The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-10

WheAfley. Wells and Congressman
Phil Campbell We're all Neosho county
boys. They were raised and grew 10
manhood within six miles Of each other
Wells lived at Erie, Campbell lived in
the next township east, and Wheatley
lived a l.ttle to the north. They ran
together as boys and their friendship
has lasted ever since.
When they grew to manhood Wheat
ley moved down into Cherokee county
and Campbell went to Pittsburg and
opened a law Office. Each of the three
came to the front politically in their
respective counties. Last year Wheat
ley and Campbell We're both candidates
Tor the Republican nomination for con
gress and Wells was a candidate for
state auditor. Wells didn't want to do
it, but he was compelled to choose be
tween his two bOyhood friends in their
congressional contest, and the exigen-
cies ot politics made him choose Camp
bell but he determined that if ne could
ever DO so he would put Wheatley in Il
good place politically
Political history has recorded how
Wheauey. seeing that he could not be
threw his forces to Campbell and erect
ed the latterss nomination, thereby
placing Campbell under obligation to
him as Well as Wells
When Wells became state auditor he
made W his mind TO elect Wheatlev q.
the board of railroad commissioners
put ne did not mention it, not even to
Wheatley Senator Ftzpatrick cot into,
the race. and there was talk that il
would be checked uD to Wells" to vol-
Tor Ihlrd district man in the person
o1 Fltz-atrick. Wells gave no sign as
to wha. he would do except to c4lnlly
man.
About week ago Fitzpatrick sent
Wheatley to Topeka to secure Wells
vote for Fitzpatrick Wells told him
fatty that he would not vote for Fftz-
patrick, and then calmly told Wheatl4v
that he intended to elect him. The
announcement was something of a sur
prise to Wheatley, but he Immediately
went into the race.
just prior to the meeting of the ex
ecutive council Thursday afternoon a
caucus was held in the office of Atto1--
ney General Coleman. There were pres
ent Auditor Wells. Secretary Burrov.
Treasurer Kelly.Attorney General Cole
man and Mr.. Wheatley. Whether the
election of Mr.. Wheatley was made GER
tain at this caucus is not known but if
so 1t was arranged so that Secretary
Burrow could stand by his district to
the last by throwing his vote to John
Q. Royce.
Royce does not believe that Burrow
was really for him, but he is not threat
ening any trouble. He says if Burrow
had really worked for him he could
have been elected.
Attorney General Coleman is being
subjected to considerable criticism for
voting on the ballots to fill the vacancy
after he had rendered a formal opinion
that there was no vacancy to fill
The six ballots stood as follows.
First ballct-Bailey Royce; Coleman:
Finney, Wells, Wheatley Kelly Rich
ter. Davhcff, Royce; BErrov-. Harrison
SecCnd-Bailey, Royce; Coleman Fin
ney: Wells, Wheatley; Kelly Richter;
Davhon, Rovce; Burrow. Harrison
Third-Bailey. Royce; Coleman Rich
ter; Wells. Wheatley; Kelly Richter:
Dayhoff, Royce; Burrow. Royce
Fourth-Bailey. Royce; Coleman.
Richter; Wells, Wheatley; Kelly. Rich
ter, Dayhoff, Royce. Burrow. Royce.
Fifth-Bailey. Wheatley. Coleman.
Richter. Wells. Wheatley, Kelly. Rich
ter. Dayhoff Harrison: Burrow Royce.
SiXth-Bailey Wheatley; Coleman.
Wheatley: Wells. Wheatley Kelly.
Wheatley; Dayhor, Wheatley; Burrow.
Wheatley.
Tt Is now up to J. n. Fike. the retiring
commissioner. whether he VIII turn over
the office without q struggle or whether
he viii try to hold it. In view of At
torney General Coleman's opinion that
he is the legal commissioner under the
new law. until new board is elected
by the people, it is quite likely that he
will insist on keeping the Office
If he does so Attorney General Cole
man viii be UP against a peculiar prop
osition. Auditor Wells will OF course,
pay the salary to Mr.. Wheatley Then
F1ke Will mandamus Wells in the su-
Drenne court to compel the auditor to
nav the salary TO him and in this way
the question win he settled as to who is
the rightful commissioner. 1t viii de-
volve upon the attorney general to de-
an tr-f@
compel 1Ir. Coleman to reverse himself,