The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-21
THEY BLAME CURTIS.
Topeka Congressman Isn't Being Over
looked in Senatorial Contest.

The enemies of Congressman Curtis
charge that his hand was noticeable
in the final outcome of the senatorial
contest in Jefferson county, and that
he used Indian methods" in securing
the endorsement of U. S. Griffin. 1t is
claimed that Matt Edmonds really
had a majority of the delegates until
Mr.. Curtis mixed in the fight in the
interest of his own candidacy for
United States senator.
Now c. S. Finch wants Douglas
county to go into the senatorial con-
vote for w. r. Stubs for United
States senator when he gets a chance
to vote at all. Finch puts up long
argument against the present ar
rangement. He says:
There is going to be funny kind
of a convention held in Lawrence to-
morrow. 1t is for the purpose of
nominating a candidate for state SEN
ator on the Republican ticket, said
nominee to represent Douglas and
Jefferson counties. AS a matter of
fact the candidate will probably not
represent anything save a few poll
ticians, but that is neither here nor
there. Any other man than the pro-
posed nominee would no doubt differ
from him only in representing some
other bunch of politicians. The funny
part of it is that Douglas county,
with a large majority of the delegates,
and power to do whatsoever it pleaSes,
will have no voice whatever in the Sc
lection of a candidate. The Douglas
county delegates will be compelled to
sit with their fingers in their mouths
like bound boys at huskin' and say
nothing. The best they can do will be
to look wise and spit.
1.-THE reason for this extraordinary
condition of affairs is to be charged
directly to the politicians who sold us
out and decreed that Douglas county
should have senator only half the
time. The story has been told many
times, and there is no necessity to re-
hearse it now. But there is a point
the Gazette wishes to make, and it
trusts that the delegates from Douglas
county will consider the matter and
act upon the suggestion. 1t is this:
Let the nominee of the convention be
instructed to use every effort possible
tt have Douglas county made a Sepa-
rate senatorial district. Upon this
proposition every man in Douglas
county will unite, regardless of party.
Mr.. Griffin. who will be the nominee.
can not object to such instructions,
because he is limited to four years,
and cannot be a candidate for re-
election. 1t might be of advantage
to him in the formation of a new dis
trict, and it certainly could not pref
udice his interests. The Gazette trusts
that some delegate will press this
question and secure instructions.
There is another matter upon which
there may be some difference of opin-
ion, but which should be looked after.
In the Jefferson county primaries Sen
ator Matt Edmonds won out, and had
a clean, clear majority of the dele
gates. Congressman Curtis butted in,
and presumably because Edmonds
would not pledge himself to him, Cur
tbs, for the United States senate, kick
ed over the whole business, and forced
the endorsement of Griffin, although
Griffin never had at any time nor has
he yet a majority of the delegates of
Jefferson county.
IL
point Douglas. has no voice in the con-
vention and is ruled by jefferson. JEFF
ferson voted for ,Edmonds, and Con-
gresham Curtis came in and revised |
the vote of the Republican primaries, |
and forced Griffin on them. Therefore |
Douglas county 7Repup licans tomorrow
are going to vote for man, not of |
their own choice, not of the choice of |
Jefferson county, but the choice of |
Charley Curtis. Isn't it about time for |
Republicans to make up their minds |
to be men, or mice, or long tailed rats? |
How far are they going to allow them |
selves to be led by the nose by poll |
WHAT business had Charley /
Curtis to butt in and dictate to Doug
las county her nominee for the state
senate? He has done this and it is ad- |
nitted by his own friends that he has.
More than that; they openly boast that
he did it.
How long will Republicans stand
for it? Douglas county has d man who
is today more talked about in political
circles than any other man within the
state. He is man of force, of wealth.
of power, a man who has proved that
he is a genius both in the financial and
political world. and whose name has
been prominently mentioned for the
high office of United States senator If
the election. of q United States senator
should occur next week he would win
a struggle. The chances are
strongly that he will win when the
election comes. That man is W. r.
Stubs. chairman of the Republican
state central committee, and the man
who crushed the Republican machine
in Kansas. Why not go into that con-
vention tomorrow and instruct the can
1idate to vote for Stubs for the Uni
ted States senate? That is the smart
thing to do; that is all there is to do.
Unless Douglas county does that she
must be content to suck her finger and
let Charley Curtis dictate not only our
nominee, but his conduct in the legis-
ature. If there is. any nerve, or any
life, or any get up about the Douglas
county delegates in the convention to-
they will show the district and
the state that we are in this political
mess for business. An endorsement of
5tubbs would mean something for this