The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-01
CHALLENGE TO TAPP
Amidon-DaIe Society Dare
Him to Do His Worst
HOW TAPP OUTRAN AMlD0N
Comparison Made by One of
His Followers in Their Votes
HOW TAPP OUTRAN AMlDON


sophical conclusions on the manipulation
of politics last week by the Dale-Amidon
Mutual Admiration S oclety. The only
question apparently remaining is: ''Will
they hear from Tapp?" From a good
many. in fact from a majority Of the
practical politicians. Judge Dale was re-
ceiving many compliments for his
shrewd management of a difficult situa-
ton.
He had two hard elements to handle.
F'irt wasthe Tammany crowd. This was
conquered by dspatching delegates in
among the Tammany men and controlling
them and at the same time taking away
from them just what they wanted to
keep.
Judge Dale did not want to lose Tam
many. At the same time he wanted to
take the county printing away from Cap
tain Shields Democrat. which Tammany
did not want done. The problem consist
ed in defeating Tammany and at the
same time not losing their votes.
The belief is emphatic on the part of
the Dale men that Tammany's vote Is
not lost to Dale. One of them said yes
terday: "Tammany, that is what there is
Of 1t, will vote for Dale. They don't dare
do anything else. They have some candi-
dates on that ticket and If there is knit
ing, their candidates will not be respect
ed. They understand this"
The Tammany men are not saying any
thing. II they are against Judge Dale
they are very quiet in their opposition. 1t
is said their real fear is that If they don't
quit. orders will go out to cut Hewey,
candidate for county clerk.
The real difficult thing the Mutual Ad-
miration Society accomplished was the
crushing Of James Tapp. Judge Dale is
for Sam Amidon for congress. James
Tapp Is not. 1t was necessary to get Tapp
out of the way. In all the history of
Wichita politics, a man of SO much
strength as Tapp has never before seen
so completely ignored. Three months ago
he had grown politically to prodigious
powers. He had gathered around him an
immense following. In any other county
he would have been looked upon as
man to be consulted in all political moves
inside his party. But just as the Dale
Amidon Mutual Admiration Society had
ignored Young in the past 1t decided to
ignore James Tapp.
Tapp today would have been chairman
of the Popunst central COMMITTEES, could
have been chairman of the joint fusion
committee, could have had anything in the
gift of the court house machine, had he
consented to one thing-to support Sam
Amidon for congress.
Taps followers stand aghast at his
treatment. He might have been made
chairman of the Populist convention. The
machine put Helm in the place. Tapp
wanted Doc Kensler nominated for sher-
III. The gang turned him down because
he voted for stanley; In reality because
he was a Tapp man. Taps followers
wanted him made chairman Of the Popu-
list central committee. Nighswonger was
put In the place instead, and Lew Butter
field. who has always fought Tapp, was
made secretary of the committee. They
offered the place Of treasurer to Tapp.
He refused It.
The reason that Tapp has been snubbed
in this way is because he appeared too
strong last spring. With scores and
scores of Democrats voting against Tapp,
he got in the city Of Wichita 1867 more
votes than Sam Amidon got last fall. The
table of votes received by Amidon and
Tapp in the wards is very interesting just
now when the Amidon men are insisting
that Tapp is played out" and that the
real runner is Sam Amidon- Here Is TIE
vote Tapp received for mayor three
months ago. and the vote Sam Amidon
received for county attorney last fail,
eight months ago: