The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-19
HIGH SCHOOL WAR.
Tt Has Created Political Division in
Elk COUNTY,

Especial to the State Journall
Howard, Kan, Sept. 19.-Elk county,
of which this town is the seat of govern
ment, has a high school war which has
been responsible for considerable strife
in the Republican ranks, but the local
managers have united to keep this con-
troversy out of the campaign and hope
to succeed in so doing.
Grenola, Elk Falls and Moline are
rivals of Howard. L. Scott who was
the Republican representative in the last
legislature lives here. He pushed through
the legislature the law authorizing the
county high school. Mr. Scott acted in
good faith, and was not aware of the
uprising he was organizing when he
fathered the law to locate the proposed
high school at Howard. This action set
the people of the other towns on his trail,
and incidentally Howard City Republi-
cans were listed for the vengeance of the
opponents of the high school,
The bitterness resulted in an open fight
which is still a thorn in the flesh. The
Republicans, outside of Howard. chosen
as delegates to the county convention.
the night prior to the convention met in
secret caucus at Moline Is miles away,
and organized. These forces were a ma
jority of the convention. The nominees
were selected and the officers of the con-
vention were named. This organized
force then came to Howard in a body.
Here the influence which usually dom
mated the conventions originated but
the organized opposition ran rough shod
over the county seat forces. Howard
Republicans, because of the high school
controversy, were permitted to occupy
their seats in the convention, but had no
voice in it's deliberations The slate
made in the Moline caucus went through.
The county attorney lived in Howard.
Howard wanted Representative Scott
renominated, but this was denied by the
organized opposition from other parts of
the county, and the Howard Republicans
were glad to accept the renOmina ton of
their county attorney, asking nothing
more, sacrificing whatever aspirations
held for Mr.. Scott, who, however, was
not making a contest for his old place,
but hoped to land the nomination for
Judge of the district composed of Elk,
Greenwood and Butler counties. But,
the prejudice against Mr. Scott, due to
high school quarrel deprived him of this
honor.
The nominee for representative is
Thomas p Hawkins of Grenola. He has
been claimed by both the Baker and
Burton managers, but he himself says:
senat torial question and do not expect to-
L have made no pledges to either of the
candidates for United States senator and
will make none. That's all there is to
be said.
s. D.sLewis of Howard is secretary of
the county committee. He said to the
State Journal correspondent today:
THE change of voters in this county
men who have been Republicans coming
back to the party after a few years
affiliation with the opposition--is un-
pT'ecedented. This fact is proven by a
poll of the county Just completed. We
have not tabulated the names of those
who have announced their intention of
supporting Mckinley, but a check of the
record which we have made up, shows
remarkable change Many young DEM
ocrats who this year cast their first