The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-03
that the struggle would be a long

weeks that the struggle would be a long
one.
It was simply foot race to see who
should get to Murdock first. AS stated
in the State Journals dispatches of
Thursday. there was rivalry between
several counties as to which should
have the honor of starting the stam-
pede-
Rice county wanted to start the break
to Nurdock. So did Barton. So did
several other counties. Mcpherson
county sent word to the Wichita man
that is was ready to come whenever he
wanted it. All these things were kept
under cover. of course. but rumOrs leak
ed out and a great many false reports
were circulated. As result there was
great deal of anxiety among the coun-
ties which were anxious to start
things.
Rice county expected to go to Muir
dock on the third ballot. In order to
make sure of leading, Barton county
withdrew it's candidate on the very first
ballot and voted for MurdOck. AS it
came the second county on the roll call
the break came so suddenly that it
fairly took the breath from the con-
ventlOn. A minute later Edwards coun-
ty withdrew Fred Dumont Smith and
three of its four votes went to Muir
dock This is what really started things
Smith had planned it delibera tely. and
while he could not deliver his entire
strength to Murdoch his action i'm with
drawing was what gave the stampede
sufficient momentum and What gave the
Wichita man the nomination on the
first ballot
The nomination OF Murdock had been
planned by both the machine" and the
"anti-machine." or Smith, forces. The
machine" in the contest was rather
an indefinite quantity Its recognized
head was. Of course Morton Albaugh
who was for Wallace. his home candi-
Ia 10 l.rtr m
for nominating Wallace were very
slim w. Y. Morgan, one of the main
cOgs in the Seventh district machine
was extremely anxious for the success
of his home candidate, Sam W. Forsha
Harry Bone another important cog in
the machine was mana ger fer Francis
G. Price. and he did his best up to the
very last moment to stem the stampede
TO Murdocz in the hope of landing
Price.
There is little doubt but Albaugh con-
sidered Murdoch the most available
candidate to center upon i'm case he
could not force the nomination Of Wa
lace. and he laid his plans to that end
but he wanted to bring it about in Il
way that would allow the other candi-
dates to land He wanted to elimi-
nate the minor candidates gradually
and let each one make his peace vita
the new leader
Although smith was the defender ofthe
Long machine" ina the recent senatorial
night. he was recognized as the anti
machine leader in this contest although
the machine was exceedingly indefi-
mite At $3.50 O'clock Thursday morn
ing Smith heard of Albaugh's plan 10
center on MurdOck. He had been I'D ali
night. but as soon as he heard of that
plan he determined to head it off by
nominating Murdock himself. Then he
went to bed and after three or four
hours sleep ne got up and went To
work laying his wires. While contin-
uins h.s hght on the surface. he nre-
pared TO throw all of his strength pos
Sipie TO Murdoch on short notice
The Price forces counted on smith
coming to them if he gave up at an.
and that is why they expected to win.
The short grass delegates want short
grass congressman. and Smith and
Price were the only ones available And
part of Smiths forces refused to go 10
Murdock. even in the stampede They
went 20 Price instead
When the roll call commenced on the
first formal ballot Barber county the
first one called. stayed by its local
candidate. c. G. Chandler. Barton came