The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-15
POLITICAL GOSSIP
w. NJ. Gray's Campaign for
Congress Is Launched.
Insurgents in Third District Get
Together.
THEY HOLD A CAUCUS
Decide That Chanute Lumber.
man Is the Man.
James Orr of Atehison Candi-
date for Legislature.

The name of w. NJ. Gray is a new
| one to Kansas politics, but it has the
| endorsement of the insurgents of tn:
| Third district for congress. Gray is d
| Chanute business man and is said to
| be q forceful speaker and aggressive
campaigner, even if he is not a lawyer
At the Third district congressional
convention at Independence this week
after Roosevelt had been properly en-
dorsed and two delegates and alternates
| elected for the colonel the convention
turned it's attention to the selection of
a man to beat Phil Campbell for con-
gress. This was a perfectly natura,
move on The part of the convention
for Campbell had brayed Roosevelt to-
personal combat on the platform
Campbell is the Third district congress-
man. This was a. Third district con
vention solid for Roosevelt. Campbell
went into New Hampshire a few weeks
ago to talk about the umpire and the
bleachers." Roosevelt came down TO
the edge of Campbelrs congressiona.
district a, few days ago to talk about
the same subject. Result: The actor
of the convention on the congressman
matter.
There we're four or five candidates
ambitious to go after Campbelfs seat.
Judge Flanneley of Montgomery coun-
ty was the strongest of these, but the
judge decided not to run. Then it be-
came a free for al. Some wise head
pick man by caucus vote and all
center their strength on this one selec-
ton. Tom Cordry of Parsons and
Charlie Kerr of Montgomery, d. c.
Young Of Wilson and ]. z. Brooks of
Chautauqua. the other candidates,
agreed to the plan. and Gray, the Cha
mute lumberman, was chosen on the
first ballot.
Senator Hodges, the Democratic
candidate for governor, and an A No
L campaigner, is = lumberman. This
man Gray may be just the man the
Third district insurgents are looking
for.
Judge Nelson Case of Labette and
Norman Hay of Chautauqua were
elected delegates to the national con-
vention and instructed to vote for
Roosevelt.
Word comes from Chanute that
Gray for-Congress club has already
been organized in Gray's home town.
Jim Orr of Atchison has decided not
to run for the state senate against
Bale Waggener in the Democratic pri-
mary. Thus is averted the greatest
battle of modern times. 1t is said that
these old law partners and political
friends have buried the Ratchet after
a feud Of several years standing. Orr.
will run for the legislature again and
if elected will be a candidate for
speaker of the next house Waggener
will try for the senate. These two able
Democrats are about the whole thing
politically in Atchison. At war they
would probably both have been de-
feated in November. Working togeth-
er in harmony it would appear that
Atchison Republican candidates have
a hard row to hoe in November.
Kansas may be regarded as the head
quarters supply house for speakers for
the national progressive campaign.
Stubs, Murdoch and Bristow have
been in demand all year for eastern
dates where the result was most inn
portant for Roosevelt. Henry Allen has
been called I'D into the north more
than once. Kansas may be said to
have four apostles big enough to be
sent by the national committee TO
preach to the gentiles. No other state
has more than one. This week Muir
dock and Stubs are campaigning III
Ohio. But in the opinion of most Kan
sans who have often heard all the
speakers mentioned at their best and
worst, he Ohio people will miss hear
ing the best speaker Kansas has in
stock. Henry Allen. of Wichita, none
other. The governor and Murdoch
have the titles, they may have more
fire and a greater line of vituperation
for the trusts. but in simon pure ora
tory, in sarcasm, in brilliant rhetoric |
in happy thoughts and expression, in |
diction and humor and sentiment, AL |
len has all the public speakers of his I
time that have appeared in this sec |
ton of the country on exhibition lash !
ed to the mast in 20 minute address. |
Kansas would prefer to offer Henry
Allen as Exhibit A in the east than
any speaker she has produced since |
ingalls, passed away.