The St. Louis Republic., 1900-09-02
Chairman Atkins Appears to Be
Making a Mess of the Repub-
lican State Campaign.
MINUS OFFICIAL TREASURER.
{. z. Walbridge, Who Held the Of
iice Four Years, Didn't Want 1t
Again-Trying TO Get
Crowd at Sedalia.

| There is prospect that the Republican
/ state Committee will shut up shop and
! hang out the for rent sign before the
| campaign is over
| II has been 4 battle for existence since
the Republican National Convention. The
mead OF Chairman Atkins has carried more
than one ache since that memorable oc-
casion, when r. {. Kerens was singed by
the delegates from his OWN State He first
attempted to run the campaign in Missouri.
without Kerens's assistance. II was al
right until he set the date for the opening
OF the campaign at Sedaia for September
L. Then there was a clash.
A week before the time things began 10
shape themselves up into a very had tan
gle kerens was playing tag with Akins.
and Akins knew 1t. He couldn't be ''It,"
ana TO have set the date and then be forced
10 postpone II was more than he could
stand. The publication in The ReDuh!c that
the date would be postponed. or the meeting
caIied on. was source Of worry to the
stale Chairman. He did not like the truth
TO become known for obvious reasons. When
at last he was forced to postpone the meet
ing until September the humiliation was
too much for the chairman Of the Repub-
hcan Committee. He stalked around the
rooms in the Lindell breathing vengeance
-is Ailt Htttl Ol htfGnS, WnO was in the
National Committee headquarters in Chi
cago.
Atkins AwfuiIy Agitated
III the Sedalia meeting is a failure. as
seems probable. the responsibility will rest
on Chairman Atkins. He is aware of this
anc Tor the last week he has been busy
drumming UP a crowd to attend the meet
ing in order 10 give /, more official recos-
milton the State Committee has been called
10 meet on the same date at Sedalii. That
an entire State Committee should be called
ioSetAer at such A lat. DAY, when the Cam
p@lSn Committee has been selected TO con-
uGCt @ the analIs OF the canvass is something
unprecedented.
. The State Committee seems to have trou-
Dies OF It's own outside the Seialia meeting.
without the assistance OF the National Com
.ttee me treasury is going to grass"
lstdpnorlcally speaking. Ii is said that
colonel Fiory, who is charging around over
me state on Pullman sleepsfs. has been
forced TO appeal for assistance outside the
state Committee. a friend who did not de-
sire TO see the campaign cease suddenly is
sa.d 70 nave advanced 500 TO keep il going
"a Mhlie longer. In this connection the fact
that the State Committee has no treasurer
is IN itself strange proceeding c p Wal
,ntIdse, VINO has acted as treasurer for the |
Iast Tour years, refused TO stand for the |
place again. II IL IS filled il was by no Off
eiaI action or the committee. MIR. Walbrtdge |
and he does not propose 10 ac. |
treasury
What Bell Did.
In this connection Chauncey I FflIev takas
exception TO the statement that Lee d Bell
OF Neosho had solicited funds for the State /
committee four years ago. At that time
ME- t1uey was chairman OF the Committee. |
Mr. t1liey says that neither Bell nor any |
one else was authorized to receive money, /
lor dld the committee get any from Federal |
In 1896
he was deputed in 1893 and 1884, by the
W arner- Hal -Blahe-Pearce managers OF the
iss- state committee TO collect the pro rata
of 5000 deficit of that committed of ,ptjcb |
be was one.
The lack of harmony throughout the State
N the republican party was never more ap-
parent than ii is to-day With 20 many dif-
.efent factions fighting each other bitterly. |
-cf IL has grown TO be a most bitter feeling |
me effort 70 bolster up the party has be- |
soms so bold that ii is laughable. Even the
stald party organs which have heretofore |
printed as near the truth possible are |
cow wildly clau1oring In the most unblush- |
ng faisehoods that the State will go Repub-
ican this year.