The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-28
H ENDED IN HARMONY
Logan County Republicans
Made Warm Work
HOW The DAY WAS WON
For the SeeIey PEG pIe--Cun-
ningham's Withdrawal.

Guthrie @. T., Aug. 2z-The Republican
convention Of the Seventeenth legislative
district, which was held here Saturday,
was one Of the most interesting held in
the territory in recent years. 1t was a
reminder of the early-day conventions,
when, according to tradition at least,
men snapped bullets as well as ballots.
For more than an hour the Saturday
meeting was more than once threatened
Tt closed, however, with the most per-
feet harmony, one Of the two candidates
finally being named by reclamation. This,
in itself, is one Of the most interesting
facts in connection with the convention.
The preliminary bout preceding the
convention was pulled off on Thursday
evening. The city of Guthrie, every ward
Of which is included in the Seventeenth
representative district divided its dele
gate vote almost evenly between the
two candidates, Harper S. Cunningham
and Silas Z. Seeley. The four country
precincts were late in reporting and
when two Of them finally sent in their
returns on Friday the atmosphere was
not visibly cleared. To all outside ap-
pearances neither man had an advan-
tage and neither seemed absolutely Ger
tain Of his ability to control all Of the
votes actually instructed for him. One
Guthrie ward had elected an unlnstructed
delegat ton which both candidates were
clamoring to secure. In two Of the four
others there were contests. So it was
that there was a great deal of midnight
oil burned and a great deal Of political
medicine made on those Thursday and
Friday nights preceding the convention.
So far rs the sympathy and encourage
ment Of the most astute politicians was
concerned Cunningham had, Or should
have had, the better Of the situation
Cunningham has something Of a reputa-
zion as a politician himself and such
skilled political doctors as Billy Walker,
Frank Greer, Henry Asp, Charlie Filson
Rnd Jere Strang attended his case early
and late. The anti-Barnes forces lined
up against Cunningham almost to man
and joined with Seeley in a strong effort
to effect the defeat Of the former attor-
ney general When convention day arriv-
ed both candidates came up smiling and
ened and doubtful
The first test Of strength came on the
election Of a temporary chairman. The
choice Of the Seeley caucus was Ed Ball,
a wei known business man, and the can
didate Of the Cunningham crowd was O.
Il. F'egan. president Of the Guthrie club
an ex-territorial senator. The first ballot
resulted 81 TO 80 in favor of Ball and,
amid wild cheering ythe Seeley men,
Bal was pushed to the front Then a
delegate from one of the country pre-
cincts challenged the vote of his town
chip and Billy Walker demanded a poll
OF the delegation and another vote to
verify The original count The SeeIey
forces objected ignoring the urged claim
OF the Cunningham crowd that an honest
count could hurt no one
delegates stood on the backs of their
chairs and yelled and screamed Chair
man Filson, recognizing Walker and his
demand, declined to yield the gavel, and
Ball although urged forward by his CO.
horts, did not press his own claims. The
middle aisle Of the stuffy little hall
Bwarmed with hot-headed delegates and
enthusiastic Republicans who held no
'4tAt+isf AlcllA % WHbin SIOOQ TeadV 10
light at the drop Of the hat.
Finally the hat was dropped. A Fifth
ward Seeiey man who was present as A
spectator but who was carried away by
the excitement 4 the occasion. let fly
his right and plunking a one-handed
Cunningham delegate in the face. Mr..
Cunningham's man lifted his stub and
LANDED on the cheek Of the Fifth warder.
Now everybody in the hall contributed to
the uproar and men forgot to yeu "BaU'
and "Fegan" long enough to cry Fight"
in schoolboy style. Friends Of both graz
ped with the two fighters in an effort to
keep them separated. The Fifth ward
politician was hustled out Of the room
through a door near the chairman's desk.
Opposed by a score of men. the one
handed delegate wormed his way through
the crowd to the main door Of the room
and out into the hall In the corridor
they clashed again and again they ex-
changed blows. with the one-handed man