The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-18
the Two Factions of
County Democrats
At Their Convention Held in
This City Saturday.
overmyer was Left Out Of the Reso-
tons Instructing Our Delegates
to Chicago Ike Gets Back at
His Enemies in a Speech
Frank Thomas Goes in
Past History.

ne democracy" 4A A9AAe- " AAcE -AA-A-1
held highly interesting convention at
metropolitan hall Saturday afternoon.
The convention was held for the choos-
ing of delegations from this county to
the state convention in this city June
3 to select six delegates at large to the
national convention at Chicago; to Sc
lect delegates to the state convention
at Hutchinson August 4, to nominate
a state ticket: to elect delegates to the
Fourth congressional district conven-
ton at Emporia.
The convention was a continuous
wrangle from beginning to end and
Democracy was rent in twain as it sell
dom has been before in this county.
The fight was between the Overmyer
and anti-Overmyer forces, and the lat
ter were in the majority by some thirty
votes. AT the beginning of the conven-
ton. after the temporary organization
had been perfected, Rankin Mason, as
sistant United States district attorney,
moved an adjournment because so few
Of the country delegates. mostly over
myer people, were unable to be present
on account Of swollen streams Mason
wanted the adjournment for one week
The chairman w. A Snyder. chairman
of the county committee also. ruled the
motion out of order, despite the pro
tests from several delegates that a mo-
tion to adjourn was always in order
The convention sustained the decis-
on of the chair by a vote of 46 to 49,
representing the relative strength Of
tine anti-Overmyer and the Overmyer
forces.
Joe Marshall. the Fifth ward con-
tractor, was SO disguised with the rul-
ing of the chair that he walked out of
the hall. after first shaking his finger
in Chairman Snyder's face and telling
him his decisions were outrageous and
disgraceful.
The fight was mainly over the amend
ment submitted to the report of the
resolutions committee, calling for the
addition of David Overmyer's name in
the instructions to the Shawnee dele
gates to the state convention as to
whom they should support for dele
gate at large to Chicago. The resOlu-
tions committee had instructed for John
Martin and Rankin Mason to include
Overmyer also. There was much heated
discussion, personal charges against
speakers and others, and riot was al
most imminent on several occasions.
Frank Thomas, leader OF the anti
Overmyer people and Overmyer himself
were especially bitter and said all
kinds Of mean things.
against Overmyer, while Joe Ward and
W. T.. Atchison defended him against
the charges made.
THOMAS OPENS THE BALL.
Frank S. Thomas began by saying:
IF possessed the elOQuence of Demos
themes and Cicero and Rankin Mason,
and the sarcasm of John J. ingalls,, I
might do justice to this subject Mr..
Rankin Mason has challenged us to Of
fer any good reasons why we should not
a 81 %
you a few Of them.
Mr.. Overmyer along in about 1880. I
believe, Off I have the dates wrong you
can correct mel came to this country
Republican and he made Republican
speeches all over the state He advocat-
ed prohibition and was most abusive i'm
all his speeches against the Democrats.
One of his set figures OF speech is said
to have been The best way to get rid
Of Democrats is to give them all the
whisky they want and they viii eXter-
inmate themselves Mr.. Overmyer
would then wait for cheers, which
would of course come from his Repub-
lican friends. He evidently thought
that was smart As said before, he
then began to preach prohibition, and
was one of the leading men who sue
ceeded in shOuldering that great farce
ON the state of Kansas. We next find
him "a Democrat, and 1T was not
great while before we find him pretty
well into the POpulist party and about
to be nominated as congressman-at-
ton We next find him a rampant re-
submissionist and -prOhibitionist
We next find him den0uncing the Pop
uilsts and in the most abusive terms
and now I am told he is in favor of
fusion. He has been in all parties and
on all sides of all questions
I'm 1892 the Democrats in regular
state convention assembled, nominated
a state ticket. What did Mr. Dvermyer
dO2 He was instrumental in organic
ing q sO-called "stalWaTt' state central
committee whose business it was to
fight the regular nominees of the Dem
ocratic party. He bolted that convention
and after the campaign was over and
we were successful. it ultimately result
ing in the election Of Senator Martin,
Democratic o. s. senator. He followed
him to Washington and did everything
in his power TO weaken the influence of
Senator Martin and break down his
r17-asffa-e & a Democratic senator
know that Mr. Cleveland desired Mr..
Martin to retain his seat in the senate,
as. If I remember right, the Republi-
cans and POpuiists had an equal num-
Der of votes as against the Democrats
and Senator Martin had the decisive
vote. and vet in the face of that he
came to Washington with Messrs.
Crouch. Mitchell and others. and / be-
Iieve. although do not allege that it
is a faCD that that outfit We're in Sc
cret sympathy with the Republicans
who were in Washington trying to un-
seat Senator Martin. Democratic SEN
ator. in the interest Of J. w. Ady, a Re
publican"
MIR. THOMAS QUOTES.
Thomas then quoted an interview in
the Topeka state Journal under
Washington date Of March g. 1898. as
follows.
washington, ID. c.. March o. 1893
David Overmyer left for home last
night. He said to your correspondent.
III am thoroughly satisfied over the
fight We VIII be recognized in this mat
ter and the fusion fellows of Kansas
viii be forced TO let the Democratic adj
ninistration alone You can just say
to the people of Kansas for me that I
am satisfied with the matter. and this
means that am certain the Martin en-
dorsenent Tor an once IS not worth the