The Topeka state journal., 1902-07-26
Big Fight For United States
Senator Is On.
Believed Curtis Has Majority Of
the Senate.
BURTON WILL HELP.
Influence of Senator Is on Side
of Topeka Man.
Stanley and Long Are Making
No "Claims".

The question of the next United
States senator is attracting the atten-
ton of politicians more than is the COM
ing election. 1t is more discussed In
the papers over the state. The Repub-
licans are positive that they will elect
their state ticket and the legislature.
and they are not worrying any on that
score, but they are lining up for the
big battle between Curtis, Long ana
Stanley in the legislature next winter.
All three cannot win. Two, at least.
are bound to be disappOinted-all three
may be. for there is a possibility of d
dark horse or of the fuSionists captur-
ing the plum.
The majority of the state senate will
probably be for Congressman Curtis
at least, those are the present indica-
TONS The present state senate was
elected two years ago to make ]. r.
Burton United States senator. 1t IS
a nOid-Over senate, and while some OF
the men bers have broken away from
Burton good number will stay by
MIN and obey his wishes in the contest
next winter. Senator Burton is un-
doubtedly for Curtis in preference to
either Long or Stanley, and Curtis will
therefore have a lead over the others
in the senate.
There are a few senators who owe
allegiance to Governor Stanley and who
viii undoubtedly support him in the
senatorial contest. Some of the Seventh
district senators will support Long
They are for Long for two reasons. In
the first place, great part of the
seventh district is enthusiastic for Long
for senator. In the second place, until
Mr.. Long does go to the senate or
something else happens to him he will
doubtless be kept in the lower house
OF congress and continue to grow in
influence, and until he is advanced other
congressional aspirants in that part OF
the state will have to keep quiet.
IN the lower house, however, the other
candidates will have an opportunity to
play even with Curtis. In nearly every
legislative district in the state where
the sentiment is not all one way in fav-
or of some particular candidate a fight
has been or will be made for the Re-
publican legislative nominee.
Mr.. Curtis has the support of the Bur-
ton element of the party in general Mr.
Long has the support of some of the
strongest anti-Burton element, and they
are in the majority. Governor Stanley
is trying to maintain peace and is pick
ing up nominees here and there on his
own hook.
Governor Stanley's friends are pro-
ceeding on the theory that neither Long
nor Curtis can be elected. Governor
Stanley already has enough members
that he will doubtless hold the balance
of power between the first few ballots
in the caucus. Congressman Bower
sock will get a few votes. Congress-
man Calderhead may go into the race
dIter the november election, and II so
he will probably get some support from
the Fifth district. And there may be
others.
Stanley's friends do not believe that
Longs strength will ever go to Curtis,
or that Curtis will ever go to Long.
Senator Burton will not allow the lat
ter. Burton wants anybody else elected
United States senator rather than Long,
for II Long becomes senator, Mr.. Bur-
ton will at once assume a back seat
With Longs standing at the White
house he would probably deal out most
of the Kansas patronage during the
senatorial term.
For that reason if Senator Burton
cannot elect Curtis he will proba bly,
throw his strength to Stanley or some
new man. If he could elect new man
whom he could control he would doubr-
less do it, but If not he would probably
take Stanley in preference to Long, be-
cause Stanley would not supersede him
as quickly as Long.
The contest between the three is so
close that none has the advantage over
the others thus far. A Curtis organ re-
Gently figures to show that Mr.. Curtis
Is in the lead. but both of the other
candidates refused to make any figures.
THE candidates for the legisla ture
naturally do not want to express their
preferences at this stage of proceed
ings," said w Y. Morgan, who is man.
Neither do they want to be lined up
in claimed columns. 1t might hurt
them in the election if they happen to
be in close districts"
II am not making any more claims, -
said Governor Stanley, who is running
his own campaign. II am willing to LET
the other fellows do the claiming. All
j want to do is to get the members. In
that list published the other day, though
! was credited as claiming some that
have never thought of, and there are
some not included in my list that ]
am sure Of
Stanley picked up another member up
in Washington county yesterday. There
was a contest between William Muir
dock, of Clifton, who is said to be for
Stanley, and DR.. Maintz who was a
candidate for denomination. Congress
man Curtis was present and addressed
the convention, but the Stanley man
won by five majority.
In jackson county today there is an
other contest. This is significant be-
cause it Is in Congressman Curtis home
district Albert Sarbach is a candidate
for denomination and is the Curtis can
didate. The opposition to Curtis is sup
porting H. F. Graham the present
county attorney. The chances are said
to be in favor of Sarbach.
1t seems that Senator Harris will not
get into the contest in Kansas until late
in the campaign after all. At the time
of the POpuliSt state convention a few
weeks ago Senator Harris announced
that he would speak in every county in
the state and make a thorough cam
paign. Now it is announced that he
will shortly sail for Europe in the inter-
est of the livestock exhibit of the St
Louis Worlds fair. Senator Harris
knows as much about fine stock as he
does about the Union Pacific railroad
and the interoceanic canal. which is q
great deal, and he will doubtless dc
mucn towards bringing about a fine
European display in blooded stock Ir
the meantime, however, his campaign
for reelection to the United States SEN
ate will have to get along without his
personal direction until late in the cam
patgn- He viii return in time to make