The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-13
ANTHONY CURTIS CASE.
Arguments Closed Today Before Con-
test Board.

The state election board has more
business today than it knows what to
do with. All of the forenoon was taken
up with the arguments in the Anthony
Curtis contest in the First congression-
al district. That closed early this af-
ternoOn and the Allen-Bowersock con-
test in the Second district was then
taken up.
There are a number of prominent
Republicans here from the Second dis
trict to hear the arguments in the
Allen-BOwerSOck contest. Among them
are Grant Hornaday and F. c. Raney
of Fort Scott, ]. w. Radford, Orrin
Peterson and w, D. Wood of Kansas
City, Kan, W. D. Greason and A L.
Thomas of Paola, Frank L. Travis of
lola, who was secretary of the Second
district congressional committed; J.
F. Dellinger, Fred Trigg and W. r.
smith of Garnett, and others They
are all Allen partisans- D. r. Hite and
w. S. jerks are Mr.. Allel 5 attorneys,
and George J. Barker, F. r. Ogg and
H. G. Larimer are representing Mr.
Bowersock. c. w. Trickett and G. H.
Ridgeway, of the Barnes contingent,
are also up from Kansas City.
/ The arguments in the Anthony-Cur-
tbs contest were made by Devere Raf-
ter and A E. Crane of Holton and u.
r. Hite Of Kansas City for Mr. An
thony, and J. G. SlonecHer for Mr..
Curtis. Eugene Hagan was present as
counsel for Mr.. Curtis but did not
make an argument.
The whole contention of the Curtis
side of the contest is based on the
proposition that the congressional
committee has a right to run things
and is the sole governing power up to
the time the convention meets. On this
I theory is based the right to Se5regate
| the soldiers home from Leavenworth
county and the right to make up the
temporary rolls of the convention. Mr.
! Slonecker placed special emphasis or
this proposition and produced preced-
ents to show that the committee had q
right to make I'D the rolls He said
that the Republican na ational commit
tees in a contest from Virginia once
recognized one of the contesting dele
cations and seated it for the tempor-
airy organization.
Mr.. Rafter and Mr. Crane made the
! opening speeches on the Anthony sid'
of the contest, but the principal argu
ment was made by Mr. Hite. Hit
especially went after the segregation
proposition. He said the attorney gen
eral would not dare to risk his repu
tation as a lawyer on an opinion tina
the segregation of the soldiers hom'
was legal under the Kansas primary
law. He charged that the Curtis peo
pie had based everything on their con
troll of the congressional committee
and knowing they could control ina
they had formed a conspiracy to caus'
ties to give them complete control O.
the congressional convention on {
temporary roll made up by the com
mittee, regardless OF right ana th'
wishes Of the voters.
Mr.. Hite had not completed his argu
lment at noon but took about half al
hour of the afternoon session
The supporters of Bowersock IN i' tn
Second district contest base thel
ichief cIai I upon the contention sha
their convention was called to ordel
by Wilder S. Metcalf, as chairman O
the congressional committee, ana ina
it was therefore the regular commit
tee. The Allen forces deny that Met
calf was chairman at that time TheI
contend that he was allowed to act al
chairman pro tenn at one. y meeting o o
even a member of the committee ex
lcept temporarily. The Allen forces
also go into the county contests
Attorney General Coleman said tina
decisions in both contests would b'
rendered as soon as possible possibly
tonight. e :
The election board is composed OF J
r. Burrow, secretary Of state Sell
Wells, state auditor anu - - SOiS
man attorney general.