The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-23
TAKE IT ALL BACK
Curtis Managers in Shawnee
Turn "Flip Flop"
Now Decide to Have a County
Convention.
WILL CALL PRIMARY.
Just Time to Go Through Neces
sary FormaIities.
Action Taken to Defeat Plan in
AtchisOn.
Will CALL PRIMARY.

There is CONSERVATION III the ranks
Of the Curtis workers in Shawnee
county, and steps have been taken 10
nullify the action of the county central
committee which allowed the friends
Of Mr.. Curtis to name the delegation
to the congressional convention with
out the formality OF a county conven-
ton. They have made a discovery"
This is that the call of the congress
siOnal committee specifies that the
county committee "be requested to
designate the time and manner of
holding conventions for the election of
delegates in their respective counties.
While there is nothing in this that
specifically requires that conventions
be held, the committee will now claim
1t requires that county convention
must be held, a point that was en-
tirely overlooked before.
At the meeting of the county COM
mittee. at which all members We're
present, Saturday, January 3, MAJOR
4. J. Anderson introduced the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted
unanimously:
Whereas, The Republican congress
giOnal convention for the First dis
trict has been called for an early date
and the people of Shawnee county are
earnestly in favor of the denomination
of Hon. Charles Curtis, the present
hOnOred and efficient congressman from
this district. and it would require
large and wholly unnecessary expense
to hold a county convention to elect
delegates to such congressional con-
Vention, an expense to which Mr.. Cur
tbs should not be subjected in view of
his very serious financial losses by the
food,
Therefore, Resolved. that the chair
appoint a committee of five to confer
with special friends of Mr.. Curtis, who
are we'll acquainted with his wishes
and that such committee recommend
to this committee a list of delegates
and alternates to represent Shawnee
county in said congressional conven-
ton"
The committee was duly appointed
and the delegates named.
The truth is that this change of pro-
gramme is not due to the fact that
AMT hing was overlooked. 1t is because
it was known that the Atchison county
committee intended to follow the eX-
ample of the Shawnee county commit
lee and name a delegation favorable
to Andrew White for congress-in fact,
1t has already been announced That
this would be done.
The loss of Jackson county by the
Curtis forces was unexpected by them
and the loss of AtchisOn county would
cIinch. the victory of the opposition.
Therefore the Curtis people want to
have a chance at the Atchison delega-
tion and will therefore rescind the ac-
ton in Shawnee county and rush
through a primary and convention TO
select Curtis delegates, hoping thereby
10 force Atchison to also hold con-
Vention.
The fact that Atchison county would
follow the Shawnee precedent ana
name delegates was published in TINS
paper yesterday before the jackson
primaries Atchison was important TO
Curtis then, but doubly so now-in fact
absolutely necessary to Curtis success
I G. SlonecIer, one of Congressman
Curtis chief lieutenants in topeka, an
7eya aft
from Jackson county were recelVeu
that it would be necessary to mold q
convention in Shawnee county Cnalr-
man Philips, of the county committee
was called in and it was at once de-
cided TO call a meeting of the shawnee
county Republican central coln'nlttee
for this afternoon at two O'CLOCK. 1ne
members of the committee We're noll-
fled by messenger and telephone TO
meet this afternoon at two o'clock.
Curtis managers in Shawnee county
were very certain that the action OF tne
county committee in selecting the del-
egates to the congressional convention
Vas Derfectly proper until Atchison
county pursued the same course ana
selected an anti-Curtis delegation. NOW
the Shawnee county managers VIII nave
the requirements of the call o2rrled out
in Shawnee county, and therefore COM
mel Atchison county to hold a county
convention in the vain nope lnat the
antf-Curtis delegation IN Atcnlson
delegation when the AtchisOn county
convention selects the delegates.
chairman Philips of the Shawnee
county Republican central committee
said this morning: Il do not know how
the requirements of the call were over
looked I did not read the call for the
congressional convention ana nad NJ
idea that a county convention was nee
essary until that point was brought Il
nv attention last night. It viii be nee
essary to hold caucuses to select dele
gates to a county convention, and tina
convention will select delegates to tn
conversational convention The count.
committee will meet this afternoon ant
call the county convention and set I'M
time for the caucuses.
After SlOnecker had announced ina
in the interests of Curtis he would asl
for conventions in the wards and town
ships, he decided that instead he woult
ask the county committee TO hold pr
maries. Mr. Slonecker gave as the rea
son that committeeman from Topeka
Mission and Soldier townships had an
nounced that the voters in those larg
townships could not be gotten toSetne
to hold a caucus, and that Dr1marle
with several voting places would b
necessary. Mr. Slonecker's NOV
changing his demands from caucuses
primaries seems to be for the Durpos
of embarrassing Atchison county
There must be a call printed five day
in advance for the holding of prima
ries. If the call in Shawnee county
DuDUSneQ SUNDAY tue primaries tetu u
held Friday and the county convention
Saturaa-7-
Atchison county is supposed to b
still waiting for the county committe
TO meet to follow the precedent of tn
Shawnee county committee in namin
delegates. If the county committee i
Atehison county is not assembled unit
Monday and the call for primaries
published Tuesday then the five day
will expire Saturday. the primaries wi
have to be held Monday, the count
convention Tuesday and Tuesday is tn
date of the congressional convention a
HOlton.
What If Atchison county is unable t
hold nrinaries and sends 70 the congres