The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-27
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Senator s. nj. Porter Is Having
Trouble at Home.
Finds Strong Opposition to His
Reelection.
HOSTILE To ssIa0DGE''
Other Active Members Will
Have Hard Shedding.
To Ia0DGE''
Many New Faces Expected in
Senate Next Year.

| S. NJ. Porter, state senator from
Montgomery county. seems to be en-
countering some hard shedding in the
path of his political ambitions. The
people down in Montgomery county
seem to be inclined to sidetrack Mr..
Porter for denomination to the state
senate, because of the allegiance which
he paid to the senate lodge at the last
session of the legislature. Senator S.
M. Porter voted with the members of
the lodge for the expulsion of repor-
ter, and also on all the railroad Issues.
The Independence Star, in discussing
the situation says:
If there is such bitter opposition to
Senator Porter's denomination and re-
election, why not give the place to a
Coffeyville man? This is not a new
sentiment in favor of it. J. H. Dana
has been mentioned for the honor, but
tells the Journal that he is not a can
didate and will not be. Sam McMur-
try, who made such a splendid record
as county clerk, is talked of and seems
to have friends all over the county
who want him to have the place. He
would make a good race, and would be
elected beyond any question, If he can
be induced to enter the contest"
Besides the fight on S. NJ Porter, the
chances are that some of the other
members of the senate lodge are likely
to have trouble in securing a renewed
expression of confidence on the part of
their constituents. J. B. Belts, of
Shawnee county, is practically certain
to be defeated for his active participa- |
ton in all the secret work of the rail- |
road lodge.
Senator t. c. Carver of Pratt coun-
ty may have trouble, as his constitu- !
ents were sending him lot of red hot |
before the last session |
was over. ]. M. Hamme. of Chase
county, an obedient member of the !
lodge, will probably not be a candidate !
fnr CpnrQn
Nemaha, who was with the lodge on |
most issues, has moved to Shawnee |
county, and will not be in the race |
again. T. A. Noftzger, of Harper, has |
also announced his withdrawal from |
politics so far as the state senatorship |
is concerned. NoftZger was one of the |
chief lieutenants of Fitzpatrick in the |
organization of the lodge. 1t is quite |
likely that Senator Fitzpatrick himself
will have hard time to retain his seat |
the senator from Chautauqua coun- |
t.
Some of the minor members of the |
lodge will undoubtedly be eradicated |
from membership in the senate, and |
their places filled by. square dealers.
Among the anti-gang faction in the
senate, there will also. be a number of
changes. Geo. Tucker and l. d. Young |
will probably be candidates for con- |
gress in their respective districts, |
suade Young to retain his seat in the |
senate. Senator F. H. Stannard will |
not be a candidate for reelection. Sen |
ator H. B. Miller may be a candidate
for governor. A fight is being made on
James F. Getty of Wyandotte county,
largely of personal nature. The chances
are therefore that a large portion of
the next state senate will be composed
of brand new material.
Mr.. "Peate" Smith of Stafford,
whose handwriting bears most re-
resemblance to that of H.
B. Hewitt, the Stafford candidate for
governor on the Populist ticket, has
written the following letter to the
State Journal:
Topeka State Journal:
81 will inclose both Stafford Repub-
Hcan and the Courier to show you we
are in earnest and when the time
comes we expect to push Hewitt boom
for governor.
1.-The independent movement is
pushing him.
yours truelly, Peate Smith
"P. 81 wish you would look over
these two articles in paper and give
Mr.. Hewitt a write up in paper.
With a band of enthusiastic sup
porters like "Peate'' Smith, who will
go to the trouble to send in material
for the press about the Hewitt boom,
there is no doubt that Mr.. Hewitt will
be a most formidable candidate. The
fact that "Peate" Smiths handwrit-
ing is apparently the same as that of
doesn't know how to spell his own
first name, may simply indicate that
Mr.. Hewitt and Mr.. Smith both use
the same amanuensis.
The following are the comments OF
the Stafford Republican on the Hewitt :
boom:
stafford was subjected to consid-