The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-01
IF" He WINS.
Pat COney May Run For Con-
gress Against Bailey.
This Is Contingent on Defeat of
Mr. Curtis.
CONFIDENT
Say There Is No Chance For
Curtis to Lose.
What Both Sides In Contest
Are Now Claiming.

A rumor has started within the past
day or two that if the Bailey forces
win in the First congressional district
convention. the ultra Curtis men will
urge P. H. Coney to make the race as
an independent, "anti-boss'' candidate,
in order to rebuke Leland and his fol-
lowers in the First district.
1t has been a matter of speculation
with those on the outside of the fight
as to what action would be taken by
the extreme anti-Leland men in case
Leland wins in his fight for Bailey and
against Curtis, but up to the time this
rumor leaked out no hint has been
given of any intended action. The
anti-Leland organization has declared
undying hatred to the Donipnan county
politician, and if they are defeated it
will be an extremely bitter dose of
crow for them to support Bailey.
The PopuHsts are prophesying that
the anti-Leland men will swallow the
dose and support LeIand's candidate if
he is nominated, but some of them de-
clare that they will never do it. This
has led to the proposition to run Cap
tain Coney Independently.
Captain Coney says that such a prop
osition has never been made to him,
and he will not admit the possibility,
even, of Mr.. Curtis defeat in the con-
vention. Such a contingency, he de-
clares, is not considered by the Curtis
men.
There is no possibility" said Captain
Coney, ''of Charley Curtis being de-
feated, so there is no use in talking
about what will be done if The mat
ter of being an independent candidate
has never been suggested 90 me, and 1
have never considered it, because there
has been no necessity for it, and there
won't be.
Charley Curtis stands for all that is
highest and best in politics as opposed
to bossism, and for that reason the
fcfY riot fV,at p
congress. am opposed to bossism of
all kinds in politics. We must get back
to early principles, when men came to-
gether and decided on a course of ac-
tion for the general good, instead of
letting a few men get together i'll some
questionable place Gown at Kansas
City, and decide Whas.saust or must not
be done, and if the voters don't want
to vote their way they can stay at
home. That's bossism, and I am ~op-
| posed to it. And bossism is just as
| bad in Mark Hanna as it is in Cy Le-
| land. 1t is just the same in one as in
the other.
IF Bailey should win in this fight
| but, mind you, I don't admit that he
can, for I do not believe it possible
| he will have mighty hard shedding to
pull through.
Charley Curtis is stronger than his
| party. He will have the delegations
| from Shawnee, Atchison, Jefferson and
Brown counties, and they will nomi-
nate him by seven majority. Curtis is
/ very strong with the old soldiers, and
| there is not a congressional district in
| the United States with as many old
/ soldier votes as there are in the First
| district. Many of the inmates of the
soldiers home at Leavenworth came
| from the First district, and many more
| have acquired residences here. Not less
| than 500 old soldiers are voters in Leav-
/ enworth county, and they are for Cur
| tbs to a man.
| IF Leland wins in Kansas politics,
Republicanism in Kansas will be killed,
| and 1 say it ought to be-"
| Most of the anti-Leland men will not
| admit the possibility of defeat in the
| First district fight, but their figures are
| much different from those of the Bailey
men. Bailey expects to carry Nemaha,
| his home county; DOniphan, Leland S
| county, and Jackson, BrOderlck' s
| county, and LeavenWorth county, sure,
| and will fight for a share, at least, of
| the delegates in the balance, except
| Shawnee. These four counties will
| give him AZ votes, seven less than a
| majority. Shawnee is. of course, con-
ceded to Curtis, and possibly Atchison.
This leaves Brown and Jefferson to be
| Jefferson has 8. Some of the conser-
| vatives say that the vote of these
| counties in the congressional conven-
| ton will divide, and if this is done
Bailey will receive enough to nominate
| hand, are confident of both these coun-
| ties, and will put up a big fight for at
| least q part of the Leavenworth dele