The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-05
candidates Are Emerging From
the Brush.
I'LL Be Scramble for Several
Offices.
INTEREST IN SHERIFF.
Effort to ID feat Wi kerson for
Second Term.
County Commissionership is
Also Attracting Attention.

Every indication at this time points
TO the fact that the campaign for nonli-
nations for a good many of the county
offices at the Republican primary
which will be held during the latter
part of March next, will be one of the
iveliest in annals of the Republication
In Shawnee county. Not only will it
be lively but there is every prospect
that in some instances that it will be
exceedingly bitter.
There's never been much factionalism
In the Republican camp in this locality.
To be sure there have been many occa-
sions when good Republicans have
fought each other to the last ounce of
their energy and means in the strife for
office, but it is seldom that cliuues
nave been formed-unless the vets and
the drys in the party may be -classed
as such-to further the interests of any
particular candidate or set of candi-
dates for nominations. That factions
and cliQues will develop during the COM
Ing campaign there is little doubt AS
a matter of fact they are developing
now, and although the primary is
months hence, the campaign for the
nominations for some of the offices ~
already under way and being waged
quite vigorously on the part of some or
the candida ties.
OF course the real big fights will be
over the nominations for those county
offices which have to do with the main
tenance of the peace of the county and
the enforcement of the laws of the
state. Chief of these offices are the
sheriff and the county attorney. And
in the campaign for the latter office the
Republicans will have to reckon their
affairs by keeping in mind ]. J. Schenck,
the present incumbent, even though he
be a Democrat. and Shawnee county
normally Republican by great big
margin.
But the contest for the offices of
sheriff and county attorney are not the
only ones that are taking on warmth
and will grow warmer and warmer as
the primary day approaches. Equally
interesting will be the fights for NOM
nations for probate judge, for two of /
the county cOmmiSSiOnerShipS, for |
county clerk and for state senator.
It is likely, however, that the most |
interesting of the contests will be over |
the nominations for Sheriff, probate !
Judge, state senator and one of the |
county commissionerships.
For three of the county offices posi- !
bly, four, there will be no contest in
the Republican camp over the nomina
tions. 1t is conceded by all concerned |
that Stanley Medlicott, the county
treasurer; R. L. Thomas, clerk of the
district court and Sadlier ]. Hodgins.
register of deeds, will be given renom-
nations for their respective offices
without any opposition whatsoever. The
same condition maintains regarding
the office of county surveyor. John P.
Rogers, the present incumbent, can
probably get a denomination for that |
office If he desires it. Mr.. Rogers docs
not know whether he will be a candi-
date. But no other person has been
spoken of as being possible candi-
date.
There are five candidates in the field
for the office of sheriff. J. M. Wilker-
son. the present sheriff. is a candidate
for denomination, regardless of the
statements that have been floating
around of late that he would not be In
the race again. Mr.. Wilkerson author
ICES the statement that he is a cand1-
date for a denomination for second
term. Ira Orner, of Oakland. and one
of the well known Republicans in the
county. is also a candidate and his
many friends are already most active
In his behalf Ben johnson. DR.. H. H.
Keith, the coroner. and G. w. Belts
more Familiarity known as Paddy" are
also avowed candidates
Four men are now in the field for the
of probate Judge. They are W: +;
Schoch. Archie L. Williams. H Ward
Page and L. H. Greenwood
Samuel Zimmerman, the county
clerk, who is serving his first term In
that office, will be candidate Tor re-
but he will not get 1t with.
out a fight. w. r. Faulkner, one OF
the popular men in the county, is a
candidate for this nomination and is
ALREADY carrying on a vigorous cam
Daign for 1t. John r. Carter, the coun-
~ superintendent of schools. has been
mentioned, also, as a candidate for this
Il
only one man has been mentioned
so far for the nomination for county
attorney He is Frank G. Dreaming,
the present city attorney. The reason
there is this dearth of candidates for
this important place is because of the
fact that ]. ]. Schenck, the present
county attorney, will be renominated
by the Democrats and the Republicans
generally look upon Mr.. Schenck as a
pretty hard proposition to beat. They
certainly will not trot out any lawyer
against him whose tendencies are
known to be liberal when it comes to
the enforcement of the prohibitory
law, regardless of the desires of good
many men who have heretofore con-
troIled the destinies of Republican
politics in this county.
John F. Eby. principal of the Quin~
ton Heights school in this city, and
James A. Ramsey, who teaches in the
county school district at Spencer, ars
the candidates for the nomination for
of county schools. Even