The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-01
Frank Nelson May Profit By
Election of Morse.
It WIN Remove Most
Formidable Opponent.
AN ODD COMBINATION.
Old Burton Machine Was Appar-
emily Wrecked.
Leland and Simpson May Be
Working Together.

Politicians believe that the action of
the executive council yesterday in elect
ing J. c. O. Morse, of Hutchinson, as
member of the board Of railroad com
missioners. practically assures Frank
Nelson of a denomination as state super
intendent of public instruction, and
thereby hangs a tale.
A year ago both Nelson and State
Treasurer Grimes were personally for
Morse for railroad commissioner, but
other things kept them from voting for
him. Senator Burton wanted George
Findlay to get a place on the board, and
me used his influence with Grimes to
that end. Findlay stood in the way Of
j. H. Simpsons appointment as col
lector Of internal revenue, and there
fore Simpson asked Frank Nelson to
vote for Findlay in order to give him
clear sailing for the cOllectCrship. Mel
son owed political debt to Simpson and
to oblige him he voted for t1ndiay II
it had not been for this both Nelson and
Grimes would have supported Morse,
but they had to stay by Findlay as long
there was any prospect OF landing
him. and finally combination was
formed against him without their knoWl-
edge, and Finney was elected
This year both Grimes and Nelson
were free to support Morse If they chose
to do so, but Morse did not become a
is from the Seventh district and SO is
Grimes, Nelson and Governor Stanley.
The Seventh has faculty Of standing
fogether. Governor Stanley agreed TO
support Morse because he was seventh
district man. although he had nothing
against Finney. Nelson also still felt
kindly toward Morse, because a year
aeo Morse told Nelson that he did right
In standing by Simpson, so Nelson was
ready to support Morse this year. Geo.
Clark was for Morse, making Finney's
reelection impossible, so that Frank
Grimes was also swung into line, mas
much as his first choice had been Morse
a year ago. That is why Morse landed
so easily.
But Frank Nelson win in no wise
suffer by his fidelity to Morse. Indeed.
SONS politicians are now predicting that
Nelson viii be Tenominated by acclama-
ton. Morse is on the Reno county dele
cation. J. L. DayhOn- of Reno county,
Is Nelson's opponent IN the Seventh dis
trict. Morse and his friends, who are
The fellows who do things in Reno coun-
~, and in the Seventh district in fact,
can hardly fight Nelson after Nelson s
vote gave Morse one of the best jobs in
the state, and it looks as though Mr.
Dayhon VIII have to wait awhile.
with Dayhon out of the way the Sew
enth district viii line up sOlidly for Mel
son and he will probably have his share
Of the balance of the state and some to
made any progress in the race is w D.
Ross of Jefferson county In a three-cor-
Vlded. Ross stood a chance of winning but
with DayhoI out of the way. and Nelson
Bailey and CYRUS Leland. which Ross IS
not. the politicians say Nelson viii have
everything his own way.
Aorse's election may also have an i'm
portant bearing upon the gubernatorial
contest. With Dayhon of the political
map, Keno county VIII come out of the
doubtful or divided column, where it has
heretofore been classed. and Will be solid
Tor Bailey II is also likely that a largo
part Of Mcpherson viii also be for Bailey,
as he is the personal choice of majority
of the Mcpherson delegation, but it has
not been counted so because of Nelson S
A peculiar circumstance of Morse's cleo
ton was the fact that j. M. Simpson and
cyrus Leland we're once more working to-
sen We're once close political partners but
Simpson had break with Senator Baker
crowd. Since then he and Leland have
been opposing one another until yesterday.
Simpson wants to do all he can to help
Nelson because Nelson helped him a year
ago. and he saw the chance to do so in
III is now predicted that both Simpson
and Nelson VIII be working in harmony
with Albaugh and Leland within a year.
j. c. O. Morse. the new member of
the board Of railroad commissioners,
commonly known as "Orie" Morse
among his intimate friends, is a wheel
horse in Seventh district politics. He
formerly lived in Sumner county, where
he began his political life by holding
county Offices. Then he was appointed
aAEtEtllitENutnL Oh tue HUTCHINSON re-
fOrmatOry by Governor Morrill,. and has
since lived in that town. When his term
expired as superintendent of the re-
formatOry he was made mana ger of the
Hutchinson WaterwOrks Then Senator
Baker appointed him census supervisor
for the Seventh district. He was looked
upon as the leading candidate for rail-
road commissioner a year ago, and had
the votes of Stanley, Cole and Clark.
and was the personal choice of Nelson
and Grimes, but owing to the cOmbina-
ton of circumstances which obliged
them to support the preferences Of Sen
ator Burton they could not vote for
him.