The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-27
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Judge William Thompson in a
Peck of Trouble.
Doesn't Know What to Do With
His denomination.
QUEER COMPLICATIONS
Candidates For Sheriff on the
Anxious Seat.
Don't Know Whether They Want
Appointments or Not.
Interesting Gossip About Kan
sas Politicians.
QUEER COMPLICATIONS

Judge William Thon pson, Of the
Usage ee-Pottawatomie judi
cial district. is in hot water on account
Of the decision of the supreme court
holding the biennial election law
valid.
Last spring Thompson or his friends
forced an early convention. They re-
fused to wait for a decision on the
law. The convention nominated Judge
Thompson for the fourth time. He
has served on the bench in that dis
trict for thirteen years, the first year
being by appointment. Now, with the
nomination of the convention safe in
his keeping the judge finds himself be-
tween the frying pan and the fire. His
term viii expire in January. and there
will be almost a years interim from
tpe close or MS term until the next
general election in November 1902 The
year between will be filled by the ap-
pointment of a judge by Governor
Stanley. If Judge Thompson had no
opposition all would be easy sailing,
but now Robert Heller is in the field
for the judgeship, and the question for
Thompson to decide is whether to se-
cure the appointn ent of the governor
for the year between the end of his
term and the next election or to stand
by the nomination he has. If he ac-
cepts the appointment he relinquishea
MS claim TO the nomination he now
holds, and If he does not accept the
appointment Heller may step in for
the vacant year and set his pins so as
to remain. If Thompson accepts the
appointment and goes after another
nomination and gets it he will have
dOuble-barrelled nomination. No other
judge in the state is in the predica-
ment of Thompson If Heller is dis
posed of there is Senator J. X. Cpdding
ready to accept the plum.
The biennial election law win work
hardships on another class of aspirants
for office besides the followers OF
Blackstone. There is a constitutional
provision that sheriffs shall held office
for but two terms of two years each.
SheriffS who will have completed one
term up to January, 1902. and who wish
to run again for the term beginning in
January, 1903, will find year between
that will cause them trouble.
The opinion of lawyers who have
looked up the law is that If they are
appointed by the governor to fill out
the year left vacant for want of an
election that they viii have served
what will be construed to be two
terms and that they cannot then be
sheriffs for another term by election.
1t will be a case of receiving an ap-
election for two years. The case in
some counties will be that where the
sheriffs have served four years and
candidates appear to succeed them
at the hands of the gov
ernOr as it will knock them out Of
running for a second term. and on the
other hand they viii not wish to re-
fuse the appointment IL viii ham
dicap them in securing the nomination
and election. 1t is almost a case OF
being satisfied with three years in
office where they might expect under
years. The same applies to county
treasurers. but as the interim Is but
two months it makes little difference.
From all appearances there are two
uuintettes of leaders who stand at the
head of the two factions in the Re
publican ranks. although the idea OF
factions is decried by all the poll
ticians. OF course the factions are
friendly They have to be, and still
remain in the same fold.
One quintette seems to be NJ A. Low.
Dave Mulvane Senator J. Ralph Bur
ton, Congressman Charles Curtis and
Frank Grimes. This is the big five"
for it includes a United States senator,
congressman. national committee
man, the power of railroad and the
cash of the state. Now the other
1uintette or the lesser Ave-" seems
to answer to Fell-cal as follows. Cow
ernor w. E Stanley. Mort Albaugh.
Cyrus Leland, George A. Clark and
Henry Allen. The lesser five ism
weak. by any means with a governor
and two men whose names are some
INES DrenXed DI TDOS5. Ile dig MNe
seems to be behind the little German
governor from Council Grove. Harry
Richter in his boon for governor. II
Is understood that he IS certainly their
choice for gubernatorial honors, while
General Wilder S. Metcalf. OF Law
renee who succeeded Funston as the
colonel of the Twentieth Kansas. might
be more than a likely second choice.
H. B. Miller, of Usage, who has a sort
Of tempest in a teapot gubernatorial
wind storm blowing around, might
come in on the third choice
The lesser five" are supposed TO be
In hopes Of landing W. J. Bailey. OF
for governor on the Repub-
lean ticket, although Mr.. Bailey am
nounces in his home paper that he VIII
not be a candidate for anything next
year One thing seems to be certain
hat since he was defeated for con-
yress in the First district by Curtis ana
Cyrus Iseland's threat to overthrow the
from Shawnee came to
sudden end. that the man from Bailey
vile will not soon try for congress- lI
Bailey can not land at the top Of the
ticket the lesser fivc'' might revive
Henry Aliens race for governor. ana
hen if Allen was not just right ana
George Z. Cole should look like an easy
winner they might turn to him. Rich
ter is an old soldier, and that viii be
no small point in his favor, but ne ls
an uncertain element in politics ana
IS not regarded as a strong man per
sonally The lesser five have consider
,ble strength and can look to Joe
3ristow to give them more or less