The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-21
FIGHT FOR OFFICE.
JOhnsOn-Miami County Quarrel
Has an Airing.
A Technical Question the Main
Issue.
SENATORIAL SQUABBLE
Is Responsible For the Con-
trOVerSy.
Baker-BurtOn Question Causes
All the Trouble.
'ENATORIAL SQUABBLE

LAAC LII 81 CO1AACSL LII d pOSlN1O1l Liz
nominee of any party was heard yes
terday afternoon and last night by the
state election board composed of the
attorney general. state auditor and the
secretary of state, from the decision of
which the law provides there is no ap-
peal
The contest heard by the board is the
Johnson Miami senatorial squabble in
which two candidates claim to be the
regular nominees
The evidence was heard during the
afternoon in the senate chamber; the
arguments last night
The board took the case under adj
viSement and the decision win not be
announced until the latter part of this
week, probably. not until the first of
next week.
F. w Sponable and NJ. G. Miller are
the men who desire to have the Sena-
torial nomination for the district Each
mas been nominated by the counties
which they represent, respectively.
Johnson and Miami.
The question which seems to be the
main one, is concerning adjournment,
about which some explanation is
necessary.
At the outset the senatorial central
committee fixed the time for g. meet
ing of the committees, representing the
two counties. This committee decided
delegates in the convention. This was
the equal representation which has
governed the political relations Of the
two counties for several years. The
Miami county members of the sena-
tOrial committee offered no objections
to this but when the Miami county
convention was held thirteen delegates
were elected.
basis of representation. The repre-
sentation for the county conventions
was based on the vote cast for George
A Clark, secretary of state in 1898
This gave Miami county thirteen dele
gates, but it must be remembered that
the senatorial committee expressly pro-
vided that each county should have
twelve delegates without reference to
any vote cast in preceding years.
Miami county claimed thirteen votes
and went to the convention supporting
that claim. The committee on creden-
tials made a majority and minority re-
but the report was not adopted. In the
midst of the discussion which was
growing bitter a motion to adjourn was
made. The Miami county delegation
claims this motion prevailed fairly.
The Johnson county people claim that
the chairman said:
For the purposes of this motion I
shall rule that Miami county has thir-
teen votes"
johnson county claims the chairman
had no authority to make this ruling
when the question concerning the num-
Der of delegates to which Miami county
was entitled was pending before the
convention.
The Miami county people left the con-
vention, one of their number, H. S Co
burn, remaining with the Johnson
county delegates, who Immediately
elected a new chairman, claiming thir-
teen votes thereon, because Coburn
makes affidavit that he voted on the
organization. This gave a majority of
the votes, thirteen of the twenty -four.
Johnson county put up and~elected a
new chairman by these thirteen votes
and proceeded to the nomination of
Sponable.
The Miami county delegation re-as-
sembled at Olathe on the day to which
the alleged adjournment was taken and
nominated NJ. G.. Miller, also of Olathe.
Thirteen delegates participated in this
The simple question now involved
seems to be that concerning adjourn
ment. If there was no adjournment
Sponable is the regular nominee. If
there was an adjournment Miller is the
nominee.
If the contest were of a local charac-
ter it would have been settled at home
but johnson county is anxious to retain
Burton for senator Miami county's anx-
iety is due to the fact that Miller is for
Baker. So the senatorial question is in
reality responsible for the controversy.
Inc question Ol Is the
meat of the cocoanut but it involves To-
cal controversies which necessitated vol
umes of evidence and official records in
the presentation to the election board.
The members of the board went to the
senate chamber wearing their coats but
the chamber was like an oven and the
three state officers soon laid aside their
coats and settled down to hear the evil
dence while perspiration Streamed from
their faces
The Republicans present at the hear
ing were as follows:
F. w. Sponable and NJ. G. Miller, the
rival candidates.
F. r. Ogg, representing Sponable;
Frank Hamilton and J. w. Parker, Mr.
Miller's attorneys; Charles Sprague and
w. A. Mitchell, editors Olathe Mirror, J.
w. Coleman, editor News Herald; E. G..
Barthberger, Charles Ridgway, F. r.
Lanter, A. .. Farnham, and ]. r. Orr
Of Johnson county, A. L. Thomas Pa
ola, Dr. d. W. Hayes. Osawatomie, H
S. Coburn, PaOla, W. d. Morrison, clerk
of the johnson county district court.