The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-30
ALLEN AGAIN WRITES.
Tries Hard to Secure Compromise
from Bowersock.

Henry Allen has again taken his
trusty typewriter in hand and indired
few lines more to Congressman Bow
ersock. The subject of his epistle is,
of course, their mutual differences ana
their diverse opinions as to when is
the Republican nominee for congress
in the Second district.
Some time ago Mr.. Allen addressed
communication to George j. Barker,
Mr.. Bowersock's manager, agreeing tc
leave the contest to a primary election
of the Republican voters of the Second
district, and the communication was
forwarded to Mr.. BoWerSock, but ne
has ignored replying to it Mr.. Aliens
latest letter is intended to remind nun
of that proposition. 1t is as follows;
"Hon. J. D. Bowersock, Washington,
D. C.-Having heard nothing from you
touching my favor of the 14th inst,
which Judge Barker tells me he for
warded to you, l am taking the liberty
of writing you direct.
Il am loath to accept the frivolous
references which I have seen credited
to you as your reply to a serious plan
honestly suggested in the interest OF
the party. 1 believe you are under
sufficient obligations to the Republic
can party of the Second district 10
warrant the hope that you will at least
give the plan a decent consideration.
THE plan that 1 proposed to youwas
first suggested by some Of your own
friends. It has been Endorsed by some
of your own friends and by some of
the newspapers favorable to your can
didacy. The belief is gaining ground
that you are unwilling, for selfish rea-
sons, to submit this contest to the Re
publican voters of the Second district
in a fair primary election under 81 sys-
tenn which will give every Republican
voter of the district voice in the set
Element of the contest. 1t is believed
that your silence upon the subject OF
my proposal is your confession that
YOU dare not leave this issue to the
Republican voters, but wish to leave 1t
to the tribunal which you and your
friends have coOlly assumed and stated
would favor your side of the contro-
versy irrespe ctive of it's merits. If the
belief has gone abroad that majority
of the contest board is going to pass
upon this contest in your favor and
along factional lines, you are response
bic for the sentiment. You nave not
even denied your interview given py
YOU on the 10th inst, in which you
prophesied that the state contest
board would give you the nomination
and follow the precedent established
by the credentials committee at the
Wichita convention.
You also in a conference of the con-
gressional candidates at Garrett, when
an effort was being made to reach some
adjustment of our differences which
would save the party the bitterness and
vention, refused all efforts at compro-
mise and preferred to leave it to the
contest board.
Some of your friends have chosen to
sheer at my suggestion to settle this
matter in a primary election. They
have said that it indicated that 1 am
afraid to submit my case to fair tr1-
bunal In answer I point you to the
fairest tribunal on earth, the voters of
the party.
"A Washington dispatch has quoted
you as saying that a primary election
would take time and occasion expense.
We will have ample time after the con-
gress adjourns and before the campaign
opens to submit this question. You and
l have both Jared too we'll at the hands
of the party to be unwilling to take a
little time or contribute a little ex-
pense to an honest effort to harmonic
the party. The situation in this district
is serious; no Republican can faithfully
ignore it. 1t is idle to deal in recrimina-
lions or to seek to locate the fault.
The Republicans desire the matter
harmonized There is ample time to
adjust the matter satisfactorily, to all.
primary election will give every Re
publican voter a chance for an honest
expression. It has been suggested by
many of your friends that you and 1
should both retire-a primary election
such as 1 suggest would give the ma
jority of the Republicans an oppor-
tunity to retire us both, and give their
expressions to a new man, should a.
majority prefer this. In fact a pri-
mary election under the Crawford
county system would absolutely settle
the issue beyond the possibility of fu-
ture dispute and future bitterness.
May 1 not hope for a serious ex-
preston from you on this subject?
Yours very truly. H. J. ALLEN"