The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-23

contest has been on the state campaign
Craftsmanship.
Senator Hanna wanted Major Charles
F. W. Dick, secretary of the national
committee, for this place. Gov. Bushnell
and other state officers wanted Chairman
Charles L. Kurtz, who has managd the
two past campaigns retained in that place
and Senator Foraker was not here, but 1t
is known that he supported Gov Bush
nell and Chairman Kurtz as strongly as
possible by wire. It has been the custom
for the head of the state ticket in Ohio
to name chairman of the state executive
committee but Hanna has the cOnven-
ton in hand and he will not perfect the
party organization according to prece-
dent.
Gov. Bushnell went so far as to say he
could not accept a denomination if Chair
man Kurtz was defeated. When Mr..
Hanna arrived he had a conference with
Major Dick, Mr.. Grosvenor and others.
Then followed conferences between Mr..
Hanna and Mr.. Bushnell with intermit-
tent conferences with their respective
favorites for chairman. At none of these
conferences could the contestants get to
an amicable understanding. Senator
Hanna proposed to have Major Dick with
draw and the latter consented to retire
from the race if Chairman Kurtz would
also do so. The proposition was not &C
cepted. Gov. Bushnell insisted on his
right by precedent to name the executive
chairman and Mr.. Kurtz said since the
fight had been made on him, he could
stand defeat but he would not comprom-
Use. The contending factions carried
their claims into the meetings and the
gates by congressional districts and Mr..
Hanna won, more than two to one. He
controlled the district meetings and the
convention more firmly than the st. Louis
convention last year.
Major Dick claims the committeeman
from 20 congressional districts and four
districts conceded to Kurtz, and two dis
tricts contested.
Senator Hanna and Gov. Bushnell had
more conferences. While the governor re-
grets the defeat of Chairman Kurtz, he
will not decline denomination.
Meantime the state central committee
will not select the campaign chairman
and the members of the state executive
committee now, but the central commit
tee will meet at early date in Column
bus for this purpose. 1t is expected that
Senator Hanna and Gov. Bushnell will get
together soon for cooperation in the cam
paign. It is understood now that Mai or
Dick will be made chairman of the exc
cutive committee and that Gov. Bushnell
and other state candidates will name the
other members of the state executive com
mittee It is expected that Major Dick
will appoint John r. MalIoy, a strong
Hanna man. as secretary of the state ex-
ecutive committee
The convention was called to order in
the deliberately decorated armOry shortly
after p. m. All the 500 seats were oc-
cupied and standing room was in demand.
As Congressman Grosvenor, eX-Secretary
Chas. Foster, Gov. Bushnell, Senator
Hanna and other leaders entered the hall
they were given Ovations. Hon. H. P.
Grouse chairman of the state central
committee, before announcing the temper
airy officers of the convention, reviewed
the Republican triumphs in Ohio since
1898 and then introduced Gen. Grosvenof
as the temporary chairman of the con-
vention.
Following the speech of Mr.. Grosvenor
announcement was made Of several con-
gressionaI district meetings. each district
naming a state committeeman and
member of the committee on resolutions.