The Topeka state journal., 1908-10-13
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Democrats Concentrate Efforts
on the Legislature.
Order 1000 More Of "The Bris-
tow Circular"
ARE NOT FRIGHTENED
Republican State Committee
Confident of Result.
Beveridge May Be Unable to Fill
Kansas Dates.
ARE NOT FRIGHTENED

That the Democratic state central
committee is now devoting tre-
mendous amount of effort to accom-
plish the control of the next state
legislature is shown by the fact that
another $4,000 edition of what is
known as the "Bistrow circular" was
received at state headquarters Mon
day, and is being distributed through
out the state as rapidly as possible.
This is in addition to the 100000
copies of this circular already dis
tributed.
The Democrats are making the most
of the Republican factionai split, and
are spreading the report as rapidly as
possible that .sthe word has gone
out" from Senator Longs intimate
crowd that all friends of Long are to
support the Democratic nominees
Indications are that there is good
deal of truth in the reports about
Longs friends secretly working to de-
feat Republican nominees for the
legislature, though Senator Long has
done all he could to prevent a defec-
ton. This is especially true in the
Seventh district. 1t is charged that a
prominent member of Longs cam
paign committee is furnishing money
and assistance to defeat the Republi-
can candidate for the legislature in
his own county,. 1t is. also claim ID
that certain well known associate of
Senator Long is being used by the
Democrats as an Intermediary, to ap-
peal to machine" Republicans to sup
port Democratic nominees through
out the district. This intermediary is
of course very careful to cover his
tracks. He simply tips it off to some
trusty lieutenant in each representa-
a. IL 4-4<
upon that lieutenant to Swing forty
or fifty votes. The postmasters in
many of the counties are secretly
fighting the Republican candidates for
the legislature, because many of these
postmasters feel that they owe their
places to Long Through the post
masters many of the rural route car
riers have been lined up against the
Republican candidates for the legisla-
ture, it is said, and the rural route
carriers are industriously spreading
the poison among the farmers.
In the face of such reports which
keep coming in, the Republican state
committee insists that the conditions
are not a serious menace to Republi-
can control of the legislature. The
Republicans say that the knitting" of
Bristow by disgruntled Long partisans
counties, and that only a few thou
sand votes, at the very limit, will be
affected. Nevertheless the Republi-
cans are beginning to sit up and take
notice of the situation.
The Democrats are so confident OF
controlling the next house of repre-
sentative that they are already be-
ginning to talk about their candidates
for speaker.
One of the men who would certainly
be an active factor if elected, would
II Z EN1Io rnF inn u
Mr.. Foley has a hard man to beat in
the person of Ansel R. Clark.
w. S. Brown of Kingman-the
'fIron-Jaw Brown" of Populist days
will be a candidate for the speaker
ship If elected.
L. M. Penwen of Shawnee county
who hopes to beat A. M. Harvey
might get into the speakership figh
| if there was a Democratic house anG
he was a member of it. Lot Raven.
scraft, an old time Populist legislator
is the Democratic candidate from
for the speakership; w. A. Morgan Of
Hodgeman, Democratic member OF
the 1907 house and J. M. Davis OF
Bourbon, also one of the 190'
minority. would be in line fol
promotion.
The Republicans have come to lool
upon the election of a Republican
house with so much uncertainty tha
they have quit talking about speaker
ship candidates.
The best judges of the situation ex
pect the Democrats to gain some
strength in the house and senate. bu
| do not expect them to control. L
would not be surprising if the Demo
Gratis had from so to rs members IL
the next legislature.
| Word has been received by the Re
1 +.ko fon f11a