The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-13

The closing scenes of the convention
last night were probably the most sen
sational of any similar convention ever
held in Kansas. All during the day
there had been scarcely a ripple None
of the four candidates was apparently
any nearer nomination at o'clock last
night than they had been in the morn
ing It was Just as difficult to pick the
winner at that time as it was two
months ago.
For 100 ballots all but three or four
of the counties in the convention cast
their ballots with scarcely a change.
Chautauqua led off with nine votes for
Sproul on every ballot; Cherokee follow
ed with 29 for Wheatley; Cowley varied
little from 15 for Wheatley, Z for Sproul
and for Campbell; Crawford always
gave 81 to Campbell; in Elk men per
sistently voted for Wheatley 4 for
Campbell, and for either Sproul or Err
genbright; Labette cast % and Mont
gomery % for Ergenbright on every bal
lot: and Wilson voted from the second
ballot to the ninety ninth, Wheatley Z,
Frgenbright 3. Sproul 8, Campbell 1, and
even after that it made only a slight
change.
Neosho alone changed from one candi-
date to another in an effort to make a
nomination. At different times Neosho
voted its Is votes in a bunch for each
OF the candidates but Sproul in an ef-
fort to break the deadlock, but without
avail Several times the convention ad-
journed for a brief recess to allow the
managers of the various candidates to
make medicine and form coTnbina-
tions, but no combinations We're formed
For 100 ballots this dull mOnOtOny con-
tinued. The tellers grew weary and
nearly everybody was tired, but each
county clung to its faVOrite SON. Ne
osho alone furnished the rlppies by
changing from one candidate to an
other. The one hundredth ballot was
almost the same as the dftieth
Then came the change. 1t was so sud
Chautauqua, which had persistently cast
its Il votes for Sproul, was first called on
the one hundred and first ballot.
"Chautauqua casts II votes for Ergen-
bright" called out the chairman Of the
Chautauqua delegation.
For a moment there was intense sill
ence. Then the Ergenbright delegations
from Montgomery and-Labette counties
yelled. The long expected break had
come, and everybody else, too, was glad
that something was doing. Cherokee
cast er % votes for Wheatley. Four of
the eight in COWley which were not for
Wheatley went to Ergenbright and the
other 4 stayed by Campbell. Wheatley
getting Is. Crawford gave 81 to Camp
bell as usual. Elk changed votes from
Campbell TO Ergenbright, Wheatley get
ting the other six Labette and Mont
gon1ery cast a combined vote of As for
Ergenbright. Neosho. which had been
trying to nominate Campbell, stih
but one of the anti Wheatley votes in
Wilson went to Ergenbright Result
Ergenbright II; Wheatley, 5S: Camp
bell, 81. On the preceding ballot the re-
suit had been: Wheatley, IS; Campbell
56; Ergenbright, Al; Sproul, 20. Camp
bell had dropped from almost the high
man to the bottom, while Ergenbright
had gone from next to the last to the
top, with q big lead besides.
On the next ballot NeoshO changed its
16 votes from Campbell to Ergenbright
Wheatleys 5Ss Campbell. Sc. It looked
as though Campbell was entirely out of
the race.
Ergenbrfght lacked only 4 votes of
enough to nominate In CoWley anti
WheatIey delegates had just voted for
Campbell Ergenbright's manager went
after them They were all Ergenbright
needed There was buzzing everywhere
Nearly every delegation was on its feet
in consultation. Messengers were rum
ming from one delegation to another
The one hundred and third ballot
commenced But Ergenbright got only
one of the delegates he wanted in Cow
ley county. The other stayed by
Campbell. but Ergenbright took one
from Wheatley in Wilson. Result
Ergenbright, SO; Wheatley, 81; Camp
bell, 35.
Ergenbright lacked only 2 votes of a
nomina ton. Campbell's light seemed to
have been effectually put out. Ergen-
bright and his friends were exultant-
they had the nomination almost within
their grasp. Nearly all of Campbel1's
friends gave up hope. Their favorite
had lost
The next ballot was rushed through