The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-21
SCHEME.
Ex-Governor Has Plan to SIAM
pede POpulist Convention.
Wants to Nominate Col. Ed Lit
tie For Governor.
AN OLD TIME GRUDGE.
Would Do Much to Defeat John
BreidenthaI.
Plan That Has Been Success
fully Worked Before.
AN OLD TIME GRUDGE

Since Webb McNan and A. NJ. Harvey
have retired from the race for governor
John w. Leedy and his followers have
started a boom for Lieut.. Col. E. G.
Little. McNall was Leedy's first choice;
Harvey second. Now that these two
men are out of the wayLeedy is anxious
to find some one who will make the
fight against Breidenthal, and he be-
lieves Little can win.
The Leedy forces have proclaimed
that they will not swallow Credentials
nomination and they are making a live
ly campaign for Little.
Col. Little cherishes an ambition to go
to the United States senate and the fact
that he, as a late candidate, was the
recipient of more votes for that Office
in the last contest than some of the
men who had been openly seeking the
nomination for months is factor of
strength which makes him formidable
in the list of men who would accept the
Office.
Ex-Governor Leedy also has aspira-
lions in the direction of the senate but
Little will not get into the race until
Leedy is out. If Leedy goes into the
campaign for that position next win
ter, in the event the legislature is con-
trolled by the Populists, Little will help
fight Little will go in.
H. S. Clarke of Lawrence is handling
the Little boom for governor. Clarke
represents Leedy and is his spokesman.
Leedy is in Missouri looking after his
mining interests while Clarke attends
to the campaign details at home.
Col. Little has not consented to make
the race for governor against Breiden-
thai. The Leedy forces are making
strenuous efforts to make it appear that
Breidenthal is the choice of the Demo-
Gratis and does not represent the true
sentiment of the Populist party. Leedy
points out the alleged fact that Breid-
enthal attempted to be the whole
thing in the last campaign and want
ed to dominate Leedy and the remain
der of the state candidates. This the
Breidenthals forces deny and charge
that Leedy simply would not accept
the suggestions and assignments made
by Breidenthal as chairman of the state
committee in the first campaign in
which Leedy was elected for governor.
The state committee had all kinds of
trouble that year. Ieedy, Judge Doster
and L. c. Boyle made practically all of
their own dates and Boyle especially
ignored many that were made by the
committee and neglected to fulfill many
he made himself.
That there will be a spirited fight be-
tween the Leedy and Breidenthal fol-
lowers in the state convention is a fact
which the SageSt of the managers will
not deny. One of the elements of
strength which the opposition fears
from Leedy is the latter'S ability to
make a rousing Populist speech
An effort will be made to keep Leedy
out of the state convention but the
| Douglas county managers say it will
fail. They claim that Leedy will be on
the delegation to the state convention
and probably its chairman. While he
was governor Leedy demonstrated that
he could make good speech at any
time and under any circumstances. The
! anti-Leedy forces fear that Leedy will
do a large amount of work for Little
prior to the state convention and then
attempt to capture the convention by a
| speech.
1t is the custom of Populist conven-
lions to have the candidates line up on
! the platform, exhibit themselves and
make a speech before the balloting be-
| gins. The plan of the Ieedy forces, as
| told by one of their accredited repre-
| sentatiVes is for the ex-governor to
nominate Little in the best speech he
can prepare for the occasion. Then will
come the exhibition OF the candidates.
Little is himself eloquent and impressive.
Little's speech, if the condition sug-
| gested is brought about, will be like
that from Leedy, a lively production.
The impression of these speeches the
Leedy forces believe, would be i'm
portant and result in the success of
their cause.
Leedy and Little are by far the most
| eloquent speakers in the list of avail
able men for the nomination for COVER
nor. The effect which they might pro-
! duce in a convention is described by
| one of their loyal supporters:
LAS similar to that which resulted in
the nomination of Bryan at Chicago;
| stampede of the delegates"
| The managers of the Breidenthal
! campaign say they will have the nom
ination in their pockets before the con-
vention assemblies, meaning by that a
majority of the delegates instructed
| for Breilenthal.
The Munger managers say the Green
wood county man is nearer the nominal
| ton than any of the candidates. He
has been longest in the field and believes
! he will be nominated.
Undaunted by these claims the Leedy
people are working steadily on the Lit
tie boom and have hopes of complete
success.