The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-28
VANDERGR|FT
IN WICHITA
Tells of the Congressional
Situation in This City.
HIS INTERESTING LETTER
Interviews Colonel Murdoch
Concerning Victor.

Fred Vanderbilt, who visited this city
day before yesterday, writes TO his paper
from Wichita the following:
Wichita is going to Great Bend by the
carload next week to root for Victor
Murdoch 1t is in the air here that he
will be nominated, and the town is full
lines are lost sight of and Democrats fra
ternize with Republicans in the common
gresham of her very own, and now is
the chance. The prospect has even stin-
ulated registration for the municipal cleo
ton next month. 1t is predicted that no
less than u 600 men and women will reg
lister and many men are getting their
names on the roll for the added purpose
of voting for Victor Murdoch at the
special election for congressman in May.
1t is the Wichita way to believe anything
that bears the Wichita brand is the best
and that is is invincible, and the com
rnunity has taken hold of Mr.. Murdoch
with characteristic unanimity. Rich men
and poor men have joined in the BOOM
The young man has no money OUTSIDE
of his weekly newspaper salary, but ms
delegates and 'Tooters" are going TO the
convention in Pullman cars Just the same
The business men have subscribed lib
eral fund to pay the bill and, losing or
winning. the young candidate will come
out of the contest without the outlay CT
orHi
sonaI expenses. And, then, when he goes
before the people, if he be nominated.
his friends will pay that bill, too That
is the kind of a candidate Mr.. Murdoch
is at home.
Victor Murdock's boom for congress
was sprung by the Republican city con-
vention in February, while he was In
Topeka reporting the legislature for the
Wichita Eagle. OF course there were in
ffuences leading up to it-plans that he
was wholly unconscious of-but the begin
ming of the popular movement was in
the city convention. and when the reso-
luton was adopted and published to the
district it put other plans to sleep and
also put a crimp in the schemes or the
machine The machine had planned to
nominate S. w. Forsha. but here, sui
denly and without warning, was sprung
a candidate to whose family and news
paper Chester l. Long, the head and front
of the machine was under greater obi
cations than to any other political infu-
ence in the state. Long could not AFFORD
to take up the cause of any particular
candidate among so many who are his
friends, even the cause of a Murdoch,
but he could command the machine %
keen hands off and he did. The directors
of the machine would not believe it until
they had received their orders. They
could not believe even that Victor Muir
dock was in earnest 1t was insubordlna-
ton, The word of the machine had gone
out to Forsha. and Murdoch must be told
that he was violating the rules. They
went to him That's right they said.
patronizingly 60 in and carry Seds-
wick county and make the congress
man. 1t is a good way for young man
to begin in politics. 1t will put the fell
lows under obligations to you. Not on
your life" he brusquely replied. Il am
in this race for Murdoch" That settled
it. and the machine scattered and sought
Two women who are very proud of
Victor Murdoch started his boom They
are his two best friends. his mother AMI
his Wife They could not get out and
mix among the people. but he has another
friend who knows the people and the
two women used him. That man is the
ever faithful and honest Dave Leahy,
who has known Victor Murdoch all his
life. Their plans were laid while Mr..
Leahy was on a bed of sickness. First
he sowed the seed of the boom by send
ing for other friends of the young editor,
and then when he was able to get on
crutches. he took the street. 1t took little
work after the boom was under way,
for Victor Murdoch has never missed a
primary. a convention or political meet
ing Of any kind in Wichita since he was
Old enough to vote. He is famous mixer
and-a loyal friend. and so when his CASE
was presented by his Irish advocate
Leahy. il took hold Of the popular mind
and all other booms stood aside.
one man in Wichita would rather this
boom for congress had not come TO Vic
tor Murdoch. That man is his father
Colonel Marshall NJ. Murdoch The
father is no less fond or proud Of Victor
politics and believes II wastes and SOUS
a mans life. I don't like this thing
he said to correspondent Of the Star
{ today Victor is too good n newspaper
man. too wholesome 2 man all round =
+ be wasted in congress. Then he ross
I from his chair and began 10 walk TN,