The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-17
John III. Atwood, Who Is Having a
Struggle to Hold His Place as
National Committeeman.

Many of the members of the commit
tee were in favor of a late convention,
to be held some time the latter part of
March but when the band wagon sug
gestion was made the earlier date was
decided upon by a vote of Is for and Ia
against. AS an argument for an early
convention it was urged that as Will
liam J. Bryan is to be a speaker at the
banquet to be held in Topeka on the
22nd of February the convention should
be held prior to that time.
With the convention held in Hutcfin-
son On the preceding day there will be
no chance for the charge to be made
that Bryan was compelled to come to
Kansas to enthuse the Democrats be-
fore he could secure their endorsement.
With the convention set for the 21st 1t
is possible that Kansas will be the
first state to declare in convention for
Bryan for president.
1t is admitted that ninety per cent OF
the Democrats in Kansas are for Bryan
for president and there is little doubt
but that he will be unanimously en-
dorsed when the convention meets in
Hutchinson. The meeting of the con-
vention the previous day means that
there will be wild scramble for places
at the Bryan banquet on the 22nd as
most of the delegates as well as many
of the spectators will come to Topeka
from Hutchinson.
The time and place for holding the
state nominating convention was not
settled yesterday and the matter will
be disposed of at a meeting OF the
state central committee which will be
held the evening preceding the dele
gate convention at Hutchinson on the
21st. Topeka was not a candidate for
the delegate convention which went
to Hutchinson preferring to stay out
of the fight and take chances Of secur-
ing the state convention.
If the primary bill Is passed and be-
comes operative within reasonable
time the Topeka delegation will have
passed a lemon to itself and let the
only possible convention escape
though it could have been had for the
asking. If the legislature does not
do away with the possibility Of a con-
vention the Commercial club will have
a delegation at Hutchinson urging the
claims Of Topeka.
This convention will not come to
Topeka without fight as it is I'M
derstood that Wichita and Hutchin-
son, members of the committee, have
formed a combination, Wichita hav-
ing withdrew from the contest for the
delegate convention in favor of Hutch
inson at the meeting. The friends of
John Atwood, national committeeman
as we'll as the friends of J. G. John
son. who held the place through two
campaigns, were the busiest part of
the delegation yesterday and the
chances are lndC before the matter Is
settled at the meeting at Hutchin
son there will be warm contest for
the honor.
That the memory of David Over
myer Is yet fresh in the minds of the
Democrats of Kansas was demon
strated yesterday when the resolution
fixing the representation for the con-
vention was under discussion. It was
finally agreed that the votes cast for
David Overmyer for attorney general
should be used as a basis for the repre-
sentation.
Grant Harrington. delegate at large,
introduced a resolution which after
numerous amendments was adopted
and read as follows:
Whereas, The sentiment among the
Democrats of Kansas that William j.
Bryan should be the nominee of thu
party for president is unanimous, and
Whereas. 1t is expedient that an
early state convention be held, in or
der that the Democrats of Kansas may
give an official expression of this senti-
ment, therefore. be it
Resolved. First, that the officers of
this committee be instructed to call a
state convention for Friday, the 21st
day of February. 1908, for the purpose
of electing 20 delegates and 20 alter
mates to the national convention of the
party to be held at Denver, Colo, the
7th day of July, 1908, and for the cleo
ton of member of the nationa1
DOAiiOSioeiS SOIilliiIl0Ss ana Tor such
other purposes as may be desired,
Second, resolved, that the renre
sentatlon to such convention be one
delegate and one alternate from each
county and one additional delegate and
alternate for each $50 votes cast for the
late David Overmyer for attorney gem
eral at the election held in November
1906
Third, resolved, that we recommend
to county committees that county con-
ventions to elect delegates to the state
convention be held on Monday the 18th
day of February, and the precinct pri-
maries to elect delegates to the county
convention be held on Saturday. the
18th day of February
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