The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-28
FIGHT FOR SEATS is ON
House Elections Committee
Holds Its First Meeting.

The house committee on elections,
which viii pass on the six contests for
seats in the house, held its first meet
ing at o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
The committee is made as follows:
p. ]. Gale, MCPHERSON, chairman; O.
G. Billings, Marion: F. NJ. Emmons,
Riley. NJ A. Wilson, Jefferson; u 6.
Mustoe, Kingman; S. S. Kirkpa trick.
Wilson; d. F. Campbell, Bourbon S.
A. Bowman. Morris; c. E. Rougnton,
HOdgeman.
The chairman is from the Seventh
district. Then there is one Republican
member from each district and two
fusion members.
The committee did nothing Tuesday
but open the envelopes containing the
papers in the six contest cases, and
discussed the rules to guide their action
briefly. No decision regarding the
rules was reached and the question will
be taken up again this afternoon.
Webb McNau. fusionist, who is con-
testing the seat held by /. NJ. Linton.
Republican, from Smith county, says
that he and Mr.. Linton can probably
submit their case on an agreed state
nent of facts after the rules which viii
govern the contests have been laid
down There is no allegation of fraud
or illegal voting in the Smith county
case, but simply a question as to
whether or not the ballots which had
crosses after mo Nomination. - should
be counted AIcNall alleges that 40
such ballots were thrown out in Smith
county which ought to have been
counted. 1874 of which We're for Linton
and 258 for McNau. McNal1 says if
these had been counted he would have
had a majority of IS, whereas by throw
ing them out Linton was elected by so.
Three fusionists are contesung the
election of three Republicans and three
Republicans are cOntesting the election
Of three fusionists. Besides AIcNaI the
fusionists who have fled contests are:
NJ. Sweeney against DR.. A A Sharp,
Republican member from Pawnee
county
W S. Williamson against J. z. Evans.
Republican member from Lyon county.
The Republicans who have filed con-
tests are:
p. F. Poccck against H W Broad
bent, fusion member from Wyandotte
county
u. B. sharpless against Peter Laugh
lin, fusion member from Atchison
county
r. p Candy against F. H. Smith. fu-
sion member from Sherman county.
Sweeney and DR.. Sharp tied in Paw
nee county, and the latter won the tie,
thereby giving him the seat in the or
EauizatiOn of the house. Sweeney now
charges that illegal votes were cast for
Sharp; that the Republicans caused the
arrest Of a Democratic election Judge in
the Third ward of Larned, thereby al
lowing number Of Illegal votes to be
that said A. A Sharp, during the cam
paign, did lend and give money. whisky,
cigars, and other valuable things to the
voters for their votes and that he did
on election day unlawfully hire persons
to work for him at the polls, and that in
Garfield precinct his friends refused to
permit Illegal voters to be challenged"
Williamson was defeated by Evans IN
Lyon county by three majority. The
railroad votes cast away from home did
it, and he therefore charges that these
votes were Illegal He also charges that
in Americas township the judges ac-
cepted more ballots than there were
voters in the township and that they
opened the ballot box contrary to law
all Of which worked to his detriment
OF the Republican contestants, PococK
was defeated by BrOadbent on the face
Of the returns by nine majority lie
files long list of alleged illegalities and
misconduct on the part of election off,
GERS and police.
Sharpless was defeated by Laughlin
IN Atchison county, also by the railroad
vote, and he alleges that to be Illegal
He also CHARGES that other illegal votes
we're cast and counted for Laughlin.
Sharpless was defeated by five votes.
Candy lost to Smith ia Sherman
county by Is votes. He charges lille
gality IN counting the absent railroad
vote. and also other, illneraIiffas