The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-01

In Jackson county there was a bitter
fight. Former Congressman Case Brod-
erick contested with Mr.. Curtis for the
congressional delegation. Tied up with
the congressional fight was the railroad
commissioner contest in jackson county
between A. D. Walker and w. A.
Thompson. The Broderick element sup
ported Thomson and the Curtis ele-
ment supported Walker. The result in
the county convention stood: Brod-
Thompson, IS; Curtis Walker. At.
But the Curtis people alleged that the
primaries had been carried by their Op-
ponents by Democratic votes, and they
bOlted and organized a separate con-
vention, electing a contesting delega-
ton The friends of Broderick and
Thompson claim that more DemOcra IS
voted for the Curtis-Walker delegates
than for them, and they also allege the
use of money in some precincts.
In Atchison county there. was little
ground for a bolt. There were only
nine Curtis men out of the forty-one
IN the county committee, but they were
dissatisfied because Chairman Kelsey
refused them representation on a COM
nittee of seven to prepare for the pri-
mary election of delegates. and they
bolted and held primaries of their own,
electlng contesting delegation.
The contest filed by E. D. Lysle
against the Shawnee county delegation
IS based upon an old contention that
Shawnee county is not legally a part
of the First district. This has been
DIOUSHl up DeIOfe out mas never been
tested When Kansas was given eight
congressman in 1891 congress passed
law providing that the districts should
remain as they then were until the leg
islature should redistrict the state, and
that in the meantime the new con-
gresham should be elected at large
The state has never been redistricted
but in 1897 the Populist legislature
transferred Shawnee from the
Fourth to the First distrist and Potta-
Watom1e from the First to the Fourth
This was done for gerrymandering pur-
poses, but no new district was formed
and the eighth congressman has con-
tinued to be elected at large.
1t is commended that this action on the
part of the PoDulist legislature was in
conflict with the federal statute and
therefore void ]. G. Slonecker gave
an interview to this effect soon after
it was done. Bale Waggener said the
same thing last winter and he said
Judge Doster is of the same opinion.
1t is not contended, however, that Mr.
curtis IS not the congressman of the
First district. because a congressman n
does not have TO reside in his district
but onIv has to receive a majority of
the votes in that district, which Curtis
did, even without counting Shawnee
county
Attorneys differ as to the present
status of the case. inasmuch as Shaw
nee has been recognized as a part of
the First district for several years. 1t
is possible. however, that the matter
viii get into the courts.
WILL LEAVE IN MORNING.
The Shawnee delegation will go to
Holton, for the First district congress
sional convention tomorrow. on the
Rock Island regular train at 7:45 O'Clock
in the morning.
The representation of the various
counties in the congressional conven-
tion is as follows:
Atehfson --.--..-. ...-................15 Is
RrOIrD -
Donlphan --.-------.--.-- --......-- 10
JeHerson .------------.---....- ..--.-.. IL
JACKSON -.-.-... 10
| Leavenworth .......... .. "A
NeIlana -.--.---..-.---. Ii
shawnee ---------.-----.- -.-...--.---.3 30
Holton, Kan. Feb. The allega-
tions made by the Curtis-W Walker sup
porters that Democrats carried Hoyt
precinct for Broderick and Thompson in
the recent Jackson county primaries,
has resulted in the f0lI0xvfr1er fff7 viz