The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-22
WHAT OF WALKER
HOltOn Man Wants to Be Nation
al Committeeman.
Queer Complication at the First
District Convention.
BURTON is WATCHFUL.
Fears Cy Leland Has Something
Up His Sleeve.
May Still Have Eye on His Old
Place.

A. D. Walker, of Jackson county, will
seek the position of national Republican
committeeman for Kansas This fact
was developed at the First congress
sional convention, and it was the result
of an incident which is, to say the least,
worthy of more than passing notice.
The Curtis forces. following an estab-
llshed rule of politics, held a caucus
prior to the convention, and as they
were in the majority selected the men
for the various offices.
John Seaton and r. NJ Emery were
selected for delegates to the national
convention by the caucus The dele
when, in the convention, Mr.. Walker
was nominated for delegate, action
which was out of line, when the action
of the caucus was considered.
There was a momentary lull in the
proceedings, the nomination of Walker
creating much excitement. While the
delegates were seeking a solution of the
mystery big Bill'' Anderson arose and
withdrew Mr.. Walkers name.
In the explanations which followed
the incident, the fact that Walker
wants to be national committeeman
was discovered.
Mr.. Walker is a prominent Jackson
county Republican. He is one of the
WealthieSt men in Jackson county. 1t
will be remembered that Mr.. Walker
announced a year and half ago a
desire to be the Republican nominee for
governor. However, his boom did not
get outside of Jackson county, and
when the time came Mr.. Walker had
retired from the race.
Mr.. Walker is at this time the only
avowed candidate for this place, al
though there are many men who would
gladly accept it.
The Burton forces are watching
Cyrus Leland closely, claiming that Le-
land is making a fight for the place out
TNs..
people say that Leland hopes to cap
ture the delegates from the Second,
Third and Seventh districts, a total of
six, believing that he can get five of
the six delegates at large, making a
total of eleven which would elect him.
But the Burton people swear vengeance
on Leland and say they have him beat
en- now.
While Mr.. Burton disclaims designs
on the position, yet he is on the Kansas
upon to take the position in the event
a compromise candidate has an oppor-
tunity."
Mr.. Burton was talked of as a candi-
date for delegate at large but decided
to keep out of that contest and ac-
cepted the place at the hands of the
Fifth district convention.
The Leland forces have made the
Burton people angry by saying that
Burton WAS compelled to accept the
deIegateship from the Fifth district be-
cause he feared defeat in the state con-
vention as a candidate for delegate at
large.
When told that the Leland Baker
forces had made this charge, Frank
Grimes, Mr.. Burtons manager, laughed
and said:
''I do not believe the charge has been
made but I know that such a state
ment is absolutely untrue. Mr. Burton
did not want to be delegate at large .
Mr.. Grimes would not say whether the
Burton managers are responsible for
Mr.. Walkers candidacy, neither would
ne say whether the Burton forces were
for Mr. Walker
I'VE are taking no part in these mat
ters,'' said Mr.. Grimes.