The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-18
LONG A FORLORN HOPE
Cy Leland and Other Leaders
Seem to Be Unable
To Find Anybody Else to Run
for Governor.
So They Have Come Back TO Long
Meeting Held Here Sunday
to Discuss the Prospects

It transpires that not being satisfied
with the present field of eleven candi-
dates for governor, National Commit
teeman Leland and Chairman Jim
Simpson of the Republican state cen
trail committee are making another
strong effort to induce Chester Long to
become candidate and abandon his
ambition to again run for congress
against Jerry Simpson.
To discuss their plans a conference
of Republicans, including Morton Al
baugh- Charley Jobes, George Clark, Cy
Leland and Jim Simpson, was held in
this city, commencing Saturday after
noon, continuing Saturday night and
ending yesterday.
Last night the visitors left the city,
not having reached definite conclu-
sion
The most important feature of the
conference was the reports presented
by Mr.. AIbaugh and Mr. Jobes. Both
have been making a systematic canvass
of the Seventh district for the purpose
of ascertaining the sentiment of Repub-
hcans towards Long. They discovered
that many of the counties are ready to
tight Long, either as a candidate for
governor or for congressman. This
unsettled condition caused adjourn
nent OF the conference which viii be
succeeded by another when the ennis
saries have more fully informed them
selves as to the existing condition in
all parts of the district.
There is one thing which the manip-
ulatorS are al a loss to dispose of, and
that is the arrangement to nominate
Frank Grimes as a candidate for state
treasurer. This was agreed upon last
winter in Washington at a conference
similar to that held in Topeka yester-
day. Grimes is put forward by J. r.
Burton and the Mulvanes, and he feels
hIV nP 70 iT1o ton hr1f
Simpson does not now foreSee the pos
sibility of giving the nomination for
governor and state treasurer as well
to the Seventh district There is some
disposition to throw" Grimes and
stand by Long. but the conference real
lied that if such steps be taken they
would at once secure the enmity of one
of the strongest forces in Kansas poll
tics. To carry out their own plans the
manipulators realize that this must
not be done. Consequently they have
decided but one thing, and that is to
attempt no interference with Grimes
plans.
George Clark was again approved of
and congratulated upon the proportions
which his boom for secretary of state is
| taking on.
CLARK will undoubtedly be nomina-
I ted" said Mr.. Simpson to his friends
/ Saturday evening.
| Clark is closely allied to Simpson and
] Leland but he desires very much to
evade being regarded as the machine
I CdHQIQdlE. Tie IS running Tor the Of
| fee as a Republican, but not at the
, suggestion or instigation of any one, so
| he says.
The disposition of Mr.. Long is the
| most important subject. His popular
| ity with the managers" undoubtedly
/ indicates that he is wanted for COVER
nor because he would be the plant tool
| of Mr.. Leland who does not run any
| other kind of people for office. Longs
| action in disposing of the postoffices in
| the Seventh, according to all reports,
| shows that he is swayed from one po-
sition to another by the slightest force
| or prospect of adVantages-Just the man
| for Leland.
one of the Populist state officers to-
| day in discussing Long with a well
known Republican, said:
1.-THE PopuIists would rather see Long
nominated than any other man men
| toned by the Republicans. He isn't
big enough to be governor and hun
dreds of Republicans will refuse to
support him on that account"
You are right" rejoined his Repub-
| hean friend Long would not be in it.
Anybody could beat him and not be re-
quired to make a speech in the cam
paign."
Mr.. Long is, according to Mr.. Sinp-
son and Mr.. Leland, the best organizer
in the state. It is also claimed for him
that he is able to do more effective
campaigning than the average polite
IAN One thing that handicaps Mr..
Long is that he is unpopular among the
newspaper men on account of his POM
posity and rudeness.
Last year Longs campaign was the
best in the state and every county was
thoroughly organized" said Mr.. Lee
land.
Two weeks ago Mr.. Long was in To-
peka and man to whom he talked
states to a Journal reporter that Long
came quietly into town to discover if
there would be any show for him to Sc
| He evidently fears the result and