Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-06-18
BAKER is ONE OF THE FIELD
BURTON HAS STRONGER SUPPORT
THAN EVER BEFORE.
Leland. However, Is Against Him-Al-
baugh Wants Senatorial Matters
Kept in background Untfl
After EIection-Stanley
Taking No Hand.

to the usual custom it Will not be the
outs" against the ''in" in the coming
United States senatorial fight in Kansas.
In other words, it will not be the field
again Senator Lucien Baker. Senator Ba-
ker will be one of the field horses himself
j. r. Burton will be the "fayorite' in the
race. This is an unusual condition. Cen
orally the incumbent is the favorite in the
race for reelection, and the outs COM
bine to defeat him. But next year the
senatorial fight is going to be along the
same lines that it was five years ago, when
Senator Baker was elected At that time
Burton was the leading candidate and at
one time he lacked only one vote of secur-
ing the caucus nomination. An adjourn
ment of the caucus at a critical moment
was all that prevented his selection. At
that time Burton was not well liked by the
people and he had all of the oldtime poll
ticians against him. Since then he has
popularized himself with the people and
has become friendly with some of the lead
ing Republicans who opposed him the first
time. Burton has a faculty of making
strong friends. All Of those who were for
him five years ago are with him now. Be.
sides. he has gained many recruits. Tho
politician who marshaied the forces that
accomplished Burton's defeat the other
time was Cyrus Leland. Since then Leland
and Burton have become friendly. How
ever. they split again when the appoint
ment of q federal judge for the Kansas dis
| trict was being considered Burton wanted
Baker to take the judgeship SO that he
could be elected senator for the unexpired
| term. Leland was behind the candidacy
| of W. C. Hook, Senator Bakers law part
ner. The senator stayed by Hook also, and
| he was appointed. The fight that Burton
put up strained his relations with Leland.
1t also drove Baker and Leland together.
This matter was being patched up gradual
| ly by friends of both Burton and Leland
and for awhile it looked as though Leland
would support Burton for senator this time.
Some of Burton's friends have pounced on
| Leland and this has enraged the Leland
forces, and it will be miracle now if they
| become reconciled and help Burton out.
Every, effort is being made to bring about
settlement and it is barely possible that
1t will be accomplished. Just at present,
however, it looks extremely doubtful
There is another factor that enters
strongly into the case. Bailey and Curtis
are avowed candidates for the First dis
| trict nomination. Bailey is Lelands friend.
Senator Baker lives in the First district.
The senator cannot expect many votes out
Of Shawnee county in case the fellows who
county for the past few elections do so
the next election, The Burton forces have
| been in the saddle here. Leland is in posi-
ton to help Baker and the senator may go
| into deal to help Bailey.
1t has been asserted by various papers
| and persons on various occasions that Cy-
rus Leland still has hankering to wear
| the senatorial toga and that in due time
| he will shy his castor into the ring. When
asked about it Leland declared there was
| absolutely no foundation for the story. II
have no intention of going into the fight"
| said he.
publican state committee. wants the SEN
atorial fight kept in the background until
after the election next year: THE various
aspirants for senator should not bring up
this fight until the campaign is over" said
| he. We should all work in harmony and
| try to carry Kansas by the oldtime Repub-
| lican majority. After that is done. 1t is
time enough to fight among ourselves for
| the jobs
But despite Albaugh's advice the sena-
torial fight will be dragged into the COM
ing campaign.
Governor Stanley is taking no hand in
the senatorial fight and he says he will
| not He believes it is his duty to give the
| people clean administration and not try
to make a United States senator. Burton's
two strongest supporters in the state how
George A. Clark and State Treasurer Frank
E. Grimes. Either one of these men would
resign his position to-day if it would in
sure the election of Burton as senator.
Frank Nelson. state superintendent of
schools also leans toward Burton, and At
torney General GODDARD trots with the Bur-
ton forces in Shawnee county. Auditor Cole
Is non-committal.
| There is no speculation among the Pop
ulists as to probable candidates for United
States senator next year. The Populist
leaders don't think it worth while to spec
ulate. They realize that they are going to
be defeated all along the line and do not
care to worry about Office that they
| know they won't get. At the present time
the Populists are badly disorganized and
downcast. Prosperity and the achieve
ments of our army and navy have had a
bad effect on them, SO the leaders say.