The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-25
THE FIGHT ON SIMPSON.
Seventh District Congressman
to Have No WalkOyer.
Judge Mckay in the Lead of
the Opposition.
Says Jerry Shall Not Speak at An
thony-Jerry Says He Will

The first open clash between Jerry
Simpson and the opposition to his re-
nomination for congress in the Seventh
district has its origin in Harper county
where there is a lively fight going on
betwixt Simpson, Judge Mckay and
Senator A. J. Titus, the principal char
acters-
This contest has attracted the atten-
ton of Populist politicians because of
the fact that it promises to develop a
serious local fight among the Harper
county PopuIists and plunge them into
such complications that to emerge from
them victorious would seem a miracle.
Some of the county politicians are
united upon F. Hamilton for county
clerk He does not meet the approval
of Judge Mckay and with his assistant,
Senator Titus. he proposes to defeat
Hamilton.
The best evidence that can be secured
upon this controversy indicates that
Hamilton is perhaps the choice of a
large ma jority of the PopuliStS of Har-
per county but for some reason, which
Judge Mckay announces his willing
ness to explain at any time he is oppos-
ed to his nomination and is doing all he
can in his power to defeat Hamilton
With this controversy already going
on additional features have been added
by Judge McKay's letter to Jerry Simp-
son ordering the congressman not to
appear at Anthony to address the coun-
" convention at which the Hamilton
dispute will be settled
Mr.. Simpson says:
Il will be at Anthony and will speak
no difference what Judge Mckay and
Senator Titus may think about it,
Judge Mckay declares: Simpson
shall not come here and make a
speech
This dispute at once places Mr.. Sfmp-
son and his chief opponent in direct
conflict with each other and the out
TI7FT
ure of strength surrounding these two
prominent PopuIists in that vicinity
When the county central committee
met to call the convention to nominate
county officers no action was taken up
on the proposition to have Simpson ad-
dress the convention, SO claim the
friends of Mckay Whatever may have
been the circumstances connected with
the proposition TO invite Simpson, the
secretary of the county committee Invi-
ted the congressman to- make the sad-
dress and he accepted at once This an
gered Judge Mckay and he has warned
Simpson not to come and Simpson has
replied by saying
"'IH be there Don't worry"
To Judge McKays influence in the
district is alone due the uprising against
the present congressman He believes
that Simpson has not acquitted himself
properly while in congress and does not
hesitate to say So Holding to this
opinion he refuses to be Modified by the
politicians who are supporting Simpson
out declares that ne Will hgdt MIN to a
finish and leave nothing undone
towards securing the defeat of Simp-
SON
1t has been stated that W. L Brown
president OF the state board of charities
is behind the fight against Simpson, but
it now develops that he is simply one OF
the recruits and that Judge Mckay
stands Sponsor for the fight. The judge
has been on the bench for sometime in
that district and is a man of conSidera-
Bile influence. although there is not
Populist politician in the state who will
admit that he will be able to defeat
Simpson 1t is very generally conceded
that Mckay is a fighter but the polite
ianS assert that he is supporting a lost
cause for the next campaign It is
urged by all that Simpson deserves and
will receive a denomination despite the
protests which are being made.
The principal difficulty lies in the fact
that the rank and file of the party are
standing by Simpson while some of the
politicians and office-ho1deFs are fight
ing him The rank and f11e'' as shown
by the experiences in state campaigns
believe little that is said against their
leaders However Mckay has a fight
on his hands and his reputation indi-
Gates that heis not likely to give up until
the votes are counted