The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-28
POLlTICALl GOSSIP.

POLITICAL! GOSSIP.
A dispatch from Cawker City states
that Judge Clark A. Smith of that
place has decided to be a candidate for
supreme Justice in the coming RepubIi-
can state convention. Judge Smith
was a candidate for the appointment
/ by Governor Bailey a few weeks ago,
4 but the governor appointed w. A. At
kinson of Parsons instead. Judge Smith
will be a candidate against Justice At
kinson.
A Hoch club has been organized at
Mankato with ]. w. McRoherts, jr.,
as president This seems to be the
same McRoberts who was on the pay
roll of the last legislature as an assist
ant document clerk. One of the griev-
ances of anti-Bailey crowd is that the
last legislature had too many employees.
Representative F. w. Bevington of
Jewell county explains how McRoberts
came to be on the pay roll. He says
that Shawnee county had six or seven
employees on the pay roll and was after
this one to which McRoberts was ap
pointed. Mr.. Remington says Jewell
county had only two employees and he
asked, if any more were to be employ
ed, that 1t be given to Jewell, and he
got it. He gave the place to McRob-
erts.
Primaries were held in Ottawa coun-
ty Wednesday and, as expected, Hoeh
carried the county This is gain for
the Hoch forces, as Ottawa county was
for Bailey two years ago.
Two candidates for state senator
have developed in Franklin county. w.
H Clark will run as the anti-Bailey
candidate. He will be opposed by H.
J. Smith.
When the Republican state commit
tee met in Topeka a few weeks ago,
Major J. l. Pritchard, of the Leaven-
worth soldiers home. was here to ask
the committee to segregate the soldiers
home from the rest of 1.eavenWorth
county, This was understood to be the
plan of the Curtis and anti-Bailey lead
ers, and it was afterwards adopted by
the Curtis congressional committee,
although the state committee refused
to stand for it. but voted to give the
soldiers home ten delegates as part
of Leavenworth county. 1t was gen
orally understood that Pritchard was
representing the Curtis element in ask
ing for segregation. Now the follow
ing dispatch from Leavenworth is pub
lished in an anti-Bailey organ, the
Kansas City Journal:
"A scandal has been created in po-
1itica1 circles here by the Rublicantion
of an affidavit charging Major Jesse L.
Pritchard. of the soldiers home. with
attempting to bride Joseph A. Gates,
an old soldier who was appointed SUI
pervisor for the coming primaries at
the home. Major Pritchard is chief of
the home police, and has been taking
an active hand in politics and is lined
up with the element opposed to Curtis.
In the affidavit he is charged with hav-
ing offered Gates $50 if Gates would
allow Pritchard to name the judges and
clerks of the primary election at the
home Gates aid a witness in the
room unknown to Pritchard. and in or
der to make the charge perfect he &C
cepted $40 of the $50. Gates and Winer,
the witness, then voluntarily made affi-
davit as to the transaction. 1t has al
ways been contended that any attempt
to bride old soldiers would be sure to
result in trouble, as the old men, as a
rule, are very honest and upright, and
many of them would consider it
mortal insult to be offered money for
votes. Joseph A. Gates is highly in
telligent and respected old gentleman,
and is prominent member of the
First Presbyterian church of this city.
Winer is a veteran of the Spanish
American war. The affidavit has been
printed in circular form and the various
ed with copies. A great deal of indig
nation is being expressed by the old
soldiers at the attempt to introduce
corrupt political methods into the
home.''
How much truth there may be in the
attempted bribery is not known. It is
known, however. that Pritehard has
been working with the Curtis element
at the soldiers home and has been one
of its leaders.
The Wilson county Republican con-
vention has been called for February
IS
In Marshall county the Republican
county convention will be held on Feb
ruary II
The senatorial convention in the dis
trict composed of Lincoln, Osborne,
Russell and Ellsworth counties, has
been called to meet at Lucas on May
25 The senatorial committee met in
Salina Wednesday afternoon. Salina
is not in that district. but it was the
most convenient place for the coIa-
mittee to meet. !.
The Barber county Republican con-
vention Wednesday, which elected del
egates to state. congressional, and SEN
atoria1 conventions. instructed for
President Roosevelt. Governor Bailey.
Congressman Murdoch, T A Noftzger
for denomination for state senator, and
Morton Albaugh for state chairman.
Don't let the little ones suffer from
eczema, or other torturing skin dis
eases. No need for it Doan's Oint-
o4rraz Can't nm most IoTs-