The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-24
A Bitter Local Fight on the
Judgeship
HIKES UP MATTERS
In DOniphan County and Makes
This Usually Strong
Republican County a More or
Less Doubtful One
So Far as the Size of Its Ma
jOrity is Concerned.

Troy, Kan, Oct 24-On Saturday
Governor Leedy invaded this county,
the home of Cy Leland, and finished the
first week of his campaign with the
most satisfactory meeting that he had
during the week, considering the size
OF the town and the condition of the
roads and the weather.
The governor arrived at Troy about
eight O'Clock in the morning, which was
two hours after the train was due to
arrive; the delay was caused by two
freight trains stalltng on a grade and
delaying the passenger train. Upon his
arrival Governor Leedy was taken to
the hotel where he remained till time
for the meeting. During the forenoon
many people called on him. The local
political situation was of course the
chief topic of conversation. Most of
the callers were sanguine in regard to
the chance of their party to reduce the
large Republican majority that this
county has always given. The fight over
the office of judge of the district court
is the chief contest in this county, as it
is in Brown and Nemaha- The Popu-
lists are relying on this contest to re-
duce the Republican majority. They
claim that Republicans who have been
the friends and supporters of Cy Lee
land are dissatisfied with the way he
has acted in this contest and that Fail
loon, the fusion nominee, will not be
defeated in Doniphan county by more
than 500 votes. 1t is also claimed by
the fusionists here that many Republi-
cans will not only vote for Falcon but
will vote for the entire fusion state
ticket. The fusionists claim that the
Republican majority will not be over
seven hundred. Two years ago the
county gave the Republican ticket
twelve hundred majority.
The Wathena Star, a Republican pa
per, has bolted the ticket on account
of the judicial fight.
The Republicans are fully awake to
the Importance of holding a majority
between now and the election will have
eight meetings addressed by Frank
Nelson, W. J. Bailey, Charles Curtis
and J. r. Burton.
John Devereux, a leading Republican
and a prominent citizen of Troy, in
speaking of the situation said: I think
the Republicans will have the smallest
majority in this county at the coming
election that they have had for years.
This is due to the way Leland acted in
regard to the nomination of a judge,
and I think if the election had been
held right after the nominating conven-
ton that Falcon would have run even
in this county. At the present time
think he will not do that well. There is
a large vote in that end of the county
that can be Influenced and controlled by
Leland and this will no doubt be round
ed up by election time" When asked II
the fight would affect the state ticket
he said: Yes, 1t will A determined
effort is being made by many Leading
Republicans here to overthrow Leland's
influence at home. Only the election
can show what success they will have
but the leaders hope the movement will
grow"
C. M Finley. ex-register of deeds and
a Republican, said: II am a Republic
can but am not a Cy Leland Repub-
lican. This judgeship fight IS going 70
reduce the Republican majority for the
state ticket to about seven hundred in
this county.
Frank Elliott, chairman Of the Popu-
Ur-r- -rAs, Ag-I h. n
estimate was that the county would go
seven hundred Republican for the state
ticket-that Falcon would run ahead or
the state ticket.
DR.. c. c. Stivers, chairman of the
Democratic committee, and H. Harring-
ton of the Populist committee, each
claim that the county will not go over
five hundred Republican. Harrington
county the Republicans are losing
ground Wathena is the Republican
stronghold of this county and the man
ner in which the people are coming to
the support of the Star convinces me
that there will be a large falling Oft
in the Republican vote.
Prior to the speaking Governor Leedy
and John w Breidenthal addressed the
Democratic and Populist central COM
mittees The meeting was held at the
court house and it is the common op1n-
ion that it was the largest meeting held
here this campaign. Governor Leedy
in the course of his remarks said: Il
contend that the treasury of the rail-
road is not a private affair to be rob
bed by a few stockholders. A mortgage
on a railroad is a mortgage on all the
lands that are tributary to it. A rail-
road never produced a dollar of itself.
The only way it can make money is by
levying a tribute on the product of the
land adjacent to it or the goods brought
in to support the people who are de-
pendent on this land. Excessive rail-
road mortgages mean that the people
must pay excessive tribute"
The governor then urged the neces-
sity of a constitutional convention.
John w. Prudential spoke for an
hour and a half and was closely listened
to. He declared that from Mr. Stan
ley's speeches as reported in the papers.
he believed that in case he was elected
he would be ashamed to register from
Kansas when travelling abroad. MI
BreidenthaI devoted a great deal Of
time to explaining the referendum and
arguing in favor of government owner
ship of public utilities.
The court room in which the meeting
was held was crowded, about one hun
dred standing during the meeting, and
it was claimed by fusiOnists that at
least one hundred and fifty people were
turned away from the door because
they were unable to gain adnittance to
the room.