The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-24

gOmery and ]. M. Chilson, who made
up what was known as the Otis L. Ben
ton delegation. The opposing Decatur
county delegation had signed the anti
Reeder agreement
That was shown to the Benton dele
cation, and they agreed to sign if they
would be seated by the convention
pom that agreement the Benton dele
cation, the opposing Decatur county
delegation, had signed the anti-Reeder
agreement. That was shown to the
Benton delegation, and they agreed to
sign if they would be seated by the con-
VentiOn Upon that agreement the Ben
ton delegation which had been in
struCted for Reeder, had cast the six
ballots for White Wednesday night.
The stampede started this morning
when the six Decatur votes were cast
for Reeder.
The next change was Ellsworth coun-
tvs 1G votes from Wellington to Reed
er. Norton gave Reeder 5, White ;.
Rawlins gave White 5, Russell gave
Reeder 8. Smith give Reeder and
w White 6. Ellis changed her vote and
gave Reeder 4 and White /. The rest
Of the counties voted as on the 10th bal
lot and Reeder had u more votes than
was necessary.
The nomination of Reeder was made
after his manager, J. @. Royce. had
given up all hope of winning and after
the convention had been shaken into
as many different combinations as
would be possible with a kaleidoscope
themselves.
The convention was tied up from the
start by the Norton and Smith county
delegations. who hoped to spring Joe
BurroW at the right time and throw the
nomination to him. Late last night
Wellington gave way under the strain
ana became enraged at the situation
The Smith and Norton delegations be-
came scared, and Otis Benton who con-
trOlled the Decatur delegation, made
the terms which gave Reeder the nOmi-
nation
Benton and his wife We're stopping at
the home Of Elmer Ames. leader of the
anti forces. Benton went home and
went to bed early last night. He was
discouraged after his delegation had
been forced by the committee on ere
dentials to desert Reeder after voting
with Reeder on the organization
BufToW was also stopping at the
nome OF Ames and at O'Clock this
morning when BurrOW had given up he
and Afnes went home and awakened
Benton and told him the situation.
W nen Ames and Burr0W aWoke at s
O'Clock they found Benton had gone.
Benton had slipped out and by o'clock
mad made the terms with Reeder by
which Decatur county would be first
INTO lhe pand wagon and gave him six
votes Benton viii control the patron
age in Decatur
The Smith and Norton delegations
mad decided to divide ON White and
heeaer. Ihe split was made on the
understanding that w II. Nelson. of
Smith Center should be appointed
postmaster. and that Frank Lockard
on norton, will also be reappointed
postmaster by Reeder.
H. f. l-ieb win be appointed postmas
ter at Oberlin by Benton and Reeder.s
agreement, 1t was the pvrotechnics oi
the Decatur delegation thar made the
opposition to Reeder possible. Neither
White nor Ellsworth saw that they TSrers
being buncoed- White was a candidate
for blood and Ellsworth was tenacious.
There was no chance for Burrow to
ger IN until 1t was clear that White had
Of IT,
The rock which really sunk Burrov
was White who would not give up.