The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-05
Copeland County Abandoned by
the Republicans.
Hay Be Made Headquarters Oh
FusiOnists.
PLACE NOT YET CHOSEN
Local Committee Empowered to
Make Selection.
First District Editors Open War
on Curtis.

1t is quite possible that the Demo-
| Gratis may invade Copeland county
and capture it for their own. For a
quarter of century the Copeland
has been Republican headquarters,
and Copeland county has been syn
onymous for Republican politics.
Nearly all the Republican leaders
have put up at the Copeland when
ever they have come to Topeka, and
a Republican pow-wow meant the
packing of the Copeland lobbies.
Now the new regime in Republican
circles has deserted the Copeland and
taken up headquarters at the Ma
tional. This movement had its incep-
ton in the boss buster crusade. The
boss busters made the National their
headquarters and. controlling the new
organization of the party, they simply
continued there.
Now the Democrats are seriously
considering proposition to go to the
Copeland for their headquarters, al
though the Throop has always been
their headquarters. The Populists
have paved the way by holding their
caucuses and committee meetings at
the Copeland the past week. Hereto
fore the National has always been
Populist headquarters, but the boss
busters have driven the Populists
away from there. The Democrats
and many of them will probably con-
tfnue to do so no matter where head
quarters will be established, and a
change to the Copeland will be a rad
ical departure for them.
The Populists also may take up
their quarters at the Copeland They
will work with the Democrats for the
state ticket, and while they will labor
for separate electoral tickets, the state
ticket is really what counts with them
this year, and the two state commit
tees will necessarily be more or less
closely connected.
This sort of a situation would be a
radical departure from anything there
has ever been in the past. Heretofore
been afraid to enter the Copeland, and
anything that came out of Copeland
county has been regarded as an
emanation from Republicanism and
corporate influences.
Chairman Sapp says that the ques-
ton of headquarters has been left to
the local Democratic committee, of
which L. M. Penwell is the head. 1t
is also stated that Judge Dale is quite
favorable to the Copeland idea.
The Democratic executive commit
tee is composed of Sam Amidon of
Wichita, ]. N. Fike of Colby, James
Concordia, Tom Morgan of Ottawa.
DR.. c. w. Brandenburg of Frankfort
and P. F. Yearout of Emporia.
Mr.. Amidon has been added to the
Judge Dale, and it is understood that
he will be Judge Dale's personal rep
resentatfve on the committee.
The Atchison Globe makes the fol-
lowing comment: 1.-The opponents of
Tom Kelly, Republican state treasur-
er. have chance to make a showing
this year. 1t has been said that the
III. L
good man; that they are unreasonable.
etc. At the last election, the Catho-
lies of the state voted for Kelly, as
Kelly is a Catholic This year his op-
ponent is a Catholic. If Kelly this
year runs with his ticket, the beer will
be on his enemies. Two years ago.
in the Second ward of the city of
Atchison, eighty straight Democrats
voted for Kelly and scratched the
Democratic nominee. Two reliable
men who were on the election board
in that ward, vouch for this state
ment."
Ellis Garten, editor of the Cimarron
Jacksonian. was defeated for the Re
publican nomination for representative
in the Gray-Haskell district. Garten
mad a good majority of the delegates
from his own county, but after two
hundred ballots the Haskell county
candidate withdrew and threw his
strength to John Josserand, the other
Gray county candidate, nominating
him. Garten was within three votes of
enough to nominate for 200 ballots.
In the recent statement issued by
Congressman Curtis in which he gives
certain alleged reasons why some of the
Republican editors of the First district
are fighting him, he says ]. A. Constant
of the Sabetha Herald is
against him because he did not recon-
mend Constant for reappointment as
postmaster. Mr.. Constant replies with
the following signed statement:
"Inasmuch as Mr. Curtis statement
that he did not recommend Mr. Con-
slant for reappointment as postmaster
in connection with the balance of his
plea, gives a wrong impression. wish
to say that I did not ask, or expect,
such. recommendation. 1 have never
considered myself entitled to political
favors at his hands. 1 was appointed
postmaster four years ago in opposition
to his wishes, and was fully aware Of
his opposition, yet supported him 10y
ally in the campaign of that year, after
the nomination. Two years ago, with
out expectation of political reward and
with no intention of asking it, I voted
for his denomination in the Holton con-
vention in compliance with the wishes
of Mr.. Bailey and in an effort to re-
store harmony. l would consider my
refusal to support him this year mex
cusable if it rested upon no other
ground than mutual antagonism in the
past. I oppose his reelection because
of my belief that he was fairly defeated
for denomination, and that the methods
employed in his interest should not be
tolerated in the Republican party. Re-
spectfully, ]. A. CONSTANT.
"Sabetha, Kan. Aug. 2, 1904"