The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-20
Anti Railroad Forces May Unite
on Him.
IfHe Fails to Make Good May
60 to Bailey.
BENSON NOT STRONG.
Present Senator Hasn't De-
velOped Strength Expected.
Stubbs Would Prefer MurdOck
to Anyone.

AS result Of the senatorial confer
ence at the Copeland hotel Wednesday
afternoon and evening. the indications
are that J. L. Bristow, of Salina, has
taken the inside track, and will get the
first chance TO make the race of the
anti-Curtis, anti-I abroad field OF can
didates.
II Bristow shows that he has the nee
y essary strength 10 beat Curtis with lhe
help OF Stubbs and Bailey, he will pro-
badly &c. that help. On the other hand
If Bristow fails to make as good
showing as expected. the chances are
that w J. Bailey will be the second
choice. though he is not an active can
didata.
This is said to be the general out
cone Of the Stub6s-Bailey-B -BristOW con-
ference at the Copeland. But the par
ties to that conference do not ADMIT
that any such combination was MADE.
The politicians seem to be ngurinR
now that Senator w. A. Benson IS not
likely to last long in the senatorial
fight They believe that when the anu
Curtis people get together and nsuse
the thing out Benson will have to stand
aside Henry Allen, who is Benson
representative, and also Bristows s best
friend attended the conference II Al
len finds out that Benson has no show,
he VIII do his best for BristOw- Hence
the BristoW people have hopes OF land
ing the Benson votes
Phil Campbe1Ts Third district votes
VIII stay with him for a while, but
when the break comes. some OF them
viii go 20 Curtis Benson VIII get
few. and possibly Stubs i few. But
If Bailey becomes candidate, he viii
get all the votes that would go to Ben
son and Stubbs and some of those that
would otherwise go to Curtis. Bailey's
strength is his powerful second choice
Vote.
Murdocz Of the Eighth is the man
whom Stubbs would really prefer to see
selected. II he not land himself.
But AIurdock's vote VIII likely be limit
ed TO the Eighth district and Stubbs
viii not help MurdOck at the risk of
electlng Curtis.
stubbs Called the Conference.
1t is understood that the conference
Of Wednesday was called by w. r.
Stubs, and that his intention was to
con9re the discussion to some of the
sion.
Some of those who were invited to
the conference. however. saw that the
opportunity was excellent to get the
senatorial candidates together and try
TO fix up some sort of an anti-Curtis
understanding. Thus it happened that
Bailey, Bristow and Henry Allen were
all on hand to welcome Mr.. St1bbs
when he arrived.
There was some talk among the con-
ferees Of an anti-Curtis caucus to be
held few days before the beginning
Of the session for the purpose Of enter
ing into an ironclad agreement to
stand together for the support of some
other candidate than Curtis.
1t is also said that Cyrus Leland and
c. A Stannard have patched up a
treaty by which they viii combine
forces in favor Of the one which shows
the most strength, when the speaker
ship fight comes on
c. a Stannard who was brought out
by some Of the square deal people as
the candidate Of that faction for tn Q
speakership of the house. said.
Il am not after the speakership in
the interest of any senatorial candidate
and shall take no part in that con-
troVersy. In my opinion it is entirely
outside of the senatorial fight. In one
sense I am not candidate for the
speakership. in that am not making
any great campaign for the place. If
the members want to elect me to that
Office I certainly shall appreciate the
honor. and try to perform the duties
properly
\ Dolly Of Maple HILL the Stubbs
first lieutenant said: This conference
was merely to talk over matters. and
ct is not expected that it will have any
great bearing on the senatorial fight
Each of the candidates here is no
doubt determined that his chance of
election IS as good as those of the
ether. and they will probably stay with
the fight"
that the conference had nothing to do
with senatorial matters They are
here" said Mr. MurdOck simply to
talk about legislation TOT lnG coming
session of the legislature. It is neces-
sary to have some plan of action map
ned out before the legislature con-
venes. and somebody must attend to
the preparation of important bills. The
legislation for the session IS OF far
more importance than the election Of
any senatorial candidate.
Afraid of Bailey.
The following is a dispatch concern
ing the situation in Washington:
Four senatorial candidates. Benson,
Curtis Murdoch and Cam 6beIl, Will
leave Washington tomorrow for Kan
sas. It is gOssiped in the Kansas col
onv that Curtis will seek both the
short and long terms If he discovers he
has sufficient votes TO control the sit
uation Nothing definite has been
given out on the subject but the i'm
would like to plunge into legislation on
the senate side at the present short
session.
The legislature will have to select a
term. which ends March 8. 1907 as
we'll as for the full term of six years.
Mr. Curtis IS the only one of the can
dfdates who appears to be sanguine of
success. 1t is recalled in the specula-
ton that he is no more certain than he
was three years ago when Long walk
ed or with the election
Interest here in what the senators
and represen tatives from the Third
district will do is second only as to the
speculation regarding Ex-Governor
Raiiev It has been asserted by the
Campbell vote in the Third district
would break to Curtis on the second
ballot. Campbell. on the other hand
contends that this vote viii stay by
him until he Is elected or releases his