The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-18
is A BAD TANGLE
Politicians Watching the Split
In Harvey, Reno, MCPHERSON
HARVEY COUNTYS ANGER
1t May Result in an lndepend-
ent Republican Ticket.

4
ing with interest the political tangle in
the judicial district comprised of Harvey
Reno and Mcpherson counties.
There Is no telling what the bolt of Har-
vey county from the judicial convention
may involve and the politicians are cycling
it closely.
As the matter now stands, Harvey coun-
tvs delegation will meet with the CEN
trail committee, or campaign committee
and thereafter resolve on what further
step will be taken. Harvey county may
decide to nominate q Republican Judge
against Simpson, which would give the
fusionists IN the district a chance to win
At any rate Judge Simpsons friends are
calling upon Harvey to keep cool.
The fusionists, in order to get Har-
vey county vote. will probably nominats
Harvey county man for judge.
The Hutchinson News gives an account
OF the bolt and it's cause, and while 1t
says that the Harvey county delegation Is
entirely friendly to Judge Simpson, the
talk Of an Independent Republican nomi-
nee indicates nothing of the sort. The
News says: Ancient history Is involved.
Under Judge Houk and Judge Frank L.
Martin. Reno county held the judgeship
for fourteen years. This was sore spot
for Harvey county, which always insisted
that II should have turn at judicial hon.
ors. Then Mcpherson county was. added
to the district and when Reno gave up the
judge the place went to Mcpherson much
to the chagrin Of Harvey. Judge Simp-
sons three years and the four he will be
elected to in November make seven years
for Mcpherson. The Harvey county dele
cation, through Mr.. c. z. Branine, an
nounced hts readiness to support Judge
Simpson this time but offered a resolution
declaring that four years from now the
nominee should be taken from Harvey
county.
The resolution was referred to a COM
nfutee consisting OF three from each coun-
ty. The Reno county delegates took the
position that they were not authorized to
bind their county four years ahead and
would not do 1t. They further argued that
in selecting judge the people cared more
for ability and fitness than they did for
imaginary county lines. The Mcpherson
delegates were of the same mind. While
the committee on resolutions was consid-
ering the resolution of Mr.. Branine the
convention proceeded to the nomination of
a judge, whereupon the Harvey county del
egates left the convention. The Harvey
county members Of the committee on reso-
lutions also left and the committee report
ed back the resolution unfavorably.
The Harvey county delegates were care
full to express their friendlinees to Judge
Simpson and based their withdrawal on
the proposition that Mcpherson and Reno
counties were in a 'trust" and It was use
less for Harvey to stay in the convention.
The Reno and Mcpherson delegates deny
the theory of a "trust" and the Reno
county delegates maintain the fast that
they were for Simpson because the people
of Reno admired him as a Judge and
wanted him for another term, and that
there was no deal or anything Of the kind
with Mcpherson. The fact Is known to
everybody in Reno but It was impossible
to make the Harvey county delegates see
it that way. They are sore and they think
they have a right to be sore. They felt
that to be consistent they would have to
withdraw from the convention.
AS a matter Of fact the resolution pro-
posed, declaring that four years from now
the Judge should come from Harvey coun-
ty, would have been deal of the rawesE
kind. and II the Reno county delegates had
pledged their county to Harvey or Nc
Pherson for four years in advance they
would have been repudiated by the people
who sent them to the convention.
The difficulty will not affect Judge Simp-
son personally. Harvey county people,
both of the delegation and outside. say
Reno and that he will undoubtedly receive
many opposition votes and run ahead Of
his ticket.
The following resolutions were reported
and adopted by the convention:
Resolved, That we heartily endorse the
administration Of President Mckinley, and
of Governor Stanley. and Of the present
state officers. and
Resolved. That we recognize in the pres
ent Judge of the Ninth judicial district,
Hon. NJ. P. Simpson, a man Of great schol-
arly attainments. legal ability and good
judgment whose fairness, honesty and in
tegrfty are upquestionel and whose record
as a judge. during the last three years,
we most heartily endorse.
Resolved. That the resolution referred TO
this committee. ekiug to require this con-
vention to pledge the different counties Of
this judicial district TO the support of
candidate for judge from Harvey county
al the next judicial election. Is beyond the
authority and power OF this convention
and should have been addressed to the
voters OF the district who will have the
selection OF such judge. That fitness for
office and not county lines should oe the
test. z. L. WISE, Chairman.
r p HTII, Secretary