The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-26
Old Fight RENEWED
For the Now Vacant Enid
Land ReceiverShip.
CANDIDATES SPRING UP
Nearly All of Whom Are Old
Acquaintance.
CANDIDATES SPRING vi

Guthrie, O. T., Sept 25.-The death O.
Captain Hassler has revived the Hvel!
fight of two years ago for the receiver
ship of the Enid land Office, at which
time it was naturally expected that al
the Democratic office holders would be
turned out to feed upon husks. Practi-
cally the same persons are again in the
field as applicants, with the notable ex
| ception of John Jensen, who quit the in
definite receivership fight for something
more tangible, and dropped into the Pom
ca Indian agency. In the height of the
! struggle for the land Office receivership
it was understood that Governor Barnes
| favored Jensen as a recognition of the
| west side. Subsequently, when the gov
=. ernor visited Washington to ascertain
] why Democratic Office holders were not
being fired more expeditiously, he was
informed that Captain Hassler was on
the favored list and no change in the
Enid receivership would be considered
unless Captain Hassler should request
reinstatement in his former position in
the Washington department Jensen ac-
cordingly switched his application and
endorsement for something equally
good and was rewarded with his pres
ent comfortable position.
Another element in the fight two years
ago was the reasonable contention that
Grant county, being a part Of the land
district, should have either the receiver
ship or registership of the Enid office,
and there was tacit understanding that
Grant county should receive the recog-
milton it demanded. Lew Clogston, who
was the territorial central committeeman
for that county, was an active candidate;
so was Lew Sargent of Manchester, and
so was C. NJ. Keiger, who was chief
clerk of the house in the last legislative
assembly. Sargent had a large local en-
dOrsement of his ambition, but it was
generally agreed that Keiger was the
favorite, inasmuch as he had the en-
dorsement and support OF 1.-The push"
Chargined and disappointed over his fail
ure TO receive the endorsement of the
territorial central committee, of which he
was a member. Clogston left the terri
tory, but it is understood that Keiger
aud Sargent are again actively in the
raca.
At the same time, there is a host of
good Republicans in Garfield county who
are not willing to admit Grant county's
claim of an inalienable right to name the
receiver of the Enid land office Among
this host there comes TO mind Major
Dick Marshall, ]. B. Ferguson and ]. w.
Clevinger, all of whom were active can
didates two years ago. Ivan Conkling
was also a strong candidate at that time,
but since he is relying upon the endorse
ment of Secretary Jenkins and Marshal
Thompson to land his as census super
visor, it is not known what his intentions
are concerning the receivership. Another
candidate IS Judge Musselar, of Perry, |
a formerly of-Wichita man.
1t IS reported that Rick Messal has al
ready received the endorsement of Mar
shall Thompson and the promised support |
of Secretary Jenkins. On last Saturday |
Senator George Orner received a tele-
gram from Messal declaring his candi- |
dacy and requesting Orner to see
Thompson and Jenkins in his behalf. |
Later in the day Orner is said TO have |
informed a friend that he had secured |
Thompson's endorsement for Messal and |
that Secretary Jenkins had said that if |
Messal was Thompson's he saw no rea-
son why he (Jenkins) should not endorse
him. Today, however, Secretary Jen-
kins said to a reporter that he had not
yet made up his mind whom he would |
endorse; that he had no desire to APP
pear in the role Of a dictator but would
consult the leading members of the party
before arriving at a decision.
Governor Barnes is still in the east and |
just when he will return to the territory
is not known. 1t is presumed, however.
that he will at least be consulted as to
who shall be named as receiver, in
which event an appointment is not ex-
pected until the governor is home and
has had time to survey the situation.
Dennis Flynn is also out of the city.
Enid. o. T., Sept. 25.-The question Of a
successor to Captain Hassler, as receiver
of the United States land office, is be-
ginning TO be agitated. There are al
ready a number of candidates in the
field. among whom is Major Richard
Messau, president Of the German Pub
fishing company, which is establishing a
number of German papers IN the leading
cities of the territory. The major IS very
strong in this city and county, having a
large number Of friends who would be
pleased TO see him land his plum, which
pays $500 year.