The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-21

Waggener had just finished making
this statement to a reporter: IF the
Democrats will nominate some good
man like Senator Harris or Ryan of
Crawford county they can win the next
state campaign. The fight in the Re
publican party has gone so far that [
doubt if the Republicans can ever get
together again before the election"
I think we ought to nominate Har-
ris," said Ryan in response to Wag-
gener's introduction.
Il agree with you," said Mr.. Wag-
gen, eff Senator Harris would run. But
my understanding is that he has made
business alliances which absolutely
prohibit him from making the race, and
he has positively declined to consider
will nominate you 1 believe you can be
elected
There is a large gathering of Demo-
Gratis at the ThrOop hotel this after
noon. They are here to attend the
meeting of the Democratic state CEN
trail committee tonight, which has been
called to decide upon the time and
place for holding the Democratic state
convention, and whether one conven-
tion shall both elect delegates to the
national convention and nominate a
state ticket, or whether two conven-
tions shall be held. The dominating
sentiment seems to be in favor of one
convention, although Charles McCrunl,
secretary of the committee, says he
thinks there may be two j. M. Fike
, of Colby, thinks there will be only
one, because he said, railroad fare
costs three cents a mile and the Dem
ocrats can't afford two conventions.
1t seems quite likely that the con-
vention will be held the last Of May
or the first of June. AS to the place,
both Topeka and Wichita are asking
for it and it is hard to tell which viii
get it.
I shall vote for Topeka myself, ="
said Fike, ''but I look for Wichita to
get it because there are a lot of Demo-
Gratis who don't like Topeka"
It has developed that there is to be a
straight Hearst and anti-Hearst fight
among the Kansas Democrats. That is
the chief topic of discussion among
them today. w. d. Deford of Ottawa
who has charge of the Hearst boom in
Kansas, is on hand and he has numer-
Gus lieutenants. The Hearst people are
organizing and it looks as though they
intend to carry Kansas Democracy fol-
Hearst by storm. 1t is said that E
E. Murphy, of Leavenworth, is look,
ing after the Hearst boom in the First
district; T. w. Morgan, of Ottawa, in
the Second; ex-COngresSman A NJ
Jackson, of Winfield, in the Third; P
F. Yearout, of Emporia, in the Fourth
and Vernon Rose, OF Newton in the
| Seventh.
The Hearst fight is taking shape ovel
| the contest for national committeeman
There are three avowed candidates for the
place and one receptive. The aVoWeC
/ candidates are J. G.. Johnson, of Pea
body. the present committeeman; Johr
! H. Atwood, of Leavenworth. and ClauC
Duval, of Hutchinson. Johnson anC
/ Atwood have both declared for Hearst
While Duval is the anti-Hearst candi-
date. Baiie Waggener is the receptive
/ candidate, and he is against Hearst
He characterizes the Hearst boom as
/ .'ridicu1ous"
The fight is along an entirely new
alignment from what it was at th=
close of the last convention. At that
time E E. Murphy and some others
/ formed plans to oust J. G. johnson OF
/ Pea body as national committeeman,
and that was their chief fight in the
Democratic state convention at Wich-
+ ita two years ago Their first step was
to get the scalp of ]. Mack Love az
] state committeeman, and that they did