The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-07
RING OUT THE OLD
Ring I'm the New: Topeka Bids
Farewell
To the Populists and Opens Its
Gates
70 THE REPUBLICANS.
Who Are Now Gathering For
the Regular Session.
Which Opens Next Tuesday :
The Speakership Contest.

Political interest is centered around
the Hobbies of the Copeland today. "A
majority of the Republican members OF
the next house have arrived and wire
pulling is the order of the day among
the candidates for the different places
to be filled in the house.
The principal contest at present 49,
of course over the speakership, Whch
has narrowed down until only two men
are actively in the race. They are 5. }.
Osborn of Saline, and E. d. MckeeVer
of Shawnee. There are a few others
who are possible candidates in case a
deadlock should occur which would
make it possible for a dark horse to
win, but they are not making any ngne
for the place. Among this class are r.
e. Gregory of Usage, and Major Reming-
ton of Miami They will receive a few
scattering votes on the first ballot IN
the caucus, possibly enough to delay a
nomination long enough for them OF
their friends to secure the chairman
ships of some of the important commit
tees.
F. M. Benefiel of Montgomery, who
has been an active candidate Tor the
speakership, after canvassing the SIT
uation last night withdrew IN 1aVor oI
Osborn with the understanding that
Osborn would support him Tor speaker
pro tenn. Osborn's friends claim Inae
this gives him a good lead over NC
Keever and practically assures his cleo
ton McKeeVer's friends are Stlll ac-
tive, however, and may make q coh1-
bination to break up the Osborn 1orces
before the first caucus meets next Mon-
day evening.
McKeever has every Republican mem
ber from the First district supporting
him with the exception of Captain JonE
Seaton of Atchison, who is an old
Of DC
will be chairman of the railroad com
Tnittee in case Osborn is elected speaker.
Osborn also has one "defeetixe M mem m
person of R. r. Rees, of ottawa county
Ottawa is Saline's nearest neighbor ana
they have always worked together IN
politics so that it is a surprise that Mr..
Rees should be noncommitta1 in the
speakership fight 1t is claimed, now
ever that he is only hanging off to get
something good in the way of a chair
manship.
tt is generally conceded that Charley
Lobden has a walk-away in the matter
of the chief clerkship of the house, al
though Tom Jackson, the present mem
ber from Harvey county, is candidate
for the place.
There are more candidates for SER
geant-at-arms than for any other place
The leading ones seem to be A. c. Jor-
dan of Rice, and w. E. Thompson OF
Ness. The others are ]. H. Mcfarland
of Lincoln, G. H. Chandler of Harvey,
Sumner.
Rev John a. Bright seems to be
leading for chaplain Of the house. The
other candidates are Colonel Allen
Buckner. G.. w. Burdge, H. D. Fisher
and M. G. Long. They are all from To-
peka except Buckner, who is from Bald
win.
The candidates for state printer are
mixing with the new representatives as
fast as they arrive. One noticeable
feature about this contest is the utmost
friendliness prevailing among the four
candidates, Arthur Capper, George w.
Crane, G. w. Lands and w. Y. Nor
gan. Politicians say that Capper will
lead in the start, with Morgan close be-
hind. Lands coming in third and Crane
fourth Morgan will have the support
of the Seventh district, but other parts
of the state claim that the Seventh has
already had enough. The same thing
is an element of strength to Landis, be-
cause his district, the Sixth, received
nothing on the state ticket. He will
have the solid support of that district
and probably Fifth beside. but the
members from the latter district will
not pledge themselves till the speaker
ship is settled for fear of hurting Os-