The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-27
MIDDLE in THIRD.
Republican Congressional Out
look Is Rather Warlike.
Bitter Fight Opened on George
w. WheatIey.
BELIEVE HE WILL WIN.
Workers Say Battle Was Start
ed Too Late.
Charged With Being Part Of
kirkpatrick Ring"

Tomorrow at Chanute George W
Wheatley of Galena will probably be
nominated by the Republicans as the
candidate for congress in the Third dis
trict. A desperate fight has been open
ed on Wheatley but the enemy has pro-
badly been dormant too long to ac-
complish his defeat at this time
This convention will end a contest
that has been interesting from poliu-
cal standpoint. and the five candidates
in the race may make combinations
which will defeat Wheat Y. Those who
are opposing Wheatley with the hope
that they will secure the nomination
are
John Randolph of Pittsburg.
c. II. KimbaI of Parsons.
A. L. Wilson of Independence.
J. b. F'ishback. Winfield.
The Third district is composed of the
following counties: Cowley, Elk, Chau-
tauqua, Wilson, Montgomery, Neosho,
Labette, Crawford and Cherokee. Elk,
Chautauqua, Wilson and Neosho have
no candidates.
Randolph of Crawford county has
several times been a candidate for this
nomination. Phil Campbell of Pitts
burg also, would like to break into the
fight but Randolph has been successful
in keeping him out. Wilson of Mont
gomery is d biennial candidate and Mr..
Fishback has prior to this time ha4
congressional aspirations Mr.. kimball
is an old timer in politics and these ar
guments are being used vigorously
against all Of these candidates by the
Wheatley forces.
The principal issue in this contest in
wolves S. 5. kirkpatrick who has once
represented the district in congress,
having been three times defeated for
the place. He was defeated the frst
time he was nominated by J eff Hudson,
POpulist. Hudson was renOminated but
retired and J. D. BOtkin was put on the
ticket. He was defeated by Kirkpat-
rick who in turn has been twice defeat
ed by Congressman Ridgley.
Having been three times defeated at
the polls Mr.. kirkpatrick has become a
disagreeable political subject in the
minds of some of the politicians in that
district. Now that he is attempting to
stirred up considerable opposition
which the Wheatley forces did not an
ticipate.
Within the past few DAYS the fight
against the kirkpatrick ring has been
inaugurated and it will be carried into
the convention. Some of the new men
in Republican politics do not like the
methods which have been used in the
management of the kirkpatrick cam =
paigns and they are declaring their al
legiance to a new standard bearer.
Some months ago the State Journal
called attention to the fact that Mr.
kirkpatrick and his followers were
planning to let their mantle fall upon
Mr.. Wheatley. The Third district pa
pers which at the time vigorously as
sailed the Journal and also denied the
story now admit the truthfulness of the
statement and admit too that their
hopes for defeating the Wheatley nomi-
nation are very meager.
Whatever may be the circumstances
connected with the plan to nominate
Wheatley his friends are slow to believe
the charge that is being made to the
effect that his character will not stand
the scrutiny of the opposition press"
The Republican state officers and
those who became acquainted witt
Wheatley last year when he was in the
legislature and are in position to know
him intimately say such stories are
absurd They deny that Wheatley is {
man of bad character. On the contrary
the Third district people in the state