiary and as the result
of bitter con troversy between himself
and Warden Chase, he was finally dis
charged. He and his friends appealed
10 Governor Lewelling, but the warden
was sustained. This added TO the bit
terness against the governor, and the
chairman and secretary of the state
committee Joined in an aggressive war;
fare to prevent his denomination at the
recent Abilene convention.
To accomplish their designs they
brought out ex-Congressman Harris
as a candidate for governor. Harris
was popular and with the entire ma
chinery Of the state central committee
behind him 1t is not surprising that he
developed great strength as candidate
On the other hand, most OF the ex-state
officers supported Leweiling, but there
was no organization in his favor. He
declined to advance his own interest.
holding that If he was to be nominated
at Abilene, il should be by the sponta-
neous support of the convention.
When the ballotiug began Colone,
Harris led. the ex-governor closely fol-
lowing. There were several other can
diGates. and their friends had ingenious
ly advanced the theory that the con-
vention should nominate a new man,
thus TO be relieved from the feud which
st was claimed existed between tho
friends Of Harris and Leweiling. These
two gentlemen developed their creates.
on the first bellot, and in re-
Spouse 10 this sentiment for a new man,
their strength declined as the ballot
ing proceeded, and a corresponding
increase was shown in the support OF
Senator Leedy. 1t is important 10
know that a warm personal friendship
existed between this gentleman and the
ex-governor. Indeed. Lsedy had been
mentioned by him as the most suita-
BILE man for governor as early as jan
uary, and before the Inauguration of
Governor Morrill,. In short, Senator |
Leedy was the original candidate OF |
dwellings friends. before they expect |
ed that he himself would enter the |
field.
When the convention met al Abilene. |
an alliance was formed between the |
friends OF all other candidates against |
Harris. They succeeded in naming the |
temporary chairman and obtained con-
troll of the convention.
When II was discovered that Leedv I
was rising, Governor Lewelling went |
personally TO Leedy's friends and al |
yised them that on the next baii0: /
his entire support would be thrown 20 /
the nominal ton or the senator. The /
result was a stampede and Leedy was /
The business of the convention was