The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-15
IS IT A SCHEME?
Queer Action of Bailey Men In
Jefferson County.
Refused to Attend Meeting of
Central Committee.
CURTIS IN CONTROL.
His Friends Fix Date For the
Convention.
Feb. "a Chosen as the Time For
Primaries.
CURTIS IN CONTROL.

Primaries.
The Bailey men stayed out of the
meeting of the central committee at
Oskaloosa yesterday, and thereby in
dicate that there will probably be a
contested delegation from that county
to the congressional convention.
This contest may not arise but it is
evident that the Bailey forces propose
TO avail themselves or the power they
have in the congressional committee by
reason of the fact that they control
that committee absolutely.
AS the congressional committee con-
trolls the seating of contested delega-
tions it appears now that a contest
might result in favor of the Nemaha
county candidate.
The Bailey managers disclaim any
such plan yet some OF the SagaciouS
politicians who are watching the con-
test are positive that the preliminaries
indicate just such condition
Should this condition arise in the
First district it will be an emulation of
the example set by Wyandotte county
IN various conventions in years gone by.
Just such an arrangement defeated J.
e. Slonecker of Topeka for judge of
the court of appeals, Abijah Wells of
Seneca being the nominee and success
full candidate at the polls.
So far as the actual proceedings of
the county committee at OskaIooSa yes
terday afternoon are concerned, Charles
Curtis and his followers were in abso-
lutte control of the situation. The Cur
tbs men dominated the committee by
large majority and the Curtis plans
were carried out TO the strictest limit.
The Curtis dates for primaries and con-
yention We're selected.
The primaries are to be held Feb
ruary "A; the convention February 26.
Chairman Kerr and Secretary Walker
of the committee did not attend the
meeting of the committee. 1t is said
that they declined to attend because
they wanted action deferred until some
time in March AS they are Bailey'S
managers in the county Bailey is
charged with the responsibility of hav-
ing prevented a complete and proper
meeting of the committee. a
When the committee officers did not
appear Matt Edmonds was made chair
man; W. G. Shaw, secretary. Nine
members of the committee of fifteen
answered the roll call. Eleven mem
bers had signed the call for the COM
mittee meeting, Indicating that this
number of the committeeman are favor
able to Curtis. The chairman and sec
retary Of the committee and four other
Bailey men were not present.
The Curtis forces claim they have
captured Jefferson county and are jub
liant. They say a contest will not be
necessary because the vote will be so
overwhelmingly in favor of Curtis al
the primaries and convention that the
Bailey forces Will not nave the courage
to attempt to revoke the will of the
people by means of a contest.
Should this plan for a contested dele
cation materialiZe more trouble is
promised than has at any time been
anticipated 1t will precipitate a more
bitter fight in the convention and may
mean a row similar to those which take
place in Wyandotte county annually.
If the Bailey forces attempt to control
the convention nv unfair f66ra
will be a hot fight from every quarter.
The Curtis people are indignant at the
action of the Bailey people in Jefferson
county and state that this will be re-
sponsible for greater vote for Curtis
than had been anticipated by his fond
est supporters
The Curtis people say the Bailey peo-
pie stayed out of the committee meet
ing yesterday because they knew they
would meet defeat at every point, and
rather than take the consequences of
a fair and open fight, have resorted
to the subterfuge of claiming that the
meeting of the committee was irregular
and not in proper form in any sense,
and suggesting the calling of another
meeting.
If another meeting be held the Curtis
people may stay away, but they are ad-
vised by the managers of the Curtis
campaign tG be present and run the
wagon over the Bailey people, thereby
removing every possibility of a chance
for Il contest.
Mr. Bailey is now on his way home
from Washington. He said before
starting:
while ] think there is no doubt of
my nomination 1 intend to take moth
ing for granted. l am going out home
and make as hard a fight as 1 know
how, as l want the result to be a de-
cisive one. A man always feels sure of
success when he has a good margin.
THE situation is entirely satisfac-
tory The fight is confined exclusively
TO the counties Of Brown, Jefferson and
Atchison, and 1 believe I have the best
of the situation there. 1t will only be
necessary for me to capture five votes
in these counties to secure the nomi-
nation, but instead I expect to get at
least fifteen, and probably all of them.
F think / " i'll carry Brown county sure
| also think 1 Will carry Atchison county
sure. Th.re is some doubt as to
Jefferson but 1 think I have the best of
the situation there