The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-23
ELECT A
POSTMASTER.
Exciting Contest at the Village
of HaViland.
POpulists Take a Hand and
Cause a Row.
DEFEATED A WOMAN
Who Might Have Otherwise
Won the Fight.
DEFEATED A WOMAN
Explained That She Was Re-
publican, Like Her Father.

Haviland, March 23.-The most excit-
ing election ever held in this town has
just taken place. Ever since the re-
suit of the election was announced last
fall half dozen prominent men have
been actively engaged in fondIine a lit
tie postoftice boom, each one believing
he had the best show for the place and
each one had the regulation petition
signed by the patrons of the office, in
Guiding the scholars of the academy
The district schools were also raided
Finally things got to a point where
they all thought an election would be
the proper thing. So an election was
opened with a full attendance of the
patrons of the office from the sand
hills. the short grass and the Medicine
brakes.
grain merchant; Captain George Cook
farmer; Josiah Binford, farmer and
real estate dealer; Cyrus Slavery, old
soldier and pensioner (not able to
work.; Dr. NJ. d. Stroup and oliver
Gilbert. old soldier and pensioner
All had signed an agreement that the
one getting a majority of all votes cast
should be the choice of the people and
the rest should forever after hold their
peace.
But early in the day a new Richmond
appeared in field in the form of very
pretty and popular young school
teacher, Miss Miriam Ellis, who pro-
ceeded to make a lively canvass of the
voters, and by the time the hour for
opening the polls had arrived q D. mo-
seemed to have things pretty nearly
her own way.
After securing judges, tellers and
clerks the male candidates proceeded
to read the young lady a lesson in po-
litical economy, to the effect that she
had not come before the people in the
regular, political, orthodox style and
therefore must withdraw from the race,
and after some wrangling and delay
she withdrew and the balloting COM
menced. When the first vote was an
nOunced there was a good deal of sur
prise, as Miss Ellis had captured more
votes than several of the men. Then
she mOdeStly arose in the hall and an
nounced that she would make the race,
and by the next ballot had forced her
self to the head of the ticket. and after
one or two more ballots had forced all
from the race but BinfOrd and Kemp,
scalp. At this time excitement began
to run high and they questioned her
Republicanism and forced her to define
her politics, which she did in a neat
little speech, winding up by saying she
was a Republican because her father
was.
This was accepted as sufficient evil
dence and the final ballot was taken,
which resulted in BinfOrd being chosen
by a majority of four votes. and the
chair announced that Binford was
CHOSEN.
This raised a howl long and loud, as
several Populists voted and their votes
were cast for the winner.
Binford is the head of the Quaker
church here aud is something of pro
hibitionist, and did not vote for Nor
rill last fall and also scratched the
county ticket for the Populists. and
now the fun begins. The present post
master, G. w. Dugan, can hold under
the new ruling for three years, or until
June, 1900, but he will probably resign
in the near future, as the office does
not pay unless connected with some
OF her business.