The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-20
Stories Now Floating Around
About First District.
1t Is the Storm Center of Kan.
sas Politics.
MANY COMBINATIONS.
Curtis and Bailey Are Both
Afraid of Them.
Futile Effort Made to Force
Senator Baker on Record.

The nearest approach to a deal or
combination with candidates for Uni
ted States senator in the First district
by Congressman Curtis. was a request
made TO Senator Baker and J. R. Bur
ton by Mr.. Curtis. that they permit the
congressional battle TO be fought with
out mixing it up with their affairs
Both candidates for senatorial hOnOrs
seem willing enough to keep out OF the
congressional contest but they are
watching each other closely. ready to
take to the field at the slightest show
Of hostility from either side This is
true also of Congressman Curtis feel
ings. His heutenants are watching Mr.
Baker closely, as they are also watch
ing MI Burton and in the event either
one OF those men mixes in the congress
siOual contest then the fur Will fly"
Senator Bakers refusal TO enter into
an alliance with the Bailey-Leland for
ces is responsible for the rumOr that
Curtis has Joined hands with Burton
Any man who IS COnverSant with the
situation in the First district knows
that an alliance with Mr.. Burton would
be suicidal for a man who seeks the
congressional nomination Mr. Baker
controls a aJOrlCy of the counties III
the district and in this district are
cOmpaign for reelection to the senate
Mr. Burton IS lurking around the
spots thought to be vulnerable but as
Yet mas received little or no encourage
menr IN that district. Leland and
Bailey have been camping on Mr.. Ba
ker's trail in an effort to compel him
TO line up against Curtis M Curtis
friends nave been watching Baker and
at least two members OF the legislature
have notified Baker that if he takes
hand against Curtis they viii turn out
for Mr. Burton Baker seems to be
doing his best to keep out but the Le-
land and Bailey workers are working
every advantage to force Baker into a
declaration with which they would cud-
m "a gr nlr L-T7f1
and have said that IL would be folly for
Mr. Baker to take a hand in the con-
gressiOnal contest but it is believed
that they are seeking an opportunity
to get hold of something by which they
can create a pretext for taking another
position IN this fight.
Bailey has demanded of Mr.. Baker
the complete Leavenworth county dele
cation. Mr. Baker has offered to di-
vide the delegation and thereby pre-
vent a fight in his home county but
this does not please the Bailey people
and M Bailey mas been spending near
" all OF his time in that county riding
from one farm house to another exhib-
Iting his alleged agreement and pegging
away at what ne regards Curtis Vul
nera Bile points.
The fact that Charles s Jobes is now
advising Senator Baker and IS making
plans by which the Baker organization
is being extended has reeucOuraged the
Baker forces because they now believe
that there is no longer any doubt con-
y
others It was feared that some of the
men who are indebted TO Baker would
land in the Burton camp. JObeS was
one OF these. He is especially valuable
because his a strategist and a careful
worker The Burton people have claim
ed JObes-
Morton AIbaugh. chairman of the
state committee VIII be a candidate for
reelection to the position he occupied
during the past campaign What Al
baugh's motives are can not be de
termlned because ne IS preserving
careful silence upon the senatorial
subject. The Burton men claim Al
baugh and insist that he can not be
for Baker although Baker made him
receiver Of the Emporia bank The Bur
ton men claim too that Leland Will
jump the Baker game a the proper
time and help Burton This IS denied
by the friends OF Leland who say that
If Mr. Baker totes fair IN the First
district Leland viii stay with him until
the fight IS over.
Whether AIbaugh wants to get at the
head of the state committee and re-
main neutral in the senatorial fight is
q question which remains unanswered
As chairman Of the state committee he
was last year charged with putting
Burton forward and even went so far
as to pay some Of Mr.. BurtOns cam
palgn expenses. such as hotel bills and
other incidentalS.
Some Of the politicians are watching
AIbaugh and desire to determine for
themselves what he proposes TO do be
fore they say whether he shall be per
miLted 10 run the state headquarters
next year The Situa ton is extremely
complicated at this time and the var
ious forces are getting into position
slowly after which the lines of battle
viii be formed for the final onslaught