The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-21
JACkSON'S PLAN.
Democratic Congressman Work
ing on EusiOn Scheme.
Will Insist That the Democrat
ic Convention Adjourn.
MIR. OVERMYER'S BOOM.
Fight Now on Between Him and
Mayor CraddOck.
Douglas County Democratic Con-
MIR. OVERMYER'S BOOM.
Douglas County Democratic Con
VentiOn Declares For Fusion.

The first state convention to be held
this year will be that of the Democrats.
1t will meet a week ahead of the Repub-
lcan at Wichita. The date IS May p,
only a month away. But notwithstand-
ing this fact there has been little in
terest in the approaching convention
among the rank and file of the Demo-
Gratis.
But the action of the Shawnee county
Democrats on Saturday in formally an
nouncing the candidacy of David Over
myer for governor will bring on many
conventions in the next two or three
weeks. Overmyer is popular among the
Democrats of Kansas, and the contest
for the gubernatorial nomination will
be between him and Mayor Craddock of
Kansas City, Kan. Overymyer has dis
tinct advantage in his extended personal
acquaintance over the state, but Grad
dock is said to be something of an Or
ganizer himself.
This viii not be the first time Mr..
Overmyer has made the race for COVER
nor of Kansas. Eight years ago he was
the Democratic candidate and there was
a three-cornered fight that year, the
same as there will probably be this year
The principal contest in the Demo-
cratic state convention will not be over
the nominee for governor, however. It
Will be on the proposition to postpone
the naming of a Democratic ticket at all
until the Populists also meet, on June
q. Congressman A. NJ Jackson is back
of this proposition, and he and his
friends will make a fight for it as soon
as the convention opens at Wichita.
Jackson is anxious for fusion and he
believes it can be brought about II the
two conventions meet the same day and
in the same place. The POpulists are not
averse to fusion if they can fuse in the
right way, but they will not surrender
everything to the Democrats The Dem
ocratic state committee has turned down
any fusion proposition save complete
surrender, the POpulistS to go bodily
into the Democratic party, although they
would doubtless be willing to give the
POpulists a good share of the places on
the state ticket.
Jackson's proposition viii be fought
by the element which is in control of
the state committee. The question of
fusion has never been acted on by the
rank and file of the Democrats. and
delegate convention may reverse the
state committee. The fusion element is
more anxious to secure all the county
Offices possible this year, and they know
it can only be accomplished by the help
of the PopulistS The anti-fusiOn ele-
ment is more anxious to be in shape to
control the federal patronage of the
state two years hence. in the event OF
the election of a Democratic president,
than they are to get the county offices.
AS a greater number viii be benefited
by the county offices than by the fed
eral appointments. the fuSionists hope
to win in a contest among the rank and
file of the Democrats.
The Douglas county Democrats held
their convention Saturday and voted for
fusion, and the fusiOnists hope to have
other conventions express themselves
the same way.
There will be a scramble for the, Re
publican judicial nomination in the
Twentieth judicial district this year.
Judge Clark will retire from the bench
and there are already five candidates
mentioned to succeed him. 9. E. Hon
lxins. sam Jones and J. W.B rinckerhof
of Rice county, and Eric Cole and G.
W. Nimocks of Barton No one has yet
been mentioned from Stafford, the other
county in the district Hopkins is coun-
ty attorney of Rice county at present
and serving his second term. It is said
that T. J. Moseley, of Stafford, will be
the Democratic nominee.
Colonel J. D. Snoddy, of Linn county
who has been prominent in G. A r
circles since time immemorial, has
started back fire against the proposed
pension of $1,000 for Mrs. Mckinley.
He says Mrs. Mckinley has no need of
it and it would do far more good If
it were divided among widows of Civil
war veterans who are in destitute cir
cumstances. He has written to Presi-
dent Roosevelt asking the president to
veto the bill.
The largest delegation yet to be
/ elected to the Republican state conven-
ton is the one from Crawford county.
,The date for the Crawford county con-
vention has been May q, only a week
before the state convention. but it has
been changed in the interest of Phil
Campbelps candidacy for congress and
viii be held next week, on April 80.
Elk and Butler counties will hold
their conventions tomorrow. Butler
/ county will instruct for w. NJ Sinclair
for state superintendent of public in
struction. W. J. Bailey is in in Elk
county today looking after matters
| downthere.
w D. Ross, candidate for state super
/ intendent has been canvassing over the
! state in the past two or three weeks, and
! he gives it out that his chances for the
nomination are just as good as the next
/ mans, if not a little better.
/ The State Evolutionary associaS@sn at
/ Ottawa Saturday passed a resolution
/ favoring the reelection of Superintend-
/ ent Nelson. Mr.. Nelson was reelected
/ president of the association.