The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-10

in public life until last spring, when he
was made the Democratic nominee for
attorney general. He accepted this
nomination under protest, as did prac-
tically all the nominees of that conven-
ton. The day before the convention
Mr.. Overmyer had not the slightest
idea that anyone thought of him as a
candidate. However, there were strong
efforts being made to, force Senator
Harris to lead the party as the nomi-
nee for governor. Mr., Overmyer, to-
gether with other Democrats, sent tel
egrams to Colonel Harris. who was
then In Chicago, saying that the party
demanded his acceptance of the nom
ination. At noon of the day, of the
convention. afteteats organization had
been completed, Z fRis telegram was re-
ceived from colonel Harris:
st will accept provided OVermyer is
nominated for attorney general and
Farrelly for lieutenant governor"
Mr. Overmyer recognizing the ex-
igencfes of the occasion, allowed the
convention to nominate him, as did Mr..
Farrelly.
A Forceful Orator.
There were few men in Kansas more
forceful on the stump or before any
sort of public audience than David
Overmyer. Possessed with wonderful
physique and an extraordinary resonant
voice. with more dramatic ability than
the average speaker, Mr.. Overmyer was
a power in swaying the people to whom
he spoke. He was practically the sole
author of the platform adopted at the
last Democratic convention, and was
made chairman of the committee on
resolutions. He created considerable
merriment when he stood before the
convention and read the platform which
it unanimously adopted. Arriving at
the word prohibition" he stopped sud-
denly, looked at the delegates over his
glasses and said solemnly, '-pro-hib-i-
tion," giving the 'i'' in the third Sylla-
BILE particularly strong and prolonged
emphasis. The convention burst into
laughter followed by cheers as the full
import of the sentence was understood.
Mr.. Overmyer took an active part in
the recent campaign. In his many
speeches he spoke almost exclusively OF
the enforcement of the law, particularly
SO far as it related to prohibition. He
did not conceal the fact that he had
been and was still an advocate of reSub-
but he commended that so long
as the law was upon the statute book
it was the duty of the state officials to
enforce 1t.
David Overmyer was strong in his
likes and dislikes, but his friends far
his enemies. He was con-
sidered irascible at times, but few per-
sons took exceptions to that, saying,
that's just old Dave"
Prominent az a Lawyer.
Mr.. Overmyer built up an immense
law practice in the state and was iden-
titled with many prominent cases. He
argued the famous Original Package
case before the supreme court of the
United States, and the celebrated
Gum" case before the supreme court
of Kansas and he has been counsel in
most of the big cases which have at
tracted public attention in the state
during the past decade.
He was the author OF the address to
the Democratic editors of Kansas in
1891, which was declared by General
Blair to be the quintessence of Demo-
cracy and which moulded the policy of
The party at that time. He answered
Judge Doster's populist harangue in
1891 and was the representative of
Democracy in the quadrangular de-
bate at Salina, his speech on this oc-
casion being declared by Governor
Click to be the best Democratic speech
hat had been delivered in Kansas.
Although essentially a home man,
,ne who took particular delight in
spending all his spare time with his
'amily and his books, Mr.. Overmyer
vas a charter member of the Topeka
odge of Elks
Body to Lie in State.
The funeral of David Overn1yer will be
held Saturday afternoon. The exact
hour and the place have not yet been
decided upon. The body will lie in
state at the residence Saturday from
10 a. m until 1 p. M, where all friends
nay view the remains If they wish