The Topeka state journal., 1902-07-22
The Independent Organization
Is Especially Strong.
SITUATION is COMPLEX
Three Tickets In Field In
crease the Muddle.
Basis Upon Which Guesses Are
Being Made.

Since the Democratic and Popu1ist
county conventions the politicians have
been trying to determine the exact situ-
alton. One thing is certain. the Repub-
lican workers feel that they have a fight
on hand to elect the full ticket at the
November election.
The Independents, who are looking
after the candidacy of l. A. Stebbins
for county attorney and Frank Stant
for sheriff, have developed an organiza-
ton in the county that is surpassed
only by the Republican organization
The Independents have developed a. tar
better OF ganization and shown more
strength than either the Democrats or
the Populists. The Independent organ
ization includes committeeman IN
each voting precinct of the county both
in the city and country. The Inde-
pendent meetings and conventions have
brought together over hundred men,
while the Populist and Democratic con-
ventions have rallied a smaller num-
ber.
The Independents have raised 5000 in
cash and claim to have promised a to-
tai of $4,000 for campaign expenses. As
the Republican county central commit
tee has already assessed their candi-
dates total of $500, larger slusn
fund than was ever assessed before, it
seems that the Republican managers
feel that fight is on and money is
necessary. This fund does not include
that which will be contributed from OUT
side sources.
The Independents are preparing for a
speakers bureau to manage the speak
ers in the county and many ministers
and persons who have not heretofore
been closely identified with politicians
will hold meetings all over the county.
Many meetings will be held in churches
in Topeka and in the school houses in
the county.
The hardest fight will be waged for
the office of county attorney although
an effort will be made by the Independ-
-
A. Stebbins. the Independent candidate
for county attorney. is ready to make a
strenuous campaign. He is a Populist
and is expected to poll the full Populist
vote Of the county. The Democrats will
refuse to vote for Stebbins as they have
a candidate Of their own and the Popu-
lists also refuse to vote for Stahl, who Is
a Republican.
The Democrats have nominated j. J.
Schenck for county attorney. The In
dependents believe that if the Demo-
Gratis VIII stick to their candidate, or if
a ma jority WILL that Stebbins win have
a fighting chance of winning. The In
dependents figure the total vote of
Shawnee county at 1900. The Republi-
can vote they figure at 1850 with 1850
votes in the opposition The Populist
vote is estimated at 2.000. There are a
few prohibition Democrats who are ex-
pected to abandon Schenek and vote
for StebbinS. The number is placed at
from 500 to LOCO. II Stebbins can poll
the fun Populist vote of 1900. 500 prohi-
bition Democratic votes and $500 Re-
publican votes he expects to win. All
this is on the theory that Schenck will
receive the solid Democratic vote with
the exception of the temperance ele-
ment. The Independents claim 5000 Re
publican votes for their ticket.
On this basis if the Independents can
secure 1000 Populist votes, and 5000 Re-
publican votes Stebbins would have g.
900 votes and Nichols. the Republican
votes, less the 5000 Independents, which
(swou1d leave him 1850. The unknown
quantity in the fight will be the Demo-
cratic votes. It was the Democratic
votes which elected Nichols two years
ago and if he secures the same vote
this time he will stand the same chance
Of winning but the opposition to Mich
OILS claim that he is not as strong as
when he was elected