The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-16
Eighth District Congressman
Has Revolt ON Hands.
How Serious It Is Cannot Be
Told.
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Said That He Follows Old Ma
chine Methods.
Appointments of POstmasters
Not Satisfactory.

Is there a revolt growing against
Congressman Victor Murdoch at
home? And is this revolt of propor-
tons great enough to cause the insur-
gent leader any uneasiness? People
laughed when BUN" Adams of Edo
rado, Butler county, announced that
he would contest the nomination with
the redheaded frebrand, but word
comes from Mcpherson county, here
tOfore a Murdoch stronghold and
from Harvey and Butler counties that
Adams can carry these counties over
Murdoch because of dissatisfaction
over Murdocks pOstoffice appoint
ments.
It is declared that Murdoch has re-
fused to listen to the voice of the ma
jOrity in making appointments, but
rather has proceeded along the meth
DDS of the old machine he is supposed
to be fighting with all his strength. The
Wichita Beacon, under the head,
''Murdock would build up a machine"
has the following under a Mcpherson
date line.
TT begins to look as though Con-
gresham Murdoch would have to fight
for his life in the next congressional
primaries.
Here in Mcpherson county where
he has always been strong there will
be determined effort to start a win
ming fight against the Wichita man
THE Mcpherson Freeman always a
strong Murdoch paper, heretofore, is
out against Mr. Murdoch along with
several other smaller papers through
the county and a number of leading
Republicans The discomfort in Nc
PhersOn county against Mr.. Murdoch
is over postOhice appointments and
Murdock's party associates are accus-
ing him of machine politics in the
handling of his patronage
Butler county has welcomed the
-,
within the past week several Butler
county statesmen have been over con
ferr1ng with Mcpherson county people
In an effort to get together on a can
didate against Murdoch.
Butler Is Lining UD.
The opposition from Butler county
comes mainly from the fact that But
Ter county has a candidate in the per-
son of J. r. Adams a well known hank
or of ElDorado.
Harvey county also has a number
OF sore spots growing out of Mur-
docks handling of She postohfce sit11a-
tlon and some of the political leaders
go so far as to declare that adams
would carry Harvey county in Il fight
against murdoch
In fact, most OF Murdocks enemies
over the district have begun to get to-
gether. They feel that this is the
right time Murdoch has never been
strOng with the effective politicians of
the counties outside of S-dgwick and
it is believed By these people that near
" every county in the district can be
carried against Mr.. Murdoch
They also feel that the course which
his own paper has taken in the present
effort it is making to recall Wichita
city officials. viii also serve to lose
Murdoch large amount Of strength
at home. In primary, a vote is d
vote, no matter whether it is in Har-
Ney county or Sedgwick county, and
the belief of those who are organiz-
ing fight against Mr.. Murdoch is that
many hundreds of votes in Wichita
can be turned against Congressman
Murdoch in the next primary, as re-
suit of the fight which his own news
paper is making in Wichita"
Calls Murdoch a Traitor
The Mcpherson Freeman, a Repub-
hcan paper Of influence. has the fol-
lowing editorial Indictment of the
Wichita congressman:
When a man places his own ambi-
tion above party loyalty and becomes
political traitor, then the time has
come when he should be retired to
TO criticise machine politics and as the
people Of Mcpherson county will not
stand for such the coming campaign
viii be watched with interest by all.
The fact is this Mcpherson county
has given Murdoch q splendid major
ity at each election. Certainly he
ought to appreciate it. Quite the con-
trary instead of listening to the ex-
pressed wishes of a majority he turns
deaf ear to them and hears nothing
but the Instructions which are sent
out from Newton and the old machine
Mcpherson county and others are