The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-11

several days ago, all the judges had
been decided upon except Cunningham,
and the fight was between Cunningham, /,
Of the Fourth district, and ]. d. Nc
Farland. r. b. WEIGH and J. G. Sion
ecker, all of Topeka
1t had been agreed by the governor
that the judgeships should go to the
districts which were not represented by
Republicans in the supreme court, and
on account of this decision it was easy
to select Greene, Pollock and Ellis, as
they had the united support of their re-
spective districts. The fight in Shawnee
county between Mcfarland and WEIGH
kept Shawnee county from getting
judge on the supreme bench of the state
Slonecker was not in the fight very
much. and was never considered a pos
sibslity by the politicians. Mcfarland
had the support of NJ. A. Low and a
number of the lawyers, while Welch had
more signatures on his petition than the
other two. II
Judge Cunningham had the united
support of his district, both the lawyers
and the politicians being fnr him
1t was rumored yesterday afternoon
that the governor would announce the
appointments, and it was rumored that
Mcfarland would be the one named
The friends of WEIGH at once began to
call at the governors Office, and all
afternoon and evening he was in con-
sultation with some one who was anx-
sent the good advantages to be secured
by the appointment of their friends.
Probably a majority of the lawyers
in Topeka were in favor of Mcfarland,
while the politicians favored WEIGH.
Several attempts We're made to patch
the matter up SO that the governor could
appoint a Shawnee county man, but
they were unsuccessful because Welch
and his friends would agree to nothing
excepting his appointment
They knew that if aAShawnee county
man other than Welch was appointed
that the same man would have the ad-
vantage when it came to the conven-
tion which viii nominate the judges
after their appointive time has been
served. They looked upon the appoint
ment as settling that matter if it went
be the nominee Of the party in the next
convention. As it now is Mr.. Welch
can make the race for the supreme
bench before the convention with a fair
chance of securing the nomination.
The appointments seem to be satisfac-
tory to a majority of the politicians, be-
cause they were anxious to have the
fight settled before it became too hot,
and all the politicians are talking har-
mony with a cap H.
WHO THEY ARE.
z. W. Cunningham was born in
Clarksfield. O.. August n 1912. He at
tended school at Baldwin university
and at Hillsdale, Mich, where he gradu-
ated. He served in the federal army,
enlisting August I. 1852, and was dis
charged June %. 1865. to join the regular
army as hospital steward. He was ad-
mitted to the bar in Urbana, O., in 1869.
and in July of the same year settled
in Emporia. where ne has since prac-
ticed law He served as probate Judge
of Lyon county three terms, being
elected in 1872, IA, '76. He was the
of the Republican party in 1896
for district Judge Of the Lyon Coffey-
Chase district, and was defeated He is
one Of the leading Methodists of the
state and it was due to his efforts that
Presiding Elder CCker was elected to
his high position in the church. He has
been superintendent Of the Methodist
tWenty-six years He was married in