The Topeka state journal., 1900-09-15
HINT AT A TRADE.
Rum0r That Compromise Was
Offered Mr.. Hessin.
Contest Decided in His Favor to
ExOnerate Him.
MIR. CLARK DENIES 1T.
Secretary of State Says No
Proposition Was Made.
Believes That Mcknight Will
Win i'm New Primary.

There is a story floating around today
to the effect that John E. dessln was
offered the certificate of nomination IN
the Hessin- Mcknight senatorial contest,
provided he would at once resign ana
permit Mr.. Mcknight to make the race
It is said that the motive IN tnis pr pr
posed deal was to give Hessin ylndlca-
f5on which 1t was urged was all ne de-
sired, and then permit the Mchnlsht
forces to proceed without Iurther inter
George A. Clark, secretary of state, is
the manager of Meningitis campaign.
For this reason Mr.. Clark did not slt as
a member of the contest board Wnlch
heard the case.
Clark today if there was any truth IN
the report alleging an offer to make
deal through Hessin. To which ne
replied.
1.-THE report is false. There is not the
slightest foundation for it. 1t is as un-
truthful as it is foolish. have never
before encountered such an absurd pro-
1T is said that you went to Kansas
City and there met Mr.. Hessin and made
the proposition to him, that he accept
the certificate of nomination and then
resign said the reporter.
s'Well, that whole story is a fake.
There is not one word of truth in it. l
have not talked to Mr.. Hessin since the
DAY the contest was heard in Topeka
That was several weeks ago. There IS
absolutely no foundation for It
No such a proposition" " continued MT
Clark, ~has ever come from Mcknight
or the men representing him. have been
interested and have had something to do
with the management of the Mcknight
campaign and I know that what say
is true. Not a single proposition of any
character has ever been made Tor COM
promise by the Mcknight forces.
THE nomination of Mcknight, in my
judgment, was a fair and square propo-
sition; he was entitled to the nomination,
but the contest was decided against him
However, Mcknight is now a candidate
for the place and he will prove to the
people who are watching this district
that he is the choice of the district in
the new convention
I'VE will furnish the necessary evil
dence in the next convention and in the
preliminaries too, that the district wants
Mcknight to be the nominee for senator.
He is entitled to the nomination on what
has already transpired and he will OBJ
tain that to which he is entitled in the
next convention
The story which was circulated does
not implicate Attorney General GODDARD
and Mr. Cole in the alleged deal, but
states that Mr.. Clark laid the plans for
the compromise. Herein is its weakness.
Mr.. Clark had nothing to do with the
decision in this case. He was familiar
with the evidence but he did not know
what decision the two members arrived
at until it was announced. Mr. Clark
does not believe that the decision is just,
because he Is interested in the Me-
Knight campaign and is of the opinion
that Mcknight is entitled to the noIni-
nation However, Clark has accepted
the situation without complaint ana is
planning to take a hand in the new con-
VentfOn which must be held
The decision as announced Friday was
reached by Mr.. Cole and Mr.. GODDARD af-
ter several days consideration of the
case There was some delay because the
two men were compelled to be out Of
town at different times, one being away
when the other was at home, so they did
not have an opportunity to consider the
case
When the evidence was being consid-
cred three opinions were discussed and
written.
The first gave the contest to Mcknight:
the second placed both Mcknight and
Hess1n on the ticket; the third referred
the proposition back to the Republicans
of the district
In the opinion of the two members. of
the board some of the practices which
were INDUCED in at the primaries made
the convention irregular SO the latter de-
cision was rendered.
All members of the board express in
d1gnation at the allegations of trades
being made while the decision was pend
ing. There seems to be no just grounds
Tor the story which is being Industrious
ly circulated in Topeka, yet it is becom-
ing current and grows in volume as it
grows in age.