The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-10
GRIMES AEAL WAR
And Grimes Thompson ALI
ance Denied by Grimes.
ALPHABETICALLY FOR FLYNN
Has No Quarrel With Mr..
McNeaPS Aspirations.

K9ngfsher, o. T., April s-The Eagle
correspondent today interviewed Chair
man Grimes, of the territorial central
committee with reference to the alleged
Crimes McNeal contest and Crimes
Thompson coalition Following is the
interview:
''Mr. Grimes, what, If anything. have
you to say about a recent nevfpaper ar
ticle relative to political matters. Does
it correctly represent your po.tion?"
'It does not; in fact, it coitains SO
much that is untrue, is so Strand m it's
effort to misstate conditions, that it has
no value and must have been inspired
by some person or persons who desired
to create disturbances where none in
truth existed, and TO make facts to suit
his or their own purposes. So far as it
concerns Mr. Flynn and myself, 1 wish to
say emphattcally. 1 am for Mr.. Flynn's
denomination and reelection to congress.
and I would not accept any nomination
or promotion that would conflict with his
success. not excepting the post Of ma
tionaI committeeman, if that placed me
in opposition 10 him or lessened his
chances Of reelection"
Are you not candidate for national
committeeman?
Il am; and if it pleases my friends
and the party, would appreciate the
honor. 1 am a candidate, however, re-
CARELESS Of any combina tons made by
any persons who may in times past have
supported other candidates; there is TO
deal in this matter"
What about the reported conversation
between yourself and Mr.. Joe McNeal?"
Nothing of the kind ever occurred. 1t
is purely an invention. that know moth
ing about. As to the position Of Marshal
Thompson and Secretary Jenkins, and,
indeed, some of the friends of Governor
Barnes, they are giving their support to
Mr.. Flynn and my relations with them
personally and politically are friendly.
The aim Of the newspaper article in ques-
ton is evidently to create dlssensi2n
among the friends of Mr. Flynn, by as
signing Interior purposes to various per-
sons and creating situations that never
existed outside of the writer's magma
tion.'
What about the selection of Enid as
the place Of holding the convention? Was
that done at Mr.. Thompson's instance?"
AS chairman Of the committee 1 enter
tained the motion. as 1 would any other.
Enid appeared TO be the unanimous
choice Of the committee; no other place
was even proposed. It was one of those
things which was accepted by common
consent and had no bearing upon any CT
the matters about which an issue has
been raised.
As to Mr.. McNeal being a candidate
for delegate to Philadelphia, that is his
privilege and certainly could not object
TO a gentleman Of his high personal char
acter and standing in the party, appear
ing in the delegation at Philadelphia,
from Oklahoma. am making no condi-
lions for or against any man or set of
men whom the convention at Enid sees
proper to elect as delegates. These are
matters for the convention to settle"
The original allegation Of new align
ment of Republican chieftains in Oklo-
homa and the statement OF Mr.. McNaal
regarding the attitude of Mr.. Grimes
toward himself and other leaders, are
conveyed in the following dispatch to the
Eagle from Guthrie:
Guthrie. O. T., April 9.-Political circles
throughout the territory are in a ferment
of excitement over the alleged decIara-
ton Of war between Joe ATcNeal and Bill
Grimes, two Of the biggest Republican
heavyweights in the territory, and the
correlative insiEuation arising therefrom
that Grimes has Joined forces with Harry
Thompson to control the party machinery
with the ultimate purpose of landing him
self in congress and making Thompson
national committeeman. While there may
Zoe just doubt as to the correctness Of the
foregoing insiruation there is no conceal
ment Of the fact that hostility exists be-
tween the two former political friends,
NTcNsal and Grimes, this state OF affairs
having developed itself at the meeting
OF the territorial central committee at
Oklahoma City last Wednesday, when
Grimes gave it out cold that he would
defeat McNeal for national delegate in
his own county G.oganl, and McNeal re
torted: We'll Bill, YOU have the priv
lege Of fighting me. but want to say 10
You right here that YOU can't do 1t I'M
der the pretense that you are representing
. the desire of Dennis Flynn" Mr.. McNeaI
admits the correctness Of the quotation
and said in explanation that he had been
informed that a systematic fight was be-
ing made upon him under the represan-
tation that Dennis Flynn was opposed to
his being one Of the national delegates.
whereas he had received personal let
ter from Flynn encouraging him TO make
the race Il simply refused 20 pledge
myself in advance 10 the THOMPSON
Grimes combination for national commit
teeman," he said. and that is being
urged as an excuse for fighting me-"