Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-01-23
ApPoRT1oNMENT AND POKER.

IF. C. Montgomery. in Kansas City Journal
lone of the hottest contests which
will take place in the Legislature this
winter said a well known ex-mem-
Der of the State Senate yesterday,
will be over the appOrtionment of
the state into Congressional districts.
There is great deal of rivalry be-
tween the Populist politicians and
each will strive to fix up a district
suited to his own Congressional aSpi-
rations. To settle the contention it
may become necessary to resort to
the method employed in the Legisla-
ture in 1888, which was the last appor-
tionment. Did you ever hear about
that? Well, let me tell you the story.
1.-THE Senate committee on appor-
tionment in that year was composed
of the following gentlemen: w. j.
Buchan, Wyandotte; E. II. Funston,
Allen; w. p. Hackney, Cowley;
George H. Case, Jewell; Eugene
Ware, Bourbon; Perry Hutchinson,
Marshall, and Harrison Kelly, Cof-
fey. Four bills were referred to this
committee, but the choice finally
simmered down to two, one of which
was known as Senate bill No. 121 and
the other as Senate bill No. ISL For
days and days the committee wrangled
over which OF these should be re-
turned to the Senate as the majority
report, three being in favor of one
and three in favor of the other, while
Senator Hackney alternated between
the two after fashion which left
neither side sure of him.
lone night, after a long session in
which no progress was made, Senator
Hackney was seized with an inspira-
tion which he materialized into the
following proposition: Boys, let's
play game of "freeze-out" to settle
which one of these bills shall be re-
ported favorably.'
1.-The suggestion found instant
favor. The committee adjourned to
Perry Hutchinson's room at Gordon's
hotel where Gene Ware was made
master of ceremonies. The first an
nouncement he made was this: Now,
fellers, this is a mighty important
matter and it ought to be settled in
scientific manner. To remove the
element of luck as far as possible 1 am
going to issue each a hatful of chips
With 500 apiece little bit of bad
luck won't break man and in the
end science is bound to prevail"
''Suiting the action of his words,
Ware issued each of the players big,
unbroken box of lucifer matches to
serve as chips and the game COM
menced with each of the seven men,
berS of the committee in his place. In
the meantime news of the game had
got out among the other legislators
and HutchinSon'S room was soon
crowded full of interested spectators,
many of whom appeared attired only
in his shirt. pants and stockings.
Crowded behind each player were a
dozen or more of his plrtisanS, who
offered all sorts of advice and Sugges-
tions as the game progressed. l re-
member Senator NJ. 7. Jones in par
ticular. He was then the Republican
Senator from NeoSho county, but is
member of the present House as
Populist. He stood behind Bill Hack
ney, and every now and then Bill
'Jonesy, how would you draw on
that?' Jonesy always offered his ad-
vice, and for a time he proved ver-
liable mascot, for every time Bill fol-
lowed his advice the result was full
house, OF something nearly as good.
"Hour after hour the game pro-
gressed. sometimes one and some
times another beng in the lead Fun
ston fell out early in the proceedings
and laid down across the foot of the
bed. Whenever Bill Hackney got
particularly good hand he would turn
around to Funston and say. What do
YOU think of that, old Hayseed? At
one time Harrison Kelly had his big
white hat nearly full of matches and
crowed over his adverSaries in glee-
Finally Bill Buchan caught flush and
pretty nearly emptied that hat, when