Evening star., 1898-11-04
HOW 1T ISlM KANSAS
Republicans HOPE Il Elect Four Con-
gressm6n fhis Fall.
EXPECT 10 &Gl# THE STATE
Democrats ands;F ;Fusionists Handi-
capped by tie Good Times.
SOME NOTED CANDIDATES
SOME NOTED CANDIDATES
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
INDEPENDENCE Kan

| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
! INDEPENDENCE, Kan.
[ .:-. .- .-.. -. - November 2, 1885,.
The political contest this year in Kansas is
very much it has been since 1892 be-
| tween the republicans on on, hand and a
! close fusion of the populists, democrats and
| free silver republicans on the other The
| free silver republicans have belonged to the
combination since 1896. when they revoltea
against the gold standard plank in the St.
Louis platform, and, though not great in
numbers. doubtless contributed material lily
| to republican defeat two years aao in this
state. The alignment of parties is, there
fore, very nearly the same today as it was
two years ago, the fusion extending along
| the whole line, including state, legislative.
| congressional and even county tickets
In 1896 the fusionists secured the lceisla.
| ture and carried their state ticket hv a
plurality of 5000. They also eIect.d their
| ccngressmen-at-large, and congressman in
the second third, fifth, sixth and seventh
| districts by majorities ranging from 400 in
the second district to 5000 in the third dis
trict. the republicans electing Curtis and
| Broderick in the fourth and first districts
respectively.
These two districts being so safely repub-
Hcan, the populists, having the legislature
did a little garrymanderng Transferring
Shawnee county from the fourth district
| TO the first. Shawnee; contained the capital
| city, Topeka, which was Curtis home, and
was strongly republican. The change would,
the populists figured, strengthen them in
Curtis old district, the fourth, and put Cur
| It's and Broderck both into one district. the
| frst, which Broderick had long represented
Ihe result thus far has been that Curtis
was nominated over Broderck and is now
the republican nominee in the first district
the fusion candidate being W. W. Price
The republican candidate, Judge Broderick,
carried the district in 1896 by a majority of
4,oOO over ths fusion candidate. And with
| the strong republican county of Shawnee
| ADDED. the election of Curtis is conceded by
| the opposition and is claimed by the re-
publicans by an increased majority over
1896.
In the Second District
In the second congressional district Pc
! te:rs, fusion, was elected over Harris re-
publican, by only 3SS votes two years ago.
| Peters is running for reelection, while the
| republican nominee is Bowersock of Law
renee comparatively new man in politics,
| but very successful business man of high
standing generally and free from fac;ional
troubles OF the district which Handicapped
| Harris in 1886. The district is claimed by
| both parties this war, but impartial judges
! in position to know the situation regard
Bowersock's election as reasonably certain,
| tut by a safe majority. /
In the third congressional district the
| fight is, as 1t was fitwoJyears ago between
| the present membent RageIy, fusienist, and
kirkpatrick, republican. The fusionists
have carried the district since Judge Per-
klns was beaten by Ben Clover, popullst
| in 1890, except in 1851 when Kirk rkpatrick
was elected with the opposition divided on
two candidates. Hin 1896 Rfdgely carried
every county In the" district but one lis
| majority being 4 5a5. I'm two counties of
| the district, Cherokee and Crawford, there
| Is large mining vDtss usually anti -repuhli-
| cam but somewhatfHnc,.tH;tih Sometimes
| 1t swings the other Ray; and republicans
| hope that this is the year for 1t to swing
| tfeir way. But 10 IS merely a hope, and the
| chances are now that tits an unsnbs1antial
one The best Judgment on the third Gis-
| trict is that it will repeat The result of two
years ago. that is. elect Rldselv, but by a
| somewhat reduced majority.
IN the fourth congressional district the
| candidates are j. NJ. Miller, republican, and
| II. s. Martin, fusion. This district with
| Shawnee county in it, since transferred TO
| the fourth, as before stated, in 1896 elected
Curtis, the republican, over the fusion cam
| dldate by 200 majority. Shawnee county
| alone gave him a very large majority; so
with Shawnee out this year it would leave
| the republicans short 1000 votes in the dis
trlct on the returns of 1896. The fusion
| nominee, a democrat. Is not popular with
| the populst voters and is not regarded as
! a strong candidate. The republicans count
Ing on this. are making vigorous fight for
Miller, with strong hopes of overcoming the
| adverse majority. They may do this, but
the margin will be close either way with
| the present probabilities slightly favoring
| the success of the fusion candidate, Martin.
| Vincent Versus Calderhead.
| In the fifth congressional district W. A.
| Calderhead, republican is pitted against
W. d. Vincent. fusion, the present member.
| Ihls district has been held by the fusionists
! since the election Of John Davis in $780,
| Calderhead, republican, beat him in 1894,
out was himself beaten by Vincent in 1896.
L ho vii tl,a
thls year. Vincent Is a strong man with
| ms party and stands well generally CAL
| dernead is also man of highest standing,
personally personally and politically. but not shrewd
pohtician lie has had perhaps more than
lne usuai amount of trouble in disposing of
the post offices and has alienated some
| voLes mere and there over the district. But
| vincent majority in 1896 was only GOO and
| Cdluerhead is making a strong fight to over
come IT. and his friends think he will sue
ceea. Ihat the contest will be very close
| Is conceded by all impartial observers but
| aided by the generally improved conditions
| IN the state. Calderhead would seem to
nave a slight advantage in the race and
| tne chances now rather point to his election
III the sixth congressional district the
candidates are E. H. Mccormick, populist,
| the present member; W. A. Reeder, repub-
mean, mean, and William Hoffer, democrat In
1896 there was much the same kind of a
| race, but Mccormick was elected by 6aI
| pIuranty and more than 900 majority over
both the republican and democratic candi-
udles. Inc dlStflct has been controlled by
tne popullsts since 1880 and Is almost Who'll
| y agricultural. The popuist member and
present candidate, Mccormick, is not very
popular with his party. His record in Con-
greSs has not helped him. Reeder, the re-
puhiican candidate. is new in politics, but a
| nne business man and very popular He is
making an energetic campaign and inspir-
| ing his friends to believe he will be elected
| but the probabilities seem to favor the re-
election of Mccormick by very slight plu-
| railty unless Hoffer,~tife democratic candi-
GATE, gets more votes than now seems likely
iioners vote may be surprise and change
| the result in favor of Reeder, but this is
not probable.
Jerry simDson's District.
| In the seventh congressional district the
contest is between Chester I. Long and Jer-
ry Simpson. as it has been since 1892. This
is the fourth race in that district between
these two, Long beat Simpson in 1894 and
served in Congress for two years from what
| is called the big seventh Simpson sur
| prised himself and the state by beating Col
Hallowell in 1890, attd has been elected con-
tlnlOOSiV Sinfn hxnaptipq in