The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-29

POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Great Interest Developing in
the Legislative Contests.
Many Contests of a fractional
Nature.
OLD"LODGEsMEMBERS.
Only One Of These Senators Has
No Opposition.
DLD"LODGE"MEMBERS
+. Dumont Smith Opposed by
Several Candidates.

In spite Of the compelling interest OF
the fight for the Republican nomina-
ton for governor and United States
senator. the politicians who closely
watch the corners and try to keep con-
troll of the various branches of gov
eminent are not neglecting the battle
for supremacy in the Kansas senate
and house of representatives.
It is greatly to be desired by the So
called machine that they should retain
control of one or the other branch OF
the legislature. At the last two ses-
sions they have controlled the senate
and they will make a big struggle to
retain control OF that body.
The way things have lined up there
Will be enough of the old ''sehate
lodge left for seed, all right, and pro-
vided these seed fall in good soil In
the senate chamber, the old iron-clad,
bullet-proof railroad lodge will no
doubt be revived.
The only member Of the old senate
lodge who is running without opposi-
ton is William Stillmore of Leaven-
worth. Leavenworth Is well satisfied
with Stillings' record, apparently. AT
least no opposition to him material
tzed.
There is a total of seven districts
which will surely send up senators who
chine"
Eleven districts will send up senators
who are opposed to the machine.
In some of these districts. however,
there will be fights, but the opposing
candidates in each instance claim to
be in favor Of the same things.
In nineteen districts of the state
there will be a square-toed, stand up
and knockout fight between machine
and square deal candidates.
The Thirty-eighth district. which has
a four cornered fight between Foulks.
Glenn, Rogers and Fred Dumont
Smith, is not included in this list be-
cause the fight is so mixed up that no
one seems real sure who's who.
The Eighth and Thirty-sixth districts
are counted as compromise" districts.
The Eighth district is Bourbon county,
where Rice Gum Is running without
opposition, and seems to be pledged to
neither faction. In the Thirty-sixth,
Emerson Carey has no opposition, and
Is said to be satisfactory to both
crowds.
The sixth district, which is now rep
crat, seems very likely to return Mr..
Hodges in spite of anything the Re-
publicans may do. ]. b Remington, of
Osawatomie, will get the Republican
nomination without opposition. and he
is a square dealer. Hodges Is also
lined up with the square deal crowd, so
the dealers are certain to get the
district.
There are some beautiful and lively
contests on in some of the districts for
the senatorial nomination. Here are a
few of them which should be watched:
Between James Getty and E. A. En-
right, in Wyandotte county. Getty is
the square deal candidate; Enright
generally lined up with the machine
while member of the house of repre-
sentatives.
Between Clad Hamilton and Arthur
McCabe in Shawnee county. Hamilton
is the square dealer, and McCabe is
the mo clique" candidate. Neither has
ever served in the legislature.
Between H. w. Avery of Wakefield
and Frank L. williams, of Clay Cen
ter in the Twenty-second district. w.
H. Underwood is also on the list as a
candidate, but he has withdrawn from
the contest in Avery's interest. Will
Jams was formerly Governor Hoch's
private secretary. He Is c. G. Cole
mans law partner, and has led the
fight against city ownership of the
electric light plant in Clay Center. He
Is the machine" candidate, and Avery
represents the dealers
Between B. F. McKercher and Tom
Potter in the Twenty-third district.
Both live in Marion county. and both
claim to be supporters of Stubs. Gov
ernor Hoch is supporting Potter. Nc
kercner is charged with DolnB pro-
fessional politician. The fight Is in
clined to be productive of bitter per-
sonal animosities.
Between w. P. Hackney and A F.
Smith in the Twenty-seventh district
composed of Cowley county. "Bilp'
Hackney was independent while in the
house of representatives. and is likely
to continue so, but he is classed with
the machine" and Smith is on the
other side of the contest.
Between r. T. Simons and George H.
Hunter in the Twenty eighth. Simons
was a tried and true enemy of the
"lodge' at the last session, and the
machine wants to take his scalp.
The fight between w. w. Caldwell
and John M. Doyle in the Thirty-sec-
ond district is hot one. Caldwell is
a member of the senate lodge, and
wants his constituents to vindicate
him
The same sort of fight is on in the
Thirty-flfth district between G. L.
Chapman and ]. E. Guyer. Chapman
was a man who was generally counted
on to vote with the lodge, though he
occasionally broke away. Guyer was
one of the faithful friends of Stubs in
the house of representatives.
The contest between A. B. Jones and
William Wells in the Thirty-ninth dis
trict is an interesting one. Jones is a
resident of Trego county, and has
served a long time in the house. He is