The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-10
BAKER OR BURTON
PerpIexing Question Now Agi-
tating Kansas Republicans.
Evident That Leading Candi-
dates May Be Defeated.
THOSE DARK HORSES.
Kansas is Full of Receptive Sem
atOrial Candidates.
VIII Be No Trouble to Find a
New Man.
Senatorial Squabble Defeated
Legislative Asplrants.
THOSE DARK HORSES.

There is trouble, and plenty of it, in
sight for the Republican party in kan
sas.
The election of United States senator
promises to develop more bitterness
than has been engendered in a scramble
for Office in this state in many years
The returns were not all in, just the
fact that the state would have a Re
publican legislature was known, when
the supporters OF the two principal can
didates began to prove that their fav-
orite had the best Of the situation.
TWenty-four hours had not elapsed
after the result was known until the
Burton and Baker people were charging
each other with crookedness at the polls
in several districts The Burton people
assert that the Baker supporters in
Bourbon county voted for the POpulists
and thereby ompliShed the defeat of
three Republican members of the legiS-
1ature in a county that has more Re-
publican appointees in fat jobs than any
other county in the state, because the
nominees were for Burton.
Then the Baker people retaliated by
showing that the Burton supporters in
Miami county gave the Burton nominee
for senator a majority of 400 while the
Baker nominee for representative, J. r.
Remington, was almost defeated, hav-
ing pulled through with a majority of
two votes It is claimed that it was the
purpose of the Burton people TO defeat
for Baker.
When the returns came in, first show
ing the defeat Of members Of the legiS-
1ature in Lyon county. Baker men, the
charge against the Burton workers was
renewed So it has gone throughout the
state. w. N. Beezeley, a Baker man in
Edwards. is retired to private life, 50
the charge is made, because he would
not support Burton. Seven Of the mem
bers defeated in the Seventh con-
gressional district are charged up to
Burtons friends
To the man who has no personal in
terest in Baker or Burton, the solution
oe t1P senatorial contest. seems TO be q
new man. OF course, both the Baker
and Burton forces claim a majority of
the members-elect, and deny new men
any sort of consideration.
On the face Of the returns go votes will
be necessary to obtain the caucus nom
ination for senator. The Baker man
ayers claim SO of the members elected.
The Burton managers claim 91-
AS a matter of fact neither Baker nor
Burton has that number of votes. The
candidates for senator have nothing like
the strength which they claim and it is
better than an even chance to wager
1 that both candidate now lack % votes
of enough to insure the caucus nomina-
ton
The most astute politician among the
Republicans in Kansas knows that a
majority of the mebers elected to the
| legislature are not instructed or are un-
/ pledged. Were members instructed for
Burton and Baker put together, they
might constitute a majority of the eau
Gus but the division of the strength
causes the weakness of the two candi-
| dates, and creates danger of defeat for
both of them.
One of the Baker managers, c. S.
Jobes, has announced that neither Baker
nor Burton has enough votes to insure
the caucus nomination.
If that is not an open invitation from
Mr.. Jobes for new candidates, what is
it?
The plan in this declaration is to get
new men into the race, secure the un-
pledged members, and if Baker can not
land easily, throw the strength which
he has to, as Cyrus Leland once said:
Anybody to beat Burton"
Now as to the claims Of support by
the two candidates:
It has been the custom of these man
ayers to claim candidates for the legis-