The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-18
SIMPSONS FALL.
How oman From Mcpherson
Met Defeat at Every Turn.
Pleaded Hard For Place on
State Committee.
DEAF EAR is TURNED.
Crowded Entirely Out of the
Inner Circles.
His Old Enemy, A. W. Smith.
Was Successful.
DEAF A is TURNED.

J. NJ. Simpson, of Mcpherson, who
has been talked of for chairman Of the
Republican state committee, went home
in the gloom of defeat at every turn,
while his ancient enemy but present
comrade and political partner, A. ".
Smith, marched on to fame as one of
the presidential electors for the state.
The details of Simpsons downfall at
this time are an interesting chapter in
the side-Iights of the convention which
has come and gone.
Mr.. Simpson was very anxious to re-
tain his place as a member of the Re
publican state committee, a body with
which he has long been identified. 1t
has been many years in Kansas since
Mr.. Simpson Wasnot identified with the
inner circle of politicians.
There is one thing about Simpson
which cannot be said of all his political
friends, and that is he never sulks. He
is always for the ticket. The politicians
refer to Simpson as the "thickest-
skinned" mar in the party, because no
matter what reverse overcome his high
est ambitions he is always found in the
procession, hu~rrahing, If need be, for
the men who were instrumental in ac-
complishing his defeat. This is the
attitude Simpson is now occupying. He
has lost all that he priced politically,
but he will go home and go to work for
49, E1Ak1 JA0L LIZ A1AAAS g. IL IL 6CA0
wagon had not passed within 100 miles
of his vicinity. i.
Mr.. Simpson months ago started out
to make his own reelection to mem
berShip on the state committee sure.
His first step was to go over into Reno
ounty and FIX the Hutchinson fell
lows so he believed they would be for
him to the last.
The Republican state committee Sc
lects its members from judicial dis
tricts. The district which Simpson has
represented is composed of Harvey,
Reno and Mcpherson counties.
So when Mr.. Simpson went to Hutch
insOn n was instrumental IN bringing
ran Martin out as a candidate for
delegate at large to the national con-
vention he believed some of the local
politicians would fight Martin but that
he WOul win and then be in a position
to join with Mcpherson county in re-
electing Mr.. Simpson to membership
on the state committee.
But the Hutchinson politicians were
wary, and Simpson did not trap them.
They simply kept up the Martin boom
and quietly perfected the plan to de-
feat Simpson. This Mr.. Simpson did
not discover until it was too late to
accomplish anything to advance his
own interests, but that did not deter
him from making a final effort.
The state convention placed George
Kanavel of Harvey county on the COM
mittee in place of Simpson. but Simp-
S0u hdu IHd4G d AG4OA ~ SCI
Kanavel cut of the way, even going s.
far as to offer to trade of the job OF
Judge held by his brother Judge NJ. P
Simpson of Mcpherson, for the place or
the committee.
George Kanavel and A. L. Greene. &
lawyer at Newton, haye for years beer
intimate friends, and upon this friend
ship Simpson placed his cards to win
He told Kanavel that he wanted to re
main on the committee and explained
that it was a matter of Importance tt
him thai such an arrangement should
be continued. Simpson wanted Kanave
to get out of his a but Kanavel de
clined.
Then Simpson offered to have hi:
brother Matt, the judge, get out of tht
way next year. and promised to hav
the Mcpherson county delegation
pledged to the nomination of Greene tt
succeed Judge Simpson. All Of thesi
offers the Harvey county forces re
jected and the plan to elect Kanave
counties. Simpson was fighting Al
baugh, but Reno n Harvey COUNTIES
spoiled that job by electing Kanavel
who is an avowed Albaugh man ant
one of the governors closest friends
Then Mr.. Simpsons ambitions Weri
finally inferred in this campaign by TIL
action of the convention IN declaring
the officers should not be selected from
without the membership of the com
mittee.
This defeat, coupled with the fac
that Simpson and his old enemy A. w
Smith made up and Rugged each othe
in the corners of the Copeland like the.
did in the good old days, and thel
Smith marching off with a big prize il
the convention, sent Simpson home ru
minating upon the disappointments an
uncertainties of a political career.