The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-12
WHO SHALL 1T BE-?
There is a Senatorial Contest
After All.
Men Concerned Know They Can
Not BE Elected.
WHAT OF THE FUTURE2
Fight Now is For the Vantage
Ground.
An Overmyer Victory Means
Much to Johnson.
Have to Give Up His Place in
Inner Circle.
WHAT OF THE FUTURE2
Overmyer Victory Means
Much to johnson.

One of the hardest political fights that
has been made in Kansas for years is
now on between the fusion contestants
for the nomination for United States
senator David Cvermyer and j. g..
johnson are the Democratic aspirants.
while l.. p. king and Jerry Simpson
/ want the Populists to give one oe them
/ the empty honor.
There has been talk of the fusion
caucus among the fusion members ever
since the legislature was organized and
even before. They intended to call the
caucus Thursday night. but the fight
over the senatorial nomination Waxed
so warm that IL was postponed until
Monday night. and even then the
caucus may nominate only a state
printer and postpone action upon the
senatorial nomination.
1t seems to be conceded by the Popu-
Its that the senatorial nomination
should go to the Democrats because all
the complimentary nominations so tar
made have been given to the Populists.
This was an adrolt move on the part
of the friends of the Democratic aspir-
ants for the so-called complimentary
nomination Of senator. But the friends
of the aspirants for the complimentary
nomination" know that it is not an
empty honor. and that it may mean the
nomination Of the next United States
senator from Kansas. 1t was called an
empty honor in 1896 when the Rcpub-
lican minority gave its nomination to
J. r. Burton. At that time the Pop
and 1t seemed that they always would
have, but the mer who are now fighting
for this minority nomination know that
1t was due to that complimentary nOrni-
nation more than any other thing that
Burton won out in his long fight for the
senatorship. II he had been defeated
then he would not have been in the hght
this year.
This is the condition that eonfronts
Mr.. OVermyer and Mr.. johnson. Both
Of these men have been prominent in
Tn...-
years, Overmyer being the best known.
for he has made the fight for the fu-
sion forces on the stump, while johnson
has made his at the headquarters. over
myer looks upon johnson as an inter
loper, who has done nothing for the
party, but who holds his position simp-
ly because he was a friend Of Mr.
Bryan. He is considered by a majority
of the party as a man of much less
ability than Overmyer, and this is con-
ceded by Mr.. Overmyer to be- a fact.
Johnson never amounted to much IN
the fusion party OF Kansas until two
years ago, when he got into prominence
in the national committee. Just how
he happened to get on the COMMITTEES
has always been a mystery to the mem-
bers Of the party, but II is supposed he
got in when the party workers were
not watching johnson is in favor of "a.
separate caucus for the two parties
comprising the fusionists. while over
myer is in favor Of a joint caucus. It
was this difference which caused the
caucus to be postponed from last Thurs
day night until Monday night.
Johnson's s managers, w. A. Deford and
J. Mack Love. are engineering his hght
here while he is in California. and they
know that the majority of the fusion
members are bound by their instruc-
tions to attend fusion caucus but they
have started the cry for separate caucus
because they would be going to sure de-
feat in a joint caucus
Another important point which the
caucus will decide viii be the man who
viii be the national committeeman from
Kansas. This does not come direct with
the nomination. but If Overmyer wins
over johnson then Johnson may ais wen
pack his trunk and get out Of the ma
tional committee. for that rs cne Of the
points and a strong one in the fight
The peculiar thing Of the lineup 0f
the members Of the fusion party ia the
fight is that a large majority Of the
Popuists are for Overmyer and ma
jority Of the Democrats are for john
son. It will be remembered that over
myer made the race on the straight
Democratic ticket in this state and de-
feated the Populists while Johnson has
always been a fusion Democrat
The fight at present seems to be ia
favor Of Overmyer by chances Of at
least three to one. II the state goes for
fusion in two years the man nominated
at the caucus Monday night viii be the
political boss of Kansas. and his name
will be Overmyer.