The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-29
WHERE ARE WEAT
That Is the Position of the
Burton People.
Had Selected Barker as Candi-
date For Speaker.
BAKER FOLLOWS SUIT
Also Selects the Lawrence Man
For Speaker.
Burton People Now Hunting
For New Candidate.
A Burton Boast Which Was
Composed of Air.

The supporters and managers Of ].
r. Burton's campaign for senator have
been charging that the Baker boom is
wind" and have been pretending to
await for a challenge from that fac
ton of the party before making a decla-
ration of strength.
The Baker managers have united on
George ]. Barker, Of Lawrence, for
speaker of the house, and have pro-
claimed it. Barker is the very man the
Burton forces selected for speaker after
the election
Ten days ago the Burton people de-
cided to unite on Ed McKeever, OF
Shawnee county, for speaker, but Nc
Keever was kept in the background I'M
til it was definitely understood by the
Burton forces that they could not Sc
cure the support of Barker for Burton
by pretending to support him for
speaker.
Nevertheless, the Burton people have
at all times claimed Barker. The Baker
men have known all the time that
Barker was opposed to Burton. and Mr..
Burton too knew it. However, it was
hoped by the Burton forces to capture
Barker because of the proximity of
Douglas county, his home, to Leaven-
worth, the home of Senator Baker.
The Burton managers summoned Nc
Keever for a conference this morning,
and the various representativ of the
Abilene man have been busy all day seek
ing to do something to counteract the
result of the action of the Baker man
ayers in throwing down the gauntlet
to the Burtonites
The Burton forces have at all aimes
claimed that the strength was every
where in their favor, and that Mr..
Baker could not dare to take the initia-
tive. Now that Mr.. Baker has taken
the first step, has told what his plans
are-giVen the opposition all the oppor-
tunity necessary to begin the dght-the
Burton people are still under cover.
busy, but are not giving their plans to
the newspapers. Heretofore the Burton
people have given the newspapers in
formation to prove that the fight is
over, that Burton is as good as elected.
and many other things in favor of their
candidate.
But at this critical stage of the pro-
ceedings the Burton men, who boast a
controlling power in both the house
and senate have not had the courage to
meet the Baker ultimatum on the
speakership and claim they are not yet
ready to make public their plans.
In three weeks the senator will be
elected. Ii one week and two days the
legislature will be in session Probably
next week the first caucus on the
speakership will be held The Baker
men are confident of electing Barker,
but the Burton men laugh, and say it's
impossible; that they Will boss the or
ganization of the house and the election
The indications are that Senator
Baker is fully informed as to his
strength in the organization of the
house as proposed by the election of
Mr.. Barker for speaker. If Mr.. Baker
organizes the house, then it is all over
with Burton. The Burton people claim
that Baker has only a small number of
votes, whereas between forty and fifty
are necessary to organize the house. If
Mr. Baker has the votes to do this, then
the tables are turned and Burton will
continue to serve the people of the state
as a private citizen, which he seems
very averse to doing.