The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
WHO WILL BE JUDGE.
Considerable Excitement Over
Place on Supreme Bench.

There will be something doing in the
way Of contest right at the start
| when the Republican state convention
begins to nominate candidates on its
state ticket. The three justices of the
supreme court will come first, and
while it is generally supposed that JUS
tees Smith and Cunningham will be
renominated by reclamation, there Is
a possibility that there may be some
thing started even when one of these
officers come up.
The fight is over the third place on
the ticket-the nomination for Justice
to fill Judge Pollock's unexpired term,
now being filled by Justice Atkinson
There are half a dozen candidates for
the place. Justice Atkinson, of course,
expects to be nominated, but against
him are Clark A. Smith of Cawker and
Judge J. s. West of Topeka both for
Hiawatha and George H. Whitcomb
and j. G. Slonecker Of Topeka also in
the race at present.
1t has been intimated that one of
these may be sprung when Justice
Cunningham comes up for renomina-
| ton. No one will admit that such a
thing is being thought of by any of
| his friends, but each suspects that the
| 'other fellow may do it.
| Clark A. Smith is getting all kinds
of endorsements out in the Sixth dis
trict He solidified the district two
years ago for Judge Ellis, and the
| counties are now lining up for him just
as he lined them up for Judge Ellis
two years ago. He also expects con-
siderable support in the Fifth district
and perhaps some in other places In
fact, he acts like a man who thought
he had the nomination just as good as
won.
1t seems likely that much of the Sec
ond district will be for Judge ]. S.
| West for supreme justice. Bourbon
county instructed for him a few days
ago, and the Fort Scott Republican in
| dIcateS that the Bourbon county dele
cation will make it a point to work in
Vests interests. 1t says:
1.-THE friends of j. S. West in this
county feel very Sanguine that he will
receive the nomination for a place on
! ters overshadowed this matter in the
county convention in this county, the
| delegates were all for him and the res
olution favoring his candidacy passed
by unanimous votes of the conven-
ton.
1.-THE delegation to the state conven-
ton is made up of his friends and
having no other candidate in the state
convention in which they are especially
! interested, they will be in a position
to help Mr.. West. His splendid en-
dorsement for the appointment to the
/ position together with his well known
qualifications for the office, have made
him strong with the people, and it
looks like he would secure the nominal
ton"
Judge West will get a strong sup
port from over the greater part of the
state. The indications, however, are
that he will not get the Shawnee coun-
ty delegation which will probably go to
Slonecker who it is rumored is being
backed up by the Hoch machine.
| In the meantime the friends of Jus
tice Atkinson are not letting any grass
grow around in their vicinity. Cowley
county gave Atkinson a strong en-
dorsement and 16 delegates Saturday,
which means that he will have the
Third district solid with the possible
exception of Crawford county. There is
considerable West sentiment in Craw-
ford.