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


For time the delegates on both sides |
yelled so that it was impossible to
hear them The opera house, where |
the convention was held, began to fill /
about one o'clock.
The Allen men took possession of the /
seats in the place designated for john |
son and Anderson counties, but as there
We're chairs for the contestants also, the |
Bowersock delegates sat Immediately
behind them.
There were only chairs enough for !
the McGrew delegation in the Wyan- !
dotte space and the Barnes contestants
had to sit on the other side of the ha1l.
All the delegates were in their seats a
half hour before the time designated
for the opening of the convention and
both chairman, Colonel Metcalf and DIR.
Hedrick, were on the platform ready to
begin.
Congressman Bowersock had not ar
rived at o'clock and the Allen men
decided In fairness to wait until Bow
ersock arrived. In the meantime OF
tawa band played "A Hot Time and
other appropriate music.
BowersOck came in about 2:15 and
was cheered by his supporters. AS soon
as he could be heard George J. Barker
called Mr.. Chairman, or chairmen, as
the case may be" Hedrick and MetcaIf
both came to attention. L move vote of
thanks b. given the band for their rnu-
Sic on this interesting and solemn oc-
casion." Both chairmen put the vote at
DOAAA l4lGlt Cd1leu the convention TO
oruer and Frank Travis and F. w
Sponable both commenced to read the
call Then motion which had been
agreed upon by each side was made
put the noise and yelling were so great
lnal lnOSe VINO made them had to come
up close to the stage and yell in the
ears OF the respective chairman.
Inc BowersOck plen got their organiz-
atlon completed hN&t by electfng John
Francis of Allen county chairman and
r w. SpOnable secretary. The Allen
McGrew convention elected Samuel
Mcconnell of Wyandotte, a McGrew
man. chairman, F. NJ. Harris of Frank
lin, secretary, and George Ritter of
Bourbon, assistant secretary. As soon
as the Bowersock convention completed
It's organization it took a recess until
4 o'clock.
The other side did not know this of
course, owing to the yelling and when
they saw BoWersock and his friends
put on their hats and start out the
entire Allen -McGrew convention got lIp
on their chairs and yelled. They
Inoushl lhe BoWersock delegates were
eoltlng. Let 'em bolt' Let ,em
bolt yelled the Allen men As soon
as the Allen-McGrew convention had
completed the appointment of it's COM
Inltlee 1t took recess until 4 o'clock
put the delegates were told to remain
IN their seats. It is expected that the
BoWersock convention will renominate
congressman Bowersock and the Nc
tTfeW-Alen convention will name Al
len when they convene.
Inc feature of the skirmishing of the
second district congressional cOnyen-
ton this morning was the absence OF
congressman Bowersock Mr.. Bower
SOCK mas been in Lawrence for several
days, not two hours ride from Garnett
but ne has avoided coming here all
lnoush the other candidates, H. J. AL
len and Henry McCirew, have been on
the ground and have been anxious to
cohIer with Bowersock relative to a
compromise on the organization
Mr.. Bowersock was represented nv
George J. Barker of Lawrence. but his
absence disheartened his followers and
they old not know what course to mr.
sue, even Judge Barker was in do1ht
he Ielt a great responsibility resting
upon him without the absolute power
to go ahead and act
Barker is not talking ro,,cb a,-a,, -
his men, said Bowersock sympathf-
ger shortly before noon All the Row
ersock men think Bowersock ought 10
nave come last night if not before
Judge Barker is worried a good deal
because he is afraid of making a mis-
take and then being accused of disIov-
atty or untalrness, and consequently he
is not doing anything"
It was reported early this ,,aor7,i,s .,
that Mr.. Bowersock would get here at
noon, later his train was reported two
hours late and it was stated he could
not reach here until just about time
for the convention to open. The Bow
ersock delegation from johnson count,
for a time talked about going home
without waiting to make a fight for
their seats. some of them began to