The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-27
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Fusionists on Equal Basis With
Railroads.
Their ReQuisitiOns for Trans
pOrtation Are Honored.
THIS is A CHANGE.
Has Heretofore Been Difficult
to Secure Passes.
Items of Interest Concerning
the Wire PulIers.

The Democrats and the Republicans
are on an equal basis this year with
/ the Kansas railroads and one party re-
ceives the same courtesies that the 9TH
er does. In plain English this means
that the Democrats will have just as
much free transportation at their dis
posal as the Republicans and Chairman
Sapp of the Democratic state committee
will have just as many passes to give
out and just as much mileage to use
as will Chairman Stubbs of the Repub-
lican state committee.
1t is a changed condition in Kansas
when the opposition receives the same
favors from the railroads that the Re
publicans do. In different states pre-
cedents and customs and conditions are
different. In Missouri, for instance, the
| Democrats have always stood up closest
to the railroads free transportation
bureau, while in Kansas it has been
| like picking up the crumbs from the
banquet board for the Democrats and
Populists to take and be thankful for
the passes they received.
| the order has gone out this year from
the headquarters Of the railroads that
all politicians shall look alike to the
railroad pass distributors. This order
does not come from any local headquar-
ters from any division, nor from the
head of any department but it comes
| from the very top; from the principal
stockholders and from the boards of
directors which give the mint to the
presidents and the presidents hand 1t
on down the line.
| The changed condition in Kansas does
not come alone from conditions in the
state. The national game of politics
has something to do with it. The rail-
stocks
bonds and clip the coupons, are not
all entirely enthusiastic for Roosevelt
for president and they lean toward
Parker. Others are solid for Roosevelt
but this leaves a division of opinion
among the boards of directors so the
easiest way is to treat all parties in all
states alike and let them fight it out
without any seeming encouragemen to
one party from the railroads.
No wonder that when Chairman Sapp
asks for transportation for speakers
and workers for the fusion forces that
he receives at least the same considera-
ton by the railroads that is shown to
Chairman Stubs of the Republican
state committee.
When the Fusionists open their state
campaign at Wichita, September 10, the
Populists and Democrats are intending
to hold q regular political love feast
and to then and there settle all ques-
tionS which are causing any uneasineSS.
AT that time J. H. Ferris, of Joliet
Ill, chairman of the national Populist
committee, will meet with the Peoples s
party state committee at 10 o'clock in
the morning and the relationship be-
tween the Kansas committee and the
national committee will be settled.
There has been considerable criticism
from the national committee on the ac-
tion of the Kansas Populists in fusing
with the Democrats. This is to be iron
ed out and the national chairman and
the Kansas committeeman are together.
Ton fhnf h0
settled will be whether Tom Watson,
PopuliSt nominee for president, shall
make speaking tour of Kansas. Wat
son has been fiaying the Democrats
right and left and has been throwing
the hot shot into Parker for weeks. The
FusionistS in Kansas have given up all
hopes of delivering the Kansas vote to
Parker and they concede the state to
Roosevelt.
The Populists wish to cast their votes
for Watson and give good showing IN
ballots for the Populist presidential
electors, not with any idea of winning
but in compliment to Watson and to
show the POpuliSt strength in Kansas:
With this understanding the Populists
object to Watson coming to Kansas
and making speeches that will cause
any dissat tisfa ction among the Demo-
Gratis If Watson will come to Kansas
and make speeches and keep quiet on
Parker and the Democrats the PopuIlstS
are willing and anxious for him to come
but if he intends to make a Kansas
tour and assail the Democrats and per-
haps lose votes for the Kansas fusion
ticket the Populists do not want him to
come Whether Watson comes to KAN
sas or not will depend on his promises
as to what he will say and Chairman
Ferris will be the diplomat to arrange
all this to the satisfaction of the Kan
sas Populists.
At the Wichita meeting. September
10 when the Fusion campaign will be
opeoed. ex-senator w. A. Harris will
he one of the speakers and that is
signal from the Populists that harmony, |
in the Fusion ranks, IS TO pe the oroer. |
The members of the Populist state |
have been chosen from Ju- |
diciaI districts but there are no mem |
hers so far from the first, second, six |
teenth twenty-fifth ard twenty-sixth |
districts The members named, and |
Who will meet at Wichita with Chair |
man Ferris, and the districts they are |
from are as follows:
Third-E. c. FowIer, Topeka.
Fourth---Col- Beck, lawrence
Sixth-R. NJ Chenauet, Fort Scott.
Seventh-S. E. Bean, Chanute.
Eighth-Taylor Riddle, Marion.
Ninth-L. C. Criner, Mcpherson.
Tenth-John T. Little, Concordia.
Eleventh-M. A. Householder, Co |
Iumbus
Twelfth-H NJ. spaulding, Con-
cordia.
Thirteenth-G. F. FulIinwider. Ell
Dorado.
Fourteenth-Mark Gillen, Parsons. |
Fifteenth-N. E. Myerly, Mankato.
Seventeenth-C. NJ. Arnold, Phil |
lipsburg-
Eighteenth-W. ]. Babb. Wichita.
Nineteenth-Frank SidIe, Winfield. |
Twentieth-Solon Gray, Rice Co.
Twenty -frst-G. W. Hanna, Clay |
Center.
Twenty-second-D. S. Coleman,