The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-25
FRANK B. M'KERCHER.
Candidate for State Senator i'm Twen-
ty-third District.

rs the Editor of the State Journal:
The state senatorial situation in the
Twenty-third district is being watched
with considerable interest. For many
years the office has been passed in
turn from one county to another, and
would regularly come to Marion coun-
ty this year. Two candidates, both
from Marion county and from Peabody
are prominent mentioned, Frank B.
McKercher and T. NJ. Potter.
When Senator Morehouse removed
from Morris county he vacated the
Craftsmanship of the congressional
committee of the district, and Con-
gresham Miller, acting on the advice
of Governor Hoch and his executive
clerk, Ferd ]. Funk, had McKercher
appointed to fill the vacancy.
He is well and favorably known over
the state having been connected with
the Santa Fe in various capacities up
to 1894 when he quit the service In
his home city he has served as mayor
and several times as councilman,
which position he still holds.
He is the secretary and leading spirit
of the Peabody Chautauqua assembly
and is properly credited with it's pro-
nounced success. In all matters OF
public interest he is a leader and doer
and many of the institutions of his
home city are the results of his tire
less efforts. This Is his first can
didacy for other than local office.
Potter is also we'll known over the
state. For years he has been extern
sively engaged in the live stock bust
ness. He was at one time a candidate
for governor, and later at the Wichita
convention was a rival of Hoch for the
support of the Marion county dele
cation; being an aspirant for the NOM
ination of railroad commissioner When
the civic league started out he was
elected its president, but lost heart In
its purposes as appears from the State
Journal of March II, 1906.
ain Marion county lives Tom Potter.
president of the civic league, and one
of the staunch supporters of Governor
Hoch. Mr. Potter, it is said did not
attend the township caucus at which
delegates were elected to the county
convention. The people who did at
tend recollected that Potter had in
some of his speeches, urged everybody
to attend the party caucuses." says a
friend of McKercher, "as the sure way
of saving the nation. When the vot-
ers discovered that Mr.. Potter was
absent they forgot to make him del
egate to the county convention, In
spite of the fact that Mr.. Potter is
of his friends the information that he
would like to be delegate. Not being
in the convention. Mr.. Potter was not
selected as a delegate to the state
convention. Thus another statesman
fell by the wayside."
Potter has defined the issue between
him and McKercher as a railroad is
sue, on the ground that McKercher
having been a railroad employe is UNI
At for the office.
McKercher takes the stand that the
fight on railroads is not against the
employees and those working for wages
or salaries. but against the practice of
paying rebates and giving Transports
ton to favored individuals, to which
class he says Potter belonged until
the Hepburn and the antipass bills
placed him on a level with other
! shippers His former connection with
the Santa Fe ought to place him in a
position to know whereof he speaks
J and no one questions his reputation