The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-15
OUTCENERALLED.
Burton Forces In Shawnee
County Badly DemOralized.
Little Indications That They
VIII Capture Anything.
HAVE BEEN CAUTIOUS.
Appear to Be Afraid to Show
Their Hands.
Beaten at Every Turn In Pre-
liminary Skirmishes.
BEEN CAUTIOUS.

From a United States senatorial view
the local political situation is in an
uncertain state of activity. This is
the result of the extreme cautiousness
Of the Baker and Burton forces. Both
have been waiting and the Baker forces
are the first to show their hands
It is known that the big fight in Shaw
nee county will be a Baker and Burton
fight over the representatives. There
has been more or less talk about Cy
Leland taking a hand in local affairs,
but Leland is probably too shrewd a
politician to attempt to inject hlmSeT
into a campaign in Shawnee county.
He VIII let Shawnee county take care
Of itself.
The battle will really be between the
Baker forces, led by United States
Marshal w. E. Sterne, and the Burton
allies, with Dave Mulvane at their head.
At this time it appears that Dave Null
vane mas been Outgeneralled at every
point and that the chances of Ralph
Burton securing even a single vote
from the Shawnee county delegation
are extremely remote.
The Burton people seem to be suffer-
ing from what might be termed lack
of confidence. They have struggled to
link their fortunes to those of Congress
man Curtis and have signally failed,
and pending the contest in the First
district have simply been waiting.
They know that the cause of Mr.. Bur
ton is not popular in Shawnee county,
and unless he can ride on some ones
shoulders his chances of seeing day
light here are poor.
Several months ago it was tacitly
agreed that Harry Stafford should be
the Burton candidate for the leglsla-
ture in what is known as the Santa
F'e shop district" which comprises the
First and Second wards and Tecumseh
township. Stafford is what is known as
"a good fellow and the Burton peo-
pie relied upon that fact to carry him
through, but for some reason Mr.. SAT-
ford's candidacy was not announced.
The Santa F'e shop men are not Burton
men and when they proposed that one
of their number be chosen as a candi-
date for the legislature the idea met a
responsive chord and a delegation of
shop men began the circulation of pc
titions requesting Alvin Dodge, one Of
the oldest and most popular workmen,
to become candidate. The task was
not a difficult one, and nearly all the
employees of the shops signed the Pc
tition. but the workers did not stop
at that. They secured the names of
some of the men who were in the
scheme to bring Stafford out, and OBJ
tanned all the county officers except
Probate Judge Dolman, and also Sc
cured many of the business men. Then
MIR. Dodge accepted and his candidacy
was announced before the Burton peo-
pie knew what had happened.
Harry Stafford is not inclined to bump
his head against a stone wall. and since
Mr.. Dodge has become candidate he
has told some of his friends that he
did not care to get into the race. Now
the Burton people are bringing infiu-
enceS to bear to force him into the con-
test, and it is possible that he may
yet become a candidate. Mr.. Curtis has
been telegraphed to urge Mr. Stafford to
go into the fight.
Mr. Dodge has not defined his posi-
ton on the senatorial question, but it
is known that he is not for Mr.. Burton.
In the city district which comprises
the Third and Fourth wards there has
been a great deal of beating about the
bush" Representative Ed McKeever
was requested to pledge himself to vote
for Burton but he declined. The Burton
forces suggested Archie Williams as
candidate but he refused the honor.
They talked of several other young men
but up to this time the question is still
| in allegiance with Mr.. McKeeVer as the
only candidate. Mr.. McKeever was an
uncompromising enemy of Mr.. Burton
! when he was a candidate before the
/ legislature and the Baker people have
not asked him for a pledge
| In the country district comprising all
| the townships except Tecumseh A L.
| Brooke expected to have no opposition
| and he became over bold. The Baker
! people were undecided about his posi-
| ton and there was some disposition to
! allow him to have a third term by de-
| fault but Mr. Brooke told the Burton
| him. OF course this information reach
! ed the anti-Burton forces and they soon
| camped on Mr.. Brooke's trail. Soon af-
/ ter Mr.. BrOOke'S position was determine
| ed Mr.. John B. Sims of Mission town.
ship appeared in the field. Mr.. Sims is
! one of the strongest farmers in the
| county and is also uncompromising
! anti-BurtOn man. Mr.. Brooke realizes
| that he must be defeated for a third
! term if Mr.. Sims remains in the race
| and he has made unsuccessful efforts
! to have him withdrawn. Mr.. Brooke
! said he would promise to support MI.
! Baker if tho opposition would be with
/ drawn but Mr.. Sims is not easily fright
| ened and he has refused to be moved
| from his purpose. He will be a candi-
| date and Mr.. Brooke will probably sur
| render the field to him as he has Serv-
! ed two terms and it was generally con-
! ceded that the south side should have
| the representative when Mr. Brooke
| was elected two years ago.
The United States senatorial question
has not entered into the contest for
state senator up to this time. The Bur
ton people have been afraid of John T.
| CLANCY and have been allowing the
matter to drift along. The entrance of
Col. Harrison into the fight appears to
be at the behest of old soldiers and he
says that he Is against Burton.
Stafford SURRENDERS
At 10 O'Clock today Harry Stafford an
nounCed that he would become a can
didate Cor the nomination for repre-
sentative. He so Informed Dave Null
vane, who called to get his final reply.
There was a conference at Mr.. SAT-
ford's office Wednesday afternoon.
Dave MulVane and his lieutenant John
| Dudley, were there; so was County At
torney Aaron Jetmore, Archie F. Will
liams and Eugene Hagan and Charles
! Holiday. Hagan and Holiday are
! Democrats. and though they added
/ their persuasive powers, of course they
] must not be considered as members of
/ the conference.
Mr.. Stafford first told the committee
/ that he would not be a candidate I'M
der any circumstances, but they con-