The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-05

had been a contest going on for some
time as to whether commissioners
should be appointed or not, but 1t was
thought on all sides that the decision
would not be announced for some
time yet not in fact till afer the other
appointments were out of the way. NO
appointmentS Will be made for some
time vet. but the different factions in
the various cities are gathering their for
ces and will come to town this evening
and present their claims for recognition
to the governor for his consideration
Although a short space has inter-
vened since the announcement OF the
policy by the gOvernOr-elect, enough
has come to light to make it evident
that there will be q. spirited contest in
each of the towns. In Kansas City
there. is a war brewing which threatens
to lay the Trickett and Buchan fight
that the Republicans have been having
down there during the past two years
in the shade. William Quarles, the
chief of the force during the Lewelling
administration is the champion of the
old crowd which want to go back into
power under the incoming adminiStra-
ton. They are counting on the support
Of Congressman elect M S. Peters. This
crowd will be opposed by another under
the leadership of Frank Strickland who
wants Jack Doyle made a member of
the board. These two crowds promise
a lively contest.
In Atchison the contest will be wheth-
er ]. G.. Thayer, a member Of the Lew
elling board and chairman of the Pop
ulist central committee will have the
control of the board.
Fort Scott is not suited with the d.
cisiOn of the governor and hoped that
he would not appoint any one at all.
They will go together and raise a fight
on the first man that comes UP ana
wants to control the board at that
place.
In Leavenworth the contest will be
over who will be appointed police Judge
n tn r. of ar Iat
place is Joe CranSton, who was the
former chief for some time under the
Lewelling administration. There is
contest between the POpuliSt and Dem
ocrats as to which ought to have two
members of the board. There is also
fight between John Atwood and L. B.
Wheat as to which shall have the con-
troll of the policy of the board in case
the Democrats predominate. Each
wants control SO that he can name the
local boss.
At Wichita the Populists have not
decided whom they want forthe POpulist
members of the board. The central
committee have passed resolutions to
the effect that they will not indorse any
one This was occasioned by an effort
on the part of a few of the committee
to have themselves indorsed.
Geo. X. Spencer is a leading candi-
date for the Democratic member and
mas the Endorsement Of number of the
leading Democrats. Geo. NJ. Dixon who
was the Democratic member of the
board under Lewelling, wants the place
back again and it is said that LeweIling
will favor his appointment.
Judge r. A. Sankey of Wichita was
in the city today on legal business and
said:
I think that the decision of the gov
ernor was correct. 1t will keep the Re
publicans of Wichita from running the
department to suit themselves and US
ing it for political purposes. What the
people. of Wichita want is an honest
and clean administration of the de-
partment. There is no hope of any
board suppresing the joints They can
keep them under, and if they will do
this and turn in whatever fines they
will be satisfied"
The man who said that ''every Populist
m m L9peka wants to be on the police
honors in that line -'-
>. Nearly every member of the old Popu-
llst 1orce wants to recover his lost star
Even Pete GlSh, eX-captain. who deserted
back. 4N
Ex-Police Commissioner L. T. Yount
who was offered the position Of chief of
police under the LeweIline adn1inistra-
ton and refused it, has concluded that he
would make an acceptable chief and he
Is working hard for the place Henry
Steele, who has a long record on the po-
nee 1orce, but who was discharged for,
chief If 1oliaa tlsahsnip also wants to be
Jailer Frank Leach. who is at the coun-
| ~ Jan IS what might be termed a ''re-
ceptive candidate" and if he sees the an
pointment coming in his direction he win
not get out of the way There are others
but they are not making much noise
pending the appointment of the police
commissioners.
There are several candidates on the list
Tor police commissioners A man who
thinks he has tip names Wilson
Keith, VIM DranSfield and G K HoIli-
day. jr., likely to be the new board
II seems pretty well understood that Mr.
| Keith viii be given a place on the board
but there is some question whether Com
missioner Holiday will be retained 9th
er men who have been mentioned in con-
nectlon with the positions are Frank
| NeWland, j. B. Billiard Frank Curry Otto
| kuehne and Editor Stevens of the West