The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-19
HERE'S TROUBLE.
RuggIes and StOttS Will Not BE
Squelched.
Sale of Advocate Does Not
Daunt Them.
ANOTHER NEW PAPER.
They Will Now Start "DemO-
cratic Organ"
Claim Advocate Was Bought by
Jerry Simpson.
ANOTHER NEW PAPER.

The purchase of the Topeka Advocate
by a syndicate of Jerry Simpsons
friends, left r. NJ. Ruggles and E. B
Stotts, the promoters of the proposed
Democratic paper. with the cuts and
material for a. special edition concern
ing the coming state convention of the
fusionists on hand. They expected tc
begin work on this edition yesterday.
However the promoters of the Demo
cratic organ are undismayed and the
announcement is made that they will es-
tablish a new paper Immediately after
the Fort Scott convention
It is the purpose of the Advocate to
support Jerry Simpson for United
States senator and this is accountable
for the report that Simpson is furnish
1ng the greater part of the capital TO eS-
1ablish the Advocate upon it's new basis.
Stotts and Ruggles and some of their
friends in this new enterprise are COM
planning at the methods which prevailed
in connection with the purchase of the
Advocate.
1t is claimed that Rugg1es and Stotts
had an option on the paper and went to
the Advocate office to pay t. w Harri-
son the first inStallment of 81, 900.
Mr.. Harrison was out of town and
those in authority could not say when
he would return.
1t is now, claimed that Harrison went
to Wichita and while there in confer
ence with Simpson and his friends, sold
ton claimed by RuggleS and Stotts-
The controversy concerning the treat
ment of the various parties to this pro-
posed transaction will result in the
founding of two new papers. It viii
take the Advocate out of the Republican
column and bring a new Democratic
paper into existence, because the plan to
have a, Democratic paper has not and
will not be abandoned. Ruggles and
Stotts announce that they will start a
new paper by August 1. They have not
selected a name for the new publication
out IL Will be an organ of the fusion
campaign because it has what the Ad-
vocate has not, the official endorsement
of the fusion committees.
The promoters of the Democratic pa
per exhibit endorsements of the plan
from the Democratic and Populist ma
uonal committee; also similar dOcu-
ments from the Kansas Populist and
Democratic state committees.
Ruggles and Stotts charge that the
sale OF the Advocate was accomplished
against their option, because Simpson
and his followers knew that the Demo-
cratic paper would not support him for
United States senator. No particular
opposition TO Simpson would have been
exhibited. so the promoters of the pro-
posed publication say, but the paper
would not have supported Simpson, con-
sequently he and his friends, when the
opportunity came. took the paper off
Harrisons hands.
simpson has been working to have the
state convention nominate him for SEN
ator, thereby doing the work usually
left to the legislature. Whether this
Will be done is a question, but recently
the proposition has not beer discussed
among the leaders and the convention
Will probably be deprived of the op-
portunIty to act on this proposition be
cause OF similar aspirations on the part
or various seekers of this position
The Democrats will not listen to
proposition of this kind because the
Democrats are working for the balance
OF power in the legislature and want to
name the senator from their own mem
bership If they should accomplish what
they now have planned.
The proposed new paper will be Dem
ocratic. the Sunf1ower league being one
or the principal factors in its establish
menL This being true the indications
mat the Democrats hope to do them
serves some good in this campaign are
sustained.
J. w. Breidenthal and other pronni
nent Populists are supporting now as
they have been, the plan to have a new
breach would be filled as it has been.
however, they would not presume to
turn their backs on the Advocate esDec-
Tally when it is TO be a Populist party
organ, something which the Populists
nave not had for several years
Ihere viii be a contest at Fort Scott
over this paper deal, because the Dem
ocrats want to reach an understandings.
that their paper, in the event of Foon,l-
list success. be made the official state
paper. which by the way is a profitablts
branch of the business. This Simpson
ana his forces will oppose, so the new
paper deal promises all sorts of conYpu
cations during the campaign of the nex+
few weeks.