Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-05-26
A yo,Nr CONVENTION.

We attended the congressional
convention at Parsons on Monday
of this week. The Democrats met
to nominate a candidate for. con.
gress. So did the Populists. The
Democratic candidates for the
place were Samuel H. Smith of Bax.
ter Springs, Judge A. NJ. Jackson OF
Winfield, and Hugh p. Farrelly OF
Chanute. The Populists were de.
termined that Congressman Ridge
ley should be nominated. The Dem
ocrats were equally as determined
that Democrat should have the
place. Each convention had l45
delegates. The Democratic conven.
ton was organized with J. p. Kos
tier of Coffeyville as temporary
chairman and W. L. Burke of Gale
ma as temporary secretary. The
permanent organization was 5. II.
Barr OF Montgomery county Tor
chairman and W. L. Burke secre-
tary. The temporary organization
was effected by an agreement OF
the Smith and Jackson forces. Mr..
Barr, the permanent chairman, was
a Farreliy man. The conference
committee from the Democratic
convention met with the Populist
conference committee and asked
that the nominee be Democrat.
To this the Popuiists would not
consent, but they placed them
selves in a position where Demo-
crat must of necessity be nomi-
mated by agreeing to meet in joint
convention, giving and taking
equal privileges and that a two
thirds vote would be necessary to
nominate. The Democrats agreed
to this. This was the situation: As
we have said before, each conven
ton had l45 votee; necessary to a
choice 1914: the thirteen POPulist
votes from Neosho were instructed
for Farrelly: the twenty Populist
votes from Cowley county were in
structed for Jackson; leaving au
unrestricted Populist vote OF 1i2; II
all Of this was cast for Ridgeley he
would yet be short ~ votes. which
must of necessity come from the
Democrats. 1t will be seen from
this that Mr.. Ridgeley's nomination
was beyond the range of human
possibility. Mr.. Smith was placed
in nomination by Gabriel Schmuck
of Galena; Mr.. Farrelly by W. r.
Cline of Neosho county. and Judge
Jackson by Mr.. Fuller of Winfield.
Ridgeley was placed before the
joint convention by 7. ]. Hudson OF
Fredonia. The first ballot resulted
as follows: Smith 40. Farrelly 93,
jackson 81, Ridgelry 100. The bal
loting was resumed aud for many
hours there was little change either
way. Finally II became apparent
that the deadlock could not be bro
ken IL all the candidates stayed in
the race. When the 5lst ballot was
announced, Mr.. Farrelly Withdrew
from the contest. aud yet there was
a deadlock. Prior to this time Mr..
Smith announced that he wanted
to break the deadlock and therefore
desired that the Cherokee county
delegation try to 20 II. He had not
yet, however. Withdrawn from the
race. II was the hope of the Far
reilly forces that the Cherokee coun'
~ vote would go TO their man, but
this was not possible. il being Civ.
en- about equally 10 Jackson and
Farreily. Then il was apparent
that Farrelly could not win and he
Withdrew from the contest. Still
there was q deadlock. II was yet
evident that no nomination could
be made. Then Mr.. Smith told his
friends to vote for the other can
didates as they chose. Their next
choice was Judge Jackson of Win
field. When Cherokee county's vote
was given TO Jackson it seemed ~
IL the roof of the opera house must
certainly have been torn loose from
its fastenings. The Populists see
ing that AZ against Jackson their
man could not win. began getting
on the Jackson musical vehicle
Judge Jackson is man of supe'
rior ability, an eloquent and logical
speaker, and an effective campaign
er, and his nomination is endorsed
by the entire anti-Republican forces
of the Third district. He is Ken
tuckian by birth, forty years of age
aud has been a Kansan for nine
teen years.
We had hoped that Samuel H
Smith would receive the uomina
ton. OF his candidacy II can nc
longer be said that he is unknown
ia the district. In a campaign Of
less than ninety days he has made
himself known and felt all over the
district, and but for the duplicity
and deceipt practiced by one of the
leading Populists of Cherokee
county mot resident of Baxter
Springs) the result would have
been different. When il became ap'
parent that Mr.. Smith was getting
ready to release his friends. dele.
gates from other counties appealed
to the Popuiist delegates of Chero-
kee county 10 stay by Smith. thus
showing his good standing in 9th
er parts of the district. The Popu'
lists Of Cherokee county were
shamefully misrrpresented at Par.
sons.
The Populist delegates knew that