The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-13
HOW IT CAME ABOUT
Political History InvOlved in Court


Yesterday The Eagle gave an account
of the court of appeals reversing the jurg-
ment in the case of Campbell & Hood and
the county commissioners of Sumner
county, from the bench, The Wellington
Mail gives the following account of the
case:
The appellate court at yesterda yKdm
The appellate court at Wichita yester-
day reversed the case Of Campbell & Hood
against the county, a suit brought to re-
cover pay for publishing the delinquent
tax list of 1894. The case was not reversed
upon the merits of the controversy but
because J. A. Brunette as Judge, refused
to hear any argument upon the motion
for new trial
A whole lot of political history is in
VOWED in this case. During the campaign
of 1893, George w. Bailey was chairman
of the Republican county committee. The
board of county commissioners was anti
Republican. and Luke Herring's Standard
had the county printing. The Democrats
nominated a part Of a ticket that year
against the Popuist ticket The Standard
supported the Democratic nominees but
kept quiet about the Popul!st TICKET. The
year Up to the time the printing of the
official ballots were to let the political
situation was very satisfactory to the Re
publicans. But the printing of these bal-
lots brought on trouble which is still pend
ing in this lawsuit of Campbell & Hood
against the county.
w. II. Carnes was county clerk at the
time and claimed the right to control the
printing of the official ballots. Before they
were sent to the printer. he started for
Chicago to visit the worlds fair. leaving
instructions with w. II Maddy, his dep
uty, to have Campbell & Hood print the
ballots. The Standard claimed the JOB
on the ground that it had the contract for
the county printing. and threatened tc
change its political course and support the
Populist nominees if the work were not
given it. This meant the inevitable defeat
of the Republican ticket.
Campbell & Hood agreed 70 take and
were offered first 800 and then 500 In cash
70 hand the job over TO the Standard. but
when the money was offered finally de-
manded 800. Then a deal was consum-
mated by which the Standard agreed Il
pursue a given political course for the
remainder Of that campaign. in return for
which it was to have the county printing
at legal rates for the year 1904 This
agreement was carried out on both sides
The entire Republican ticket was elected.
Later on. J. 2. Fanrot was twice arrest
cd and tired under the corrupt practice
act for being party to this deal, but was
finally acquitted. IN the meantime. Luke
bell & Hood bought the Standard and
continued 70 ran e as A Democratic paper
with one hand and the Monitor-Press as
a Republican paper with the other. The
county commissioners then met and re-
voked the county printing contract with
the Standard and awarded It 20 r. T. 81
mons % the Caldwell News. Both the
STANDARD and The News published the de-
liuquent tax list Of 1904 The county com
n1issloners paid the News. and Campbell
& Hood sued for their biz.
L is this suit that has been seut back
by the appellate court 70 ~ tried again
The county defended the Suit principally
upon the ground that tho original contra ct
Nth Herring was void because If vas
made in violation ot she corrupt practices
act The jury 81 found and returned a
ve-dt. against CauoooT ( Hood. Judge
Brunette refused - allow the.T attorneys
% argue notion or a NV trial and or
this gr7G0i tho case was reversed
\, the time Of r1e Fsurot trials. as vel
az ar ne time Of the Campbell & Hood
trial. there zas ny r1rh evidence draw
orr 70 directly prove the campaign county
printing deal q ise3- ~ participants IN
+. were lsb'e 90 prosecution BEt ths
statute ~ lsru--s-t7u SHEDS ST these pao-
psa now and as the probabilities IRE thar
~ me next ,rssi ~ tEis case Thoie lo,