The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-11
FUSION GAINS.
Prominent POpulist Gives His
Side of the Case.

r.. i.
missioner's office, who for several years
was secretary of the PopuIist state
committee has been closely watching
the results of the election in Kansas
last Tuesday. He has made figures too,
which tend to disprove some of the
claims made by the Republicans. They
claim an average majority of IS 900 in
the state and gains in almost every
county, showing as the officers of the
state committee will attempt to prove,
an off year humiliation of the Popu-
lists. This assertion Mr.. SempIe denies.
He said today:
There is but little political signifi-
canoe to be attached to what is known
as off year elections where county Of
ficers only are voted for Generally it
is a matter of personal preference, and
1t is amusing to read the editorials in
Republican papers, and also interviews
coming from politicians of the same po-
Htlcal faith in reference to the result
in Kansas last Tuesday. OF course
they all claim great Republican gains,
and that POpulism is dead, but it must
be remembered that they have made
use of the same StereOtyped phrases eV-
cry year since 1890, and sensible people
take but little stock in these vapor-
ings.
L noticed in the Republican official
organ Friday morning editorial claim
of gains throughout the state as the
result of last Tuesdays election But
the article is so full of misstatements
that il is calculated to misIead the
reader. For instance it refers to Jew
ell county as having elected the entire
Republican ticket when the facts are
that the maJOritieS in that county have
been reversed and the fusiOnists have
secured four important offices that
were formerly held by Republicans. In
Washington county they state that the
Republican candidates have been elect
ed by a majority of 900 The facts are
that two years ago the vote for cOun-
ty treasurer was a tie and Foster, the
fusion candidate won. This year he
was defeated by only two votes. so that
the gain of two votes in Washington
county is not much to brag on.
ELLIS county, they claim, went Popu-
list last year by 400 and this year the
ticket is equally divided. On the con-
tray the Republicans carried that cOun-
ty two years ago. This year the Demo-
Gratis nave elected every candidate for
county offices except coroner. Mont
gOmery county carried by Stanley last
year, they now claim will give a Repub-
lican majority averaging $50. It is true
that Stanley carried Montgomery cOun-
ty in 1898 but this year the fusionists
elected a majOrity of the county officers
by good majOrities.
Franklin county is cited as an in
stance of great Republican gains and
It is credited with giving an opposition
OF so votes as against Stanley in 1898.
The facts are that he carried the county
by 14O majority; this year the fusion
lists have elected their sheriff, the first
opposition sheriff ever elected in the
county, by a majority of 200; the cOun-
ty clerk by a majority of 400 and his
opponent was a gallant soldier of the
Twentieth regiment The county COM
missioner was elected by the fusiOnists
by 63. If the Republicans can gain any
consolation out of the results in this
county they are certainly welcome to
it. The statements which have been
made contain eXtravagant claims for
hot 4 mo riGf
The facts are that the fusiOnists feel
very highly elated over the result OF
the county elections in Kansas. They
have not only held their own as COM
pared with two years ago but have
succeeded in wrestling from the Repub-
licans a large number of county offices
formerly held by them.
1T will be remembered than Andy Rich
ards predicted previous to the election
that sumner county you'd 90 Repup mean
by 500 majority; me IuslonlstS nave erect
ed every county officer in that county
He VIII nave 70 revise nus proIPIlecS ~ II
ed a wonderful victory and elected their
sheriff and treasurer 3y larg rdnSboI5 If
Republicans has departed from the an
cient faith to such an extent tIlat a Dem
Ocrat was elected SherlIf. JACKSON . eouLc
" with a normal Republican majority Of
the vote is so close on register of deeds
that it will require the official count to
county. the reliable old standby of the
grand old party the majority has been re-
county has elected the entire fusion ticket
by majOrities ranging from 200 to 400 and
did not even give the Republicans a town
ship trustee. In Leavenworth county
where the Republicans in order to arouse
a sentiment of patriotism among the peo-
pie nominated a gallant captain of the
Twentieth for sheriff. he was showed un-
der by 600 which was twice the majority
the Democrat received two years ago In
WyandOtte county the fusiOnists elected
the district Judge. also a county clerk,
by good. safe majorittes- Atchison coun-
" elects a sheriff and county commits
ont he iEr
county the fusion candidate for treasurer
was elected by majority of 500. We also
elected several other officers in that cOun-
~ I.abette county has returned her old
time Populist majOrities and the candi-
date for sheriff carried the cities OF Par
sons and OswegO- In Cherokee county
the entire fusion ticket was elected and
Ed Sapp. candidate for judge of the new
court created in Crawford and Cherokee
counties has been elected by a majority