The Topeka state journal., 1900-04-18
Shall Morton Albaugh Be Re-
tanned a Serious Question.
Governor Stanley Wants Him at
Head of State Committee.
HUDSON SAYS "NO." )"
He is Ably Seconded by Other
Burton Workers.
May Develop a Serious Division
Of the Forces.

The Burton forces, Governor Stanley,
Gen. ]. K. Hudson and their respective
followers are likely to clash over the
selection of a chairman of the Republi-
can state committee at the state con-
vention in Topeka in May.
]. K. Hudson and his followers are
demanding a new deal from the top to
the bottom of the committee and are
confident that they have the force nee
essary to accomplish it.
The Burton forces are practically in
line with Gen. Hudson on this PROPOSE
UiOn although they are very anxious to
avoid becoming involved in a contro-
versy on this subject.
It is understood that Governor Stan
ley wants Mr.. Albaugh retained as
chairman, something which Gen. Hud-
son insists, editorially, would only tend
to drag the party down to defeat. Mr..
Hudson charges that Albaugh and
Frank Brown are the tools of Leland
and that they with Mr.. Leland must be
dethroned to save the Republican party
from defeat.
There is an element of the member
ship in the party which is making
strenuous efforts to keep the fight for
senator out of the campaign at this
time There is another element which
insists that the politicians take their
fights out of the way until the state
ticket and the legislature are secured.
These features are but side lights of
the contest for senator and chairman.
In seeking the retention of Chairman
Albaugh, Governor Stanley is but re-
paying A1baugh for services rendered
in the last campaign. At the same time.
the official organ of the party and the
administration of which the governor
is the head has announced that Al
baugh must 60 This announcement
comes from Gen. .Hudson's editorial col
umns and from his utterances in public
| and private.
The Republicans fear that the COVER
nor's effort to smooth out the conpIica-
tiOnS which now exist may bring down
upon his devoted head the opposition of
the principal Republican organ in the
state, which they fear might produce a
| split in the party that would result in
defeat at the November election
Some of the politicians who are on in
innate terms with the governor are
counselling him 10 be careful in his
attitude on the question of a chairman
for the state committee this year. How
| ever, the governor believes that the dis
! puted points may be adjusted and that
| in the desire for harmony will be found
! the solution of the problem by which
| the party is confronted.
| Gen Hudson insists that Albaugh be
| ousted not only because he is a Leland
| man but because he is for Baker for
| senator. The Baker forces have dis
carded their timidity for a length OF
| time sufficient to inquire what good
would be accomplished by putting AL
baugh out and in his place establish &
representative of the other faction OF
the party which only covets the posi-
| tions which dominate the management
| of the party's affairs.
Cyrus Leland, Brown, and long lis
of men who are in what might be des
ignated as "Albaugh's crowd" of fel
lows were for Major Hood for governor
Albaugh cast loose from this crowd an,
lined up with the Stanley forces in th
Seventh district when the chances 70
Stanley's nomination were exceedingl,
slim. Albaugh did Stanley much ser
vice prior to the state convention Thi
service was continued after StanIe
was nominated. Albaugh has since bee
very close to the head of the admins
tration and the governor would like t
see him retained as chairman Th
chances are against him now, but tn
governor, it is said, is making a vigor
GUS effort to iron out" the existing diff
fculties and thereby pave the way t
Albaugh's reelection which the Cover
nor very much desires.