The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-18

is
NOT AS YET
DEFINITE
Republican Congr es siona |
Situation Has No Distinct
Lines.
Four CANDIDATES IN IT
All, Apparently Lack in Organ
ization Up to Date,

Guthrie. o. T.. May T.-An political in
terest in Oklahoma is centering now on
the contest for the congressional nonlina-
ton among the Republicans So far there
are no distinct lines in the combat, which
there is not a particle Of doubt is going
to be lively.
There are four avowed candidates in the
field: Richard Morgan. Bird Mcclure.
Jacob Roberts and Joseph McNeal.
Morgan is from Canadian county, Mcclure
from Pawnee. McNeal from Logan and
Roberts from the new country, having
a homestead in Comanche county. Until
this week Mr.. Roberts was not in the
race. It is understood that his candidacy
was the result of a demand Of those Re
publicans who could not make a choice
between Mcclure, Morgan and McNeal.
1t is regarded as settled that Secretary
William Grimes, power in territorial
politics, viii do all in his power 70 land
Roberts in the place. Grimes and Rob
berts have worked together politically
for years. Mr.. Grimes judgment in poll
tics in Oklahoma is regarded as eXcep-
tionaI and a strong advocacy of Rob
berts on his part will add immensely to
the popularity which Mr.. Roberts has
among the Republicans Of the territory.
Roberts has another great element Of
strength in that he is identified with the
new country, while having a large ac-
quaintance over the older parts of Okla
homa, AIr. Roberts has from the begin
ming of things territorial, taken an active
part with the management of the party
l.. t,a -ho hell. IN,
making up county delegations.
Delegate Flynn has not taken part in
the selection of his successor, up TO this
time And it is not believed that he viii
10 any great extent.
Governor Ferguson is not taking part in
favor OF any of the candidates, although
# is known that the nomination Of Bird
Mcclure would please him greatly and it
is only because he is governor and repre-
sentative of all the party that he does
not make an active campaign in favor
of the Pawnee county man. MCGUIRE has
had a big boom in the last month, but
close students of the situation say he is
not devoting as much energy TO his can
vas as he should. The candidacy Of Dick
Morgan is the best known in the territory
today Morgan has made thorough can
vas of all the counties. He mas seen
the prominent Republicans and those not
so prominent. He has written more let
tiers than all the other candidates COM
bined. And he has created a following,
which Is going to stay by him. He has
a frank. cheerful manner which wins him
friends and his candidacy is regarded az
a growing one. and one, too. which will
become easily formidable to the others. II
il continues to gain in impetus. Morgan's
friends claim that Flynn would like to see
Morgan his successor.
The candidacy Of Joe McNeal is difficult
to size up. McNeaI has intense friends
and they are working for him. but at
present he seems to lack in organization.
Taking the situation as whole, it is not
far from correct to say that all four can
didates lack in organization; that Nor
gan. today. has the best; that Roberts
is building one up rapidly; that Mcclure
has one which he is not pushing vigor-
ously, and McNeal hasn't begun his yet.