The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-21
POpulist Caucus dominates Him
For-SenatOr Last Night.
He Gets Fifty-seven Votes on
the Eleventh Ballot.
THE SENATOR'S POLICY
Restoration Of Silver, Govern
ment Ownership of Telegraphs
The Foreclosure OfPacific Roads
and an Income Tax.

a.
last night chosen as the caucus nominee
of the Populists for United States SEN
ator by a vote of 81 to 80 for L. P. King,
5 for Ed Little, 5 for John W. Breiden-
thai, for John Madden, 1 for John
Martin. Fffty-four was necessary for
a choice.
The result of the caucus last night
was not a surprise. The sentiment at
the outset seemed to favor Harris and
the nomination of Mr.. Harris was pre-
dicted after two or three ballots had
been taken. He started with 81 votes
and on the first four ballots gained 10
votes. Slowly but steadily the vote
went TO Mr.. Harris and the gradual
downfall of the remaining candidates
became apparent.
Mr.. Harris lacked but three votes of
the necessary 81 on the thirty-third bal
lot and the realization that the honor
would go to him on the next ballot ere
ated a buzz of excitement in the senate
chamber. The Harris supporters swelled
with pride and were bubbling with en-
thusiasm. Everybody in the caucus
grabbed pencils and paper and followed
the tally of the votes. When votes
were nearly all counted the tellers an
nounced King King with aStOnish-
ing regularity while Mr.. Harris stood
at SO. There were but four ballots to
count
Some one whispered: mo nomination
this time" It was so quiet that even
this was audible all over the hall.
Harris" said the teller, making the
required "a for Harris, at eleven min
utes past 10 o'clock.
'Hurrah for Harrisr' "speech!'
Speech yelled the excited crowd
Chairman Weilep emitted war
whoop himself but recovered his COM
posture instantly and raped for order
10 permit the tellers to finish the count.
Harris" Harris Harris said
Representative Hackney in measured
tones.
The secretaries, H w. Dingus and
Representative Boyle Immediately hand
ed the record to Chairman Weilep who
announced Mr.. Harris having received
81 votes, three more than the required
numebr he is hereby declared the nom
inee of this caucus for United States
senator
The crowd went wild for an instant
but above the din Representative
Marks yelled: Il move that the NOM
ination be made unanimous"
I second the notion shouted Rep
resentative Keefer.
1t was passed with a whoop and at
1915, W. A. Harris was indeed the I'M
animous choice of the caucus.
Col. Harris, Mr.. King and Judge Den
nison were called before the caucus and
made short speeches. The remaining
candidate could not be found. The eau
Gus called for Mr.. Weilep. He received
one vote from an intimate friend
through the greater part of the contest.
He appeared before the caucus and
said:
Il have nothing to say. I wasn't a
candidate enough to hurt
Mr.. Harris is 81 years of age. He was
born in Virginia and came to Kansas in
1866. He was educated in a military
school and college. He is by profession
civil engineer and served three years
as a resident engineer in the construc-
ton of the Union Pacific railroad
through Kansas. He also held impor-
tant positions in the Nicaraguan and
other inter-Oceanic canal surveys. Col
onel Harris also spent four years in the
Argentine confederation in South
America
During the past 20 years he has en-
gagged in farming and stock raising and
has made a wonderful success in breed
ing pure short horn cattle. He is also
firm believer in blue grass and on this
product has fattened many cattle which
have been exported.
Colonel Harris family consists of a
wife and five children He is an Epis-
copalian.
In the war, Mr.. Harris acted as as
sistant adjutant general in Wilcox's
brigade of General Longstreet's divi-
sion. He was also chief of ordnance for
Hills and Rhodes division of the Army
of Northern Virginia. From 1892 to '94
Mr. Harris served as congressmap-at
large from Kansas, having defeated the
late George T. Anthony for the place.