The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-17
Congressman Campbell's Star
Is in the Ascendency.
4 Glimpse at His Future in
Kansas.
BE RENOMINATED
All Younger Members of DeIega-
tiOn Also in Line.
Lively Time May Be Expected
in the Fifth.

Now that the legislature is out OF
the way, the politicians are begin
ming to get ready for 1905. It win
then be time for a new deal in the
state ofi1ces-with the exception Of
governor lower house will be elect
ed which will do most of the selecting
of the United States senator to sue
ceed J. r. Burton, and there win
doubtless be number of congress
sional contests.
About the only congressman who
are practically certain of renomina-
ton without opposition are the young
est members, Phil Campbell, from the
Third district, and Victor Murdock.
from the new Eighth. CampbelPs
swift ascendency to a conspicuous
place in congress by means of his at
tack on Standard Oil has solidifed
him with his people beyond any dan
ger from an attack, and Victor Muir
dock is so popular and bids fair to be
such q useful representative of Kan
sas in Washington that no one viii
think of opposing him. While he is
in a new district-new in name at
least-he has only one county in that
district that he is not ALREADY repre-
senting. That one is Butler.
1t is quite possible, of course. that
Congressman Miller viii have no op-
position for denomination next year.
There is no talk of any at present,
but there is plenty of room for trouble
in the Fourth district.
Mr. Curtis may possibly be let off
without fight next year also. The
/ fight made on him last year was about
as hard a one as could be made. vet
| he was successful and it is doubtful
/ if a fight on him next year would
accomplish any more than that OF
1904.
In the other districts there is every
indication of big contests. If Mr.
! BcWersock insists on being a candi-
| quite likely that the Allen -Bowersock
! fight will be fought over again. If Mr..
/ 2owersock stays out, Henry Allen and
Congressman-at Scott vii prob
ably be the leading candidates, with
perhaps a number Of others as possi-
bilfries. The alleged redistricting Of
/ the state cuts Mr.. Scott out of con-
gress unless he can secure the nomi-
nation next year in the Second dis
trict
In the Fifth district Congressman
Calderhead has been left without trou-
/ bic for a number of years. In fact, Mr..
Calderhead has never had to fight for
a denomination since he was first sent
/ to congress in 1894. He has had a strug-
gle over the election and was left at
/ home in 1896, but. he has never had any
I trouble over a denomination. The signs
have been pointing towards a change in
| the Fifth district, however, for a year
/ VI lWO IL any one nttQ HdlQ the WDLu
there would have been a contest last
year, but each of a number of con-
gressional aspirants did not feel ready
to start things" It has been general
/ ly understood that this year there will
be a free-for-aH race for the nomina--
ton, with perhaps half a dozen entries
Among the leading candidates will be
Senator Charles N. Peck of ConcOrdia.,
T. D. Fitzpatrick Of Salina, and per-
haps F. L Williams Of Clay Center and
R. ]. Brock of Manhattan, with other
possibilities.
In the Sixth district Congressman
Reeder will of course, have his regular
! biennial fight Mr.. Reeder probably
would not feel natural unless he had
some trouble on hand, although there
was none on the surface last year. It is
generally understood that Secretary OF
State Burrow is laying his plans to take
the congressional nomination away
from Mr.. Reeder next year, but If such
a fight is started there will be others
in it. Senator I. D. young Of Beloit is
frequently mentioned in that connec-
ton. Senator Young made good with
the people in the legislature and was
generally regarded as one Of the big
men of the senate. If Young should
keep out Judge J. Q. Postlethwaite OF
Jewell City, in Young's senatorial dis
trict, might be a candidate A man
named Stevens of Goodland, served no
tice last year that ne would run against
Reeder in 1906. but nothing has been
heard of him since.
Down in the Seventh district there
trict that is now left without a cone
gressman and so no present Office
holder will have to be defeated before
some one else can get the plum Tt has.
generally been supposed that Senator
Fred Dumont Smith had both eyes FIX
ed on that congressional job, but It has
been stated that he will not make the
race. Smith would, of course, be a
strong candidate. He was the leading
man against Victor Murdock when the
latter got the nomination at Great Bend
two years ago. Chalk Beeson- who
has represented Ford county IN the low
er house for a number of years, is talk
I'd of as a candidate, and II Is pro-
liable that Senator T. A. Noftzger Of
Harper will make the race. since W.
Y Morgan of Hutchison has had ex-
perience as a. Iaw-maKer he may con-
cIude that he wants to go higher ana
RIM for congress Judge Price OF Ash
land will quite likely be candidate.
one of the strongest men mentioned
fnrs far is Judge 9. F. Lobdell OF
+ -s1-,ed and il is said that he will be
in the contest. Two Of those who We're
Candidates two years ago have since
d5ed-V. NJ Wallace Of Kingman ana
8 M. Forsha of Hutchinson