The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-08
WALKERS SCALP
Commercial Interests Of Kansas
Are After 1t.
Entry Into Race, After Defeat
at Home, Resented.
MIR. REISING WRITES.
Secretary of Association Says
He Must Be Defeated.
Will Be Many Candidates Before
Wichita Convention.
MR.. REISING WRITES.

The shipping interests of the state,
represented by the State Federation of
Commercial Interests, proposes to see
that A. D. Walker is not renominated
for railroad commissioner if it is pos
sible to defeat him.
On the other hand, the railroad inter
ests are doing everything they can to
save Mr. Walker 1t was at the behest
of the railroad interests and of the Cur
tbs managers in Topeka, that Mr.. Walk
er again got into the race for renomi-
nation with a boiling delegation, after
he had acknowledged himself defeated
in his home county.
Mr. Walker was severely criticised at
the recent meeting of the Federation of
Commercial Interests by Herbert Hack
ney, president of the federation, in his
annual address. The federation also in
dorsed the candidacy Of W. A Thomp-
son, Walkers opponent in Jackson
county. Today Mr.. Hackney received a
letter from II. L. Reising of Wichita.
secretary OF the federation, in which
Mr.. Reising says:
II regret very much to learn that the
Curtis faction at the Holton convention
Endorsed Mr.. Walkers candidacy for
railroad commissioner. My belief is
that he must be beaten If there is force
enough in this state to do so. If he
succeeds in securing the nomination, a
him at the polls. However, before any
thing further is done I think we should
give his friends to understand that such
IS our intention, and that no effort will
be wanting TO defeat him, should he per-
sist in going before the people. 1 be-
lfeve that a committee representing our
federation should have a conference
with Mr.. Hoch on this subject as soon
as possible, in order to lay before that
gentleman our grievances against Mr..
Walker, and to impress him with our
combative qualities"
There NAV be a dozen or more can
didates before the Wichita convention
for the three nominations for railroad
commissioners. The commercial inter
ests of the state have not singled out
any special three candidates for these
places, but have recommended that any
of six or seven will be acceptable to the
federation. Among these are J. w.
Robson of FL Dorado. j. S. George of
Hutchinson w A Thompson of HOl-
ton, J. T. White of Ottawa county. S.
S. Ashbaugh of Wichita, and two or
three others
OF the present commission. J. C. o.
Morse of Hutchinson withdrew as a
candidate for denomination when he
was defeated in his home county If
the commercial interests have a good
chance to defeat Walker. George W.
Wheatley of Galena is the only mem
Der Of the present board who stands
good show for denomination. WheatIey
has served on the commission less than
a year Inc commercial interests are
not making a special fight on him, but
neither have they endorsed him.
Wheatley, however, will have the back
ing of his part of the state in the con-
Yention.
Farmer A. W. Smith of Mcpherson
IS the latest avowed candidate for rail-
road commissioner. He was men
toned" for the place two or three
weeks ago by Burton newspaper at
Salina, and that was sufficient to start
him in the race.
Ottawa county has got behind the
candidacy Of J. t. White of Ada. Mr..
White is a big cattle shipper, but has