The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-13

IOlal . d. . 4,dOf
This is an average of 219 for each of
the above counties. OF course part of
the above are Republican votes, because
wherever the exact number is given it
includes the total number of defective
ballots in the county, but If every one
of them was fusion and if the counties
mentioned are representative of the en-
tire state, it would indicate that only
%, 600 were thrown out, whereas Bailey's
plurality will be more than 10000 great
er than that number.
In some counties, however, the Repub-
licans suffered worse from defective
ballots than the fusionists That was the
case in Shawnee county for instance
where an overwhelming majority of the
defective ballots were Republican. This
was the case, too, in nearly every coun-
ty where there happened to be blank
space on the Republican county ticket.
The Republicans were not so well versed
in using the ballot as were the fusion
lists
Mr. Craddock is considering the idea
of contesting the election of Bailey, not
with the expectation of being seated but
to show up the Republican frauds"
He is quoted as saying:
4 am now honestly convinced that l
was honestly elected governor and that
the state has been stolen from us Al
first ] was inclined to doubt the reports
which began coming in to me, but evil
dence of such a positive nature has been
WINGED.
In addition to the reports and evil
dence which have received and am re-
| ceiVing from other sources. have re-
ceived positive information from a Re
publican source at Topeka to the effect
/ that a deep-laid scheme was previously
arranged and successfully contaminated
whereby the state was stolen by the Re
publicans MY informant who is a
prominent Republican but a brother
/ Mason. admitted to me that the fusion
! ticket had been honestly elected, but he
/ advised me not to contest the election,
i for the reason, as he put it, that 1 was
/ up against a brace game and a contest
would necessarily fail, the supreme courr
and all state and county machinery be-
] ing against me-
Asked # he proposed to begin contest
/ proceedings Mr.. Craddock said:
4 am rather inclined to think I Will.
| I am now in consultation with attorneys
and will be governed largely by their
advice. while I am positive about the
] facts I am not we'll posted in regard to
! the legal status of the case l will per-
haps not decide definitely about the
matter for several days yet"
Before the election number of fusion
legislative nominees promised to support
senator in case Senator Harris had no
/ show of reelection. if they should be
them was successful, T. Jensen of En-
poria. who is pledged to support Congress
man Curtis. But the only way in which
/ they can do a Republican candidate any
/ good is to go into the Republican caucus
and promise TO stand by the caucus action.
It is doubtful If any fusionist VIII be al
mitted to the caucus. unless it is Sena tor
/ Tapp Of Wichita. and there will probably
! be 10 objection to him. Tapp announced
months ago that he would vote for Stan
/ ley for senator. and he also made a speech
before the Pooulist county contention in
SedgWick county and made a Roosevelt
speech which was cheered. 1t may be tina.
( Tapp will be admitted. Senator Morehouso
"A Curtis supporter-in speaking of Per
hitting. fusionists TO the Republican eau
: Gus. said:
I don't think many of these fusionists
VINO are now talking of going -Tto the Re
publican senatorial caucus viii be per
nitted to participate. OF course Senator
Tapp of Sedgwick stands differently from
the other Populists. He Topped before the
election and contributed morey and
speeches for the success of the Repubii-
can ticket. The others all ran against the
regular Republican nominees at the cleo
ton Their crowd TOW being in the minor
ity. they want to switch. I think they
should be taken in on probation and not
into full membership until after the sen
ator1al caucus"