The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-30
He May Be the Fusion Nominee
For Congress.
Would Profit by Bitterness of
Bailey-Curtis Fight.
POPULISTS WATCHING
They Are Ready to Go Into the
Fight.
Think the Big Republican Ma
iOrity May Be Dissipated.

ne ReDuDI1Can leaders III the 4 lISL
congressional district are not the only
ones who are closely watching the Cur
tts-Bailey fight. The Populists are
keeping their spy glasses glued on the
situation with as great a degree of in
tensity as is possible, and in the mean
time they are preparing to profit by the
result
The POpuists. barring Frank Elliott,
and a few of the other sworn enemies
of Cyrus Leland in DOniphan county,
are anxious to see the Leland-Bailey
combination win, and Mr.. Curtis turn
ed down. But they do not want either
side to have a walk-away. The more
bitter the contest the better they VIII
be pleased, because the more bitter the
fight the more sore spots" there Will
be on the side which loses.
Each side firmly believes it is in the
right and just as firmly believes that
it viii win Each side believes that the
salvation of the Republican party lies
in the overturning of its opponents in
the interest of straight Republican,
ism" whatever that is. The result will
be that no matter which side wins there
viii be a lot of mad Republicans in the
First district.
The Populists would prefer to have
Curtis beaten, because they believe
they can put up a better fight against
Bailey. A few of them have already
picked out the candidate that they Will
nominate against Bailey. in case Curtis
is beaten in the convention. 1t is David
Overmyer.
Last year the First district gave Mr..
Curtis a majority of 500 in round num-
berS. Nearly half of this, or 3,554, came
from Shawnee county. where Mr. Cur
tbs ran ahead of his ticket. There is
firm belief in Populist circles that if
Mr.. Curtis is defeated there will be
such a slump" from the Republican
party, particularly in Shawnee county,
that combined with Mr.. Overmyer's
al foil
to overthrow the Republican majority
of 1898 and send a. fusiOnist to congress
from the First district.
A change of 1,S00 votes on the vote
for congressman would switch Shaw
nee county from being the banner Re
publican county in the state into the
fusion column. This would seem an
utter impOSSibility, but the fuSlOn1StS
do not consider it 50, providing Curtis
is turned down and OVermyer is nom
mated in opposition to Bailey.
While Curtis received a majority of
3 ,554 last year. Bailey for congressman
at-large received 2,453, or 1,100 less.
This means that Bailey received the
normal Republican vote, While $50 fu
siOnists, mostly Democrats, voted for
Curtis on personal grounds. The Re
publican leaders themselves predict a
big slump in Shawnee county among
the straight Republicans, if the Lee
land gang succeeds in downing Curtis.
which would mean that large number
of Curtis personal friends would go to
l N)VeTTnYeT- IN aQQlIlOn TO MI. over
myers personal following, which would
be no small quantity. This is the way
the fusiOnists figure it.
That there will be a large number of
| Shawnee county Republicans who will
! bolt the congressional ticket if Bailey
| is nominated, is talked every day.
There viii not only be a big slump
| in the first district said one of Mr..
| Curtis close friends. IF Leland wins
| this fight, but it viii affect the whole
/ state. This contest is being watched
| in every congressional district, and the
| people ere ready to rebul1e Leland and
| his methods if the First district con-
/ vention turns down Mr.. Curtis for Bal
! ley and Leland"
| IF Leland wins,7 said another Re
! publican. 1T will mean the defeat of
the Republican ticket, and it ought to
/ be defeated"
! These are expressions from the ultra
! opposition to Leland, but even the more
/ conservative men say that there will
/ be a great detection from the congress
/ siOnaI ticket if Curtis is not nominated.
I Overmyer is admitted to be strong
! in the river counties where he has a
I strong personal following. The fusion
! lists look to this and to the disSatisfac-
/ ton which is bound to follow the Re
/ publican congressional convention, to
1 Overturn the balance of the majority
! Mr.. Curtis received in the district in
I 1898.
1t is said that Mr. Overmyer has de-
( signs on the United States senate, and
! if he should succeed in over turning a
/ 1900 majority. it would place him
/ among the leaders of Kansas political
/ aspirants.