The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-13
THOMAS The Man
Topeka Democrat Slated to Lead
the Bourbon Hosts.
He is Taken Up as a ComprO-
mise Candidate.
MACK LOVE Is OUT.
He VIII Support Mr.. Thomas
For the Place.
Fusion Forces Select Him to De-
feat Fike-Orr Crowd.
HACK LOVE is OUT.

As result of a conference of some
of the Democratic leaders of the state
held in Topeka during the last two or
three days, Frank Thomas, of Topeka,
the present treasurer of the Democratic
state central committeeshas been agreed
upon as candidate for state chairman
the coming year. It is stated that J.
Mack Love, the present chairman, has
got out of the race and will support
Thomas, and that George T. Pitts, of
Wellington. who announced his eandi-
dacyz against Love several months ago.
Will follow Loves example later
If this plan works out the fight for
the Craftsmanship will be between Thon-
as and Hugh Farrelly, the candidate of
the anti fusionists. It will be a straight
fusion and anti-fusion contest.
Thomas viii get the support of J. 6.
johnson, national committeeman. john
son was in Topeka yesterday and was
a party to the agreement which brought
out Thomas as q candidate. With MIN
it viii be a fight for political prestige
The Fike-OFr crowd, assisted by other
elements in the party, proposes to take
JohnSon's political scalp two years
hence in the interest of the eastern
wing Of Democracy, but to do 1t they
must capture the state ganization this
year. This is one of the principal rea-
sons why the gold element of the Kan
sas Democracy wishes to head of any
kind of fusion this year
The fusionists realized that the 'antis
made a hit in bringing out F'arrelly as
their candidate for chairman. Farrelly
is strong with all elements Of Democra-
cy and since it has been announced
that he would be a candidate be has
been attracting strength from the fusion
crowd. The fusionists were split up.
The more radical were for Pitts, while
some wanted to re-e1ect Love, although
Love has been trying to appease the
anti-fuSion crowd This was the reason
why Thomas was brought out. The fu-
sioniSts were afraid if they did not get
together and with Farrelly as the oppo-
sition candidate, that the enemy would
capture the state organization After
talking the situati over Thomas was
decided upon as the best candidate with
which to defeat Farrelly. Thomas has
always been a fusionist Two years ago
he was about the only member of the
state committee who opposed vigorously
Chairman Loves scheme of taking the
Democratic headquarters to Kansas
City, Kan, for which Love mas peen
blamed ever since.
To compensate George Pitts for retir-
ing from the race for craftsmanship IT
is proposed to run him for secretary OF
with other ambitions, but it IS argued
that it will be the best thing for the fu-
sionists to do.
The fusionists have little hope now
of securing a postpOnement of the state
convention, although some of the coun-
tv conventions over the state continue
to demand 1t. Yesterday the Demo-
cratic committee of the TWenty-thlrd
judicial district, composed OF Russell
Ellis, Trego, Cove, Logan and w ailaee
counties, met at Wa-keeney. and the
sentiment is said to have been unan-
imous in favor of postponing the Dem
oeratic state convention until the time
of the Populist convention. It is pos
sibIe that the pressure may yet be
strong enough that Chairman Love viii
cali the state committee together to
POSTPONE the convention, but it IS hard
~ likely because the time is too short.
It is Also improbable that the state con-
vention win adjourn after 1t once meets
without taking final action regarding
state ticket. Many will come on passes
which might not be available again If
they were to vote to adjourn the con-
vention to meet with the Populfsts.
Other delegates are not financially able
to attend two conventions, and they
will oppose adjournment It is quite
| possible that the adjournment PROPOSE
ton will not be sprung after the con-
vention meets at Wichita on Thursday
of next week.
The fusionists hope to get things into
such shape that the Populist state con-
vention can endorse their action. They
/ wish to nominate a ticket which shall
| the Populists will endorse, with a COM
mittee appointed to confer with the
| Populists when the Populist conven-
ton shall be held, with power to make
such minor concessions to the Popuhsts
as the committee shall deem jus
/ tifiable.
The Greenwood county Republican
convention is being held today. It will
have twelve delegates to the state con-
vention, and it is expected to be for
Senator H. B. Miller. The next con-
vention after that viii be Kiowa coun-
ty, next Saturday. Then viii come
Cloud, Rice and Hodgman counties on
! May 20; Wabaunsee and Wilson on
May q, and Marion on May g. only
| two days before the state convention.
Both the Populist and Democratic
judicial committee of the Twenty-third
judicial district met in Wa-Keeney yes
| terday to fix the time and place for
| holding their judicial conventions. Both
conventions will meet at Russell or
| May 2s. and it is expected that they
win agree upon a fusion candidate foI
Judge to make the race against James
H. Reeder, who was recently nominated