The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-02

doubt whether Bowersock was comlns
at all or not. They said 1t looked as
though he was hiding out.
When it became apparent that Mr..
Rowersoclt could not get here in time to
instruct his members of the committee
how to proceed, the idea of seating any
coutesting delegations before the pre-
lin1inary organization was abandoned.
Bowersock had uncontested delegations
from Douglas, Allen and Linn coun-
ties total Of "a, while the opposition
to him had only Franklin and Bourbon,
a total of 25 This was counting oft
the McGrew Wyandotte delegation,
which was contested by Nat Barnes. On
this basis the 81 Bowersock delegates
could organize the convention and seat
whatever delegations they chose. 1t
was generally understood that the Nc
Grew delegation from Wyandotte would
be seated and the Bowersock delegations
from the other counties. This would
give Bowersock 81 delegates, one more
than enough to nominate.
The Allen and McGrew forces claimed
that the 50 uneontested delegates could
not legally organize the convention as
they did not constitute a quorum.
SPLIT IN COMMITTEE.
There was a split in the congression-
al committee this afternoon shortly be-
fore l o'clock The four Bowersock
members held a meeting with j. H.
Vaughn, representing Anderson county,
and the four Allen members meeting
Anderson county. johnson was recon-
mended by the Allen delegates from
Atchison county. Frank Travis, secre-
tary of the committee, notified
Chairman Metcalf early this morning
that the Allen members would have
stenographers present at the commit
tee meeting to take down the proceed
ings. Il did this said Mr.. Travis, so
that they could do the same. Then
if this matter gets into the courts we
will have a correct account of proceed
ings."
The Allen forces had two stenograph-
ers, Miss Johnson and Miss Adleson,
present when the committee met.
Chairman Metcalf requested them to
leave but the Allen members told them
to remain, which they did. After
wrangling a while F. w. Sponable
moved that the committee go into ex-
pose of shutting out the stenographers.
Metcalf ordered Travis to call the roll.
Travis would not see Anderson county
and record the vote of Vaughn, whom
Metcalf recognized as the Allen county
member. but Metcalf announced that
the motion carried. Travis appealed
from his decision and refused to pro-
ceed further until his appeal was acted
upon. Thereupon Metcalf deposed
Travis as secretary and appointed Spon-
able to take his place. After a brief dis
cussion an Allen man nominated DR..
F. O. Hedrick of Franklin county as
chairman OIL the COllllnllle6, anu the tWO
factions split. The other left the room.
Both proceeded to hold committee meet
ings of their own and make preliminary
arrangements for the convention.
STILL AT L4OGGERHEADS.
Early this morning there was indica-
tons that two conventions would be
beld the same as at Holton a month
ago. The Bowersock forces insisted
| that they would seat Vaughn on the
committee and McGreW and Allen
thought this meant the seating of the
Bowersoek delegations from johnson,
Miami and Anderson counties. Nc
| Grew gave the Rowersock forces to un-
derstand that they would not stand fer
any action which left Wyandotte out
of the preliminary organization and the
arbitrary seating of the Bowersock
contesting delegations. Allen backed
up McGrew. BowersocS's friends then
concluded to take no definite action un-
til Bowersock himself arrived at one
| O'Clock this afternoon