The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-31
possessions were entirely destroyed
BIG SEVENTH DISTRICT
ShortGrass League of Red-Heads
Written Up.
ouis Republic saws:


Victor Murdoch of Wichita, Republi-
can. was elected TO congress in the Sew
enth Kansas district Tuesday by an over
whelming plurality over c. F. Clyne
! Democrat, and Judge w. C. Babb, Pop
ulist
The election was to Ali the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Chester l.
/ Long. who was elected to the United
/ States senate.
| The issue which Murdoch forced TO the
front in his campaign was one not men
toned in any state or national platform
ever written-that of red hair.
His fight for election was carried on by
an organization which has been dubbed
The Short-Grass League of Red Heads. -
Two months ago. when Congressman
Long was transferred to the senate,
twenty men announced themselves as
candidates to succeed him.
Two of them-State Senator Fred Du-
mont Smith and Victor Murdock-had red
hair.
Victor Murdoch was attending the leg
islature for the Wichita Eagle of which
he was managing editor, and a warm
friendship existed between him and
Smith. who was geographically the
strongest candidate in the race for con-
gress. The field, with the exception of
Murdoch. was fighting Smith.
One night. in a jocular mood. Murdoch
said:
Smith. do you know that the red
headed men of this country have never
been fairly treated? Notwithstanding
. h., f1za< nrrr, rod
Americans have red hair we have never
had a red-headed president since the time
of Thomas jefferson. We must organ
ize."
And they did organize. Next day Smith
announced in the lobby of the principal
hotel at Topeka that the next congress
man from the Seventh district must have
red hair The political experts exploited
the idea. and the red-haired men Of the
Seventh district. regardless of politics or
prejudices. took the matter semi-seri-
ously and became enthusiastic over it.
AS the campaign progressed Murdoch S
chance became bright. Every red-headed
Republican in the district worked strenu-
ously to be made a delegate. and when
the. convention met at Great Bend on
a
had red hair. and one of the most re-
mar5able things in the history Of Kansas
politics occurred. Murdock was nomin-
ated on the first ballot against nineteen
other candidates.
Fred Dumont Smith withdrew from the
race and threw his support to Murdoch
and a stampede followed the like of
which had never been seen in the senate.
To show his recognition Of the men who
he felt had brought about his nomination
Mr. Murdocks first act was the designa-
ton Of Judge Thomas c. Wilson OF Sedg-
wick county-a red-heired man-to be his
campaign manager and committee chair
man He also appointed n red-haired
stenogra pher at campaign headquarters.
Chairman Wilson at once set to work
to recognize red-haired local workers in
every precinct. Fred Dold. son OF the
Buffalo y Y. packer. red-haired Dem
ocrat, was the first to contribute To the
campaign fund, sending his check for
800
Young Murdock-he is now only 90
came from a stock famous in Kansas
His father was a printer on the Herald
OF Freedom when Ouantrell made the
raid on Lawrence that ended in the his
toric massacre. Qusntrells gang chased
him to a well. where he caught hold of
the rope and slid down Several shots
were fired into the well a; him. but none
hit him.
Victor Murdock's mother. who is a
niece Of one OF the early governors OF
Maryland. was a very handsome young
woman. and when the war broke out she
rode on horseback over Douglass county.
personally melting the patriotism Of
young men to a defense Of the Kansas
border She was then but i years old.
Only three men in her county-the Ut
master. a preacher and a cripple-fsiled
70 enlist for service in defense OF Kansas.
The new congressman was on the plat
form in the convention hall when Jerry
Simpson was first nominated for con-
eress. and il was he who conceived the
fiction Of Simpsons antipathy 70 socks,
He printed a story about il in his father :
paper next morning. story that caused
Jerry 10 be dubbed The Sockless Soc
rates OF Kansas" II was he. also. who
conceived the idea OF = g5>ernment lot
terv for the disposition OF the Kiowa
Comanche and Apache Indians in Okla
hon,a 10 white settlement His plan was
adopted by the government.
Murdoch was invited 20 a reception
given by President Diaz IN Mexico two
years ago. and not until he was in the
presence OF the dictator did he realize
that he had forgotten his collar.