The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-08
Scores a Victory in the Third
Ballot.
LEAYENWORTH DID 1T.
Delegation Went to Gilday in
Body.
The End of a Most Exciting
Contest.


President, John Atkinson, Pittsburg.
Vice president, Charles Harvey,
Mineral.
Frank Gilday. of Scranton. Osagel
county, was elected state mine in
spector on the third ballot at the an
nual convention of the state society Of
mines in session at representative hall
The final ballot was as follows:
Frank Gilday, Scranton, 121.
JAS A. Orr, Weir City, 26-
w E. Davis. Pittsburg, %
Thos. Banks, Midway, 50.
Geo. Murphy, Chicopee, Is.
AS 11S votes were necessary for
choice. Gilday had three more than
majority.
Giiday's election was brought about
by the flop" of the entire LeaVen-
worth delegation, which had been cast
ing its solid vote for Abraham walker
of LeaVenWOrth. LeaVenWOrth brOught
p votes in bunch to Gilday, ana
AtchisOn climbed into the bandWagon
with three more. The three votes
were unnecessary. but served to clncn
the thing for Gilday.
This election of state mine inspector
is the one big event of the annual
miners convention. 1t IS really the
only business which the miners have
to do. but they take three full days TO
do it. There is no other convention
on earth which can find so many things
sas miners.
The position of state mine Inspector
is one not to be deSpised. The salary IS
$1,000 q year, and $1,000 more Tor eX-
pense money. Besides that the mine
inspector has the right to appoint three
deputies, who divide UP $4,000 year
in salary and expense money me
state mine inspector is therefore man
of considerable influence
1t has been usual for the mine IN
spector to be chosen from some of the
southern counties Of the state, where
the principal coal mines are located,
and where is also the bulk OF the
miners voting strength. But this year
Gilday managed to get good hold on
some of the south ern Kansas vote,
through the influence of his brother
who lives at Chicopee, and some
staunch personal friends who are IN
the mining business in southern ran
sas. He divided the big Chlcopee dele-
cation of / z votes, and got half, which
was an important victory. he OF
course had all the Usage district
strength solid, and was recognized as
one of the leading candidates from lne
start He secured a big lead on the
first ballot, and after the second ballot
/ his enemies made a desperate effort to
force an adjournment Ihey hopeu 70
! postpone another ballot until TINS
morning but the Gilday sentiment was
too strong for them, and the motion TO
adjourn was swamped. At the close
4 of the third ballot, the break came, anu
/ tbe 7 ,eaveuworth crowd went over to
+ GiIday en- masse. closely followed by
/ Atchison.
James A. Orr. the present mine in
spector. who was a candidate for re-
! election. made a motion to declare the
election unanimous, and it prevailed
The result of the first two ballots
F First rs ballot: Gilday. 81; Walker.
/ 81; Orr, 20; Davis, 10, Banks, 80; Muir
! ply. SO: Dixon, 10.
Second ballot: Gilday, 90; Walker,
/ 25; Orr. %; Davis. II: Banks. Al;
! Murphy, "a Dixon (withdrawn-)
Opposition to James Orr.
The fight seemed to center chiefly in
/ the opposition of many Of the miners
+ to James Orr, of Weir City, the retiring
state mine inspector Orr has served
/ two terms, and apparently has been
! giving good satisfaction, but there was
j an element of the miners who thought
4 otherwise. They charged that Orr had
not properly enforced the state laws for
4 the benefit of the miners: that in some
/ yvav the operators had secured too much
/ influence in the matter, and were able
/ to prevent the enforcement of laws
which would involve the expenditure Of
4 much money on their part
Talk of this sort was used to shatter
/ Orr's strength, and that it was effective
/ is shown by the fact that the highest
| number of votes he was able to poll on
any ballot was %. One of the miners
{
We are not so much in favor of any
one candidate for the place as we are
/ opposed to Orr. We are going to beat
/ Orr, no matter who gets the office. It
+ is my belief that unless Orr is beaten,
+ the miners vii prefer charges against
I him and try to have him removed from
/ office"
Orr's friends contended that ne had
i done his duty well, and they tried to
nut the other candidates in the hole
& I As~,~r -f5 "a n.
+ t7idate should be called before the con-
vention to pledge himself to enforce ali
the mining laws without fear or favor
i Of course there was big wrangle
about this, as with every other ques-
/ ton brought before the convention. It
I finally resulted in the defeat of the mo
/ fion with the understanding that the
/ successful candidate should be called
upon to pledge himself after his cleo
ton.
After. Glday had been declared elected,
+ he was called to the front for some re-
marks. He thanked the delegates sim
! cerely. and. said.
I viii promise you that viii do my
/ duty as best I can, and [ believe that
none of you viii have cause FOR dlssat-
+ isfac tion-
How about that pledge shouted
one of the delegates. we want you 10
take that pledge
But Gilday had retreated to the back
/ of the hail. and din't pay any attention
to the demand.
walker for DEPUTY
1t is generally believed that Frank
/ Gilday. the newly elected mine m
+ snector will appoint Abraham Walker
i Of Leavenworth as one of his deputies.
Leavenworth is entitled to one deputy.
and its action in throwing strength
from Walker to Gilday at critical
moment IS significant The presump-
ton is that they viii recommend
| Walker for the place Of deputy.
Mr.. Gilday refused to say anything
about his appointments. He said,
after his elections.
''I know that it has been common
/ for a candidate to make deals with
other candidates by which he agreed
/ to give them deputyships in case Of