The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-12
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Charles $. Beekman Goes Down
to Defeat.
". L. Cunningham, Formerly of
Topeka, the Victor.
ON RAILROAD ISSUE.
Successful Man Belongs to the
Anti Crowd.
His Opponents Legislative Rec
ord Used With Good Effect.
Y RAILROAD ISSUE.

Charles S. Beekman was defeated yes
terday by ". L. Cunningham, a Wash
burn graduate and former State Jour
nal carrier, for the Republican ncmina-
ton for the position of representat-v
from the Arkansas City district of cow
ley county, the 55th district Beeknan
was in the last Rouse. but his record
seems to have been unsatisfactory to
his constituents. Cunningham carried
every ward in Arkansas City by good
majorities. and enough of the country
precincts to make his nomination as
sured.
The fight between Cunningham and
Beekman was one of the most interest
ing ever waged in Cowley county. The
vote at the eaucuses held last night
was the largest in many years Gun
ningham's victory is so decisive that
Beekman's name will likely not be pre-
scented at the convention Saturday. Cum
ningham will get the place by acclama-
ton, and his election is assured
It was a strict railroad and antirail-
road issue between Beekman and Cum
bingham, though Beekman's record in
the last house of representatives was
pulled" on him with disastrous erect
The people evidently sized Beekman up
a friend of corporations. and mad
reason to suspect that he was secretly
working for corporation interests.
While in the house of representatives
Beekman aspired to be leader, and
as he is an orator of considera Bile ability,
he was looked upon as one of the young
men in the house who would be likely
to be heard from in the future. But he
got mixed up with the wrong crowd,
and his constituents were waiting for
him.
One of the things which Beekman did
x. ts,f,
him in the campaign was a peculiar
deal in connection with the report on
the antipumping bill. The big pipe line
corporations wanted the right to pump
gas from the gas fields in southern
Kansas The people down in the gas
fields and especially the Gas Protective
association, were opposed to this, and
introduced an antipumping bill Beck
man would naturally be expected to line
up with his constituents, and support
this bill AS Beekman was chairman
of the oil and gas committee in the
house. he was in a position to give the
bill material assistance. But the Dill
VS. never seen by the members of the
committee after it was referred. NO
action was taken on It. Some OF the
members of the committee could not
understand the situation, and com
menced an Investigation. They found
the bill r7igeon- ho1ed in the chief clerk 5
desk. where it had been placed by Beck
man. On it was endorsed IN BeekTnah 5
writing what purported to be the rec
concentration of the gas and oil com
mittee that the bill be not passed Ihls
caused a sensation. Beekman was out
of town. and the members of the COM
n1ittee secured permission from the
house to withdraw the bill from the
fles. where it was practically dead. with
the adverse report on its back On the
morning of Februsrv %. 1905, the COM
mittee returned the bill to the house
with the following endorsement, signed
bv every member of the committee ex-
cept Beekman:
Former report of the committee void
and so held by the house. Chairman
roitfea The above bill was never here
tofore considered by this committe, and
the former report was entirely without
authority. Recommended that the bill be
/ passed.