The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-18
HEARST IN LEAD.
He Will Undoubtedly Get Kan
sas Delegation.
Those Who Would Not Instruct
and Rest In Contest.

The great contest within the ranks
of Kansas Democracy at present Is
whether Kansas shall send an in
structed or uninstructed delegation to
the Democratic national convention at
st. Louis. If the delegation is to be
instructed it will be for William Ran
dolph Hearst. If uninstructed it will
be for any candidate New York and
two or three other pivotal states de-
clare for.
Thus far the indications are that the
Hearst boomers will win, although
there are good many Kansas Demo-
Gratis who are personally for Hearst
but who do not believe it good politics
for Kansas to instruct. They put 1t
on the ground that Kansas will have
no electoral votes for a Democrat any
way, as Roosevelt is sure to carry the
state, and that the naming OF the
Democratic candidate should be left to
those states which are close.
The Hearst Democrats have an or
practically every county and in some
counties extends into the townships,
while the active opposition to Hearst
is somewhat scattered. Still number
of counties have already elected anti
Hearst delegations to the Democratic
convention which meets at Wichita
April Z, which will select the delegates
to the national convention.
Atchison county few days ago
named a delegation headed by James
W. Orr, who is opposed to Hearst, al
though only short time ago ex-Gov-
ernor Click, whose home is lin Atchi-
son. came out for Hearst. Not only IS
Atchison Clicks home, but Orr is
Clicks son-in-law. Orr and Bahe
Waggener are law partners, however,
and both are opposed to Hearst.
The Hearst organization includes
many of the leading Democrats of the
state who do things, and that is why
the prospect is good for an instructed
delegation for Hearst. The growth of
Hearst sentiment in the east is also
having its influence in Kansas.
Claud Duval. of Hutchinson, who
was the only active anti-Hearst candi-
date for national committeeman at the
time of the meeting of the Democratic
state central committee several weeks
ago, has Withdrawn from the race, and
! this is regarded as an indication that
the Hearst supporters will have things
pretty much their own way in the
Wichita convention. In his withdrawal
announcement Mr.. Duval minated
that Charles McCrum. secretary of the
Democratic state committee. had al
| lowed the use of the state organization
to further the interests of Hearst Dur
| ing the last campaign McCrum secured
the names of active Democrats in every
road district in the state through whom
to work and it is this list which Duval
thinks AIcCrum gave to the Hearst
j boomers. McCrum denies this. He
says that his records have been used
/ only to further the interests of the
party . whole and not in the inter-
est Of any one candidate.
/ In order to head off the Hearst move
ment in Kansas. presidential boom
has been sprung for ex-senator w. A.
Harris, and it is proposed that Kansas
shall instruct for him. giving him at
| least complimentary vote. This
would take away the force of instruc-
tons for Hearst and leave the Kansas
delegation free to go to whatever can
didate seems strongest. Senator Harris
| is, of course, extremely strong in Kan
where he is known. but it is not be-
! it We're the Democrats Of Kansas would
mouslY.
Burlington, Kan, March 18.-The Re
publicans of the Fifteenth senatorial
district, composed of Coffey and Frank
lin counties, met here Thursday after
noon and unanimously selected H. J.
Smith of Ottawa as their candidate for
the state senate to succeed J. A. Ken
nedy of this county. 1t is the rule in
| this district that the candidate shall
come from Coffey county one time and
from Franklin the next. The commit
tee on resolutions sprung an innova-
ton by reporting that it had none to
recommend. J. r. Finley, of Williams
burg, is chairman, and c. N. Converse
of Burlington, secretary of the new
committee.