The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-28
Great Bend Man Won ON Sec
Ond Ballot.
I. N. JAMES OF n. Topeka
Ie Is Named as Junior Vice
Commander.
Neither Coney Nor Harrison
Endorsed.
Officers Kansas q. A. R,

Department commander - Ira ID.
Brougher. Great Bend.
Senior vice commander-Albert c.
Pierce. junction City.
| Junior vice comma M.
James. North Topeka.
| Chaplain-Rev. James H. Gander,
Baldwin.
With four votes short of an election
| on the first ballot In a four cornered
fight, the field was cleared by the With
Brougher of Great Bend was today
elected department commander to sue
ceed Colonel J.. N. Harrison. On the
first ballot, following lively fight for
control of the head of the state depart
ment, Brougher received 262 votes, fall
C. A. Meeks of Wichita. with 158 votes
and r. M. Painter Of Meade with 80
votes withdrew. Brougher was then
elected.
The fight for department commander
brought out fresh evidences OF the old
Coney fight in Kansas G. A. r. circles
and the Topekan and his followers
threw their support largely to Thomas
III. Grisham Of Cottonwood Falls. Grish-
am was nominated by Charles Harris of
Emporia, former opponent of the
Chase county candidate. On the first
ballot, Grisham polled II votes. While
his name was not withdrawn from the
meeting, his followers saw the futility
Of further contest and withdrew from
the field when Meeks and his friends
went to BrOugher.
1t was after the veterans had
blocked resolutions endorsing either
Captain Coney or Colonel Harrison
for commander-in-chie that the fight
for the election Of department COM
mander was staged. The 'sidetrack-
ing of the resolutions had meant the
fading of all hopes for the success of
a Kansas man in the national en-
campment. Friends of both Coney
and Harrison then renewed their
fight in the election of a new depart
ment commander.
Nominating speeches were limited
to three minutes. but it was nearay an,
hour after tho denominations OJJen&d
before the inst ballot was taken.
Charles Harris OF Emporia nominated
Falls and Mike Sutton of Dodge City
seconded the nomination. Thomas
! Sweeney OF Lawrence placed r. NJ.
Painter Of Meade in nomination and
seconding speeches were made by ].
A. Armett and H. Mott. r. M. Tay-
and w. S. Attby nominated C. A.
Meeks of Wichita While the tellers
were busy counting the ballots. the
veterans entitled to vote in the meet
ing completed their election of OFF,
GERS. All of the remaining officers
Col. A. w. Smith of Topeka nomi-
mated Captain Albert c. Pierce Of
Junction City for senior vice COM
mander. His election was by unani-
nous vote. Then the old soldiers
caught the fever of a new harmony.
Thomas M. James of North Topeka
for junior vice commander and his
election was by acclamation. The
same course was followed when Rev.
James H. Gander of Baldwin was
nominated for chaplain.
and for a few minutes there was a
wild scene ameng the old soldiers
over the lection of Colonel Harri-
sons successor. The returns showed
| $50 votes case, with 266 necessary to
a choice. Brougher had received 262
votes, while 1873 votes were cast for
Meeks. Grisham polled II votes and
33 were cast for Painter. AS the vet
Grams fought over the calling for a
second ballot, Painters name was
| withdrawn.
Then Meeks-second man in the
|running-waiked to the front Of the
hall and withdrew his own name.
Brougher's friends cheered Meeks' ac-
ton. as he asked that the election of
the Barton county man be by accla-
nation. The fight was over. Girls
hams name was not withdrawn. But
the vote on Meek's motion met no op-
position and Brougher is for the next
year department commander of the
Kansas G. A. r.
Commander Brougher is one of the
most widely known veterans in the
state and served several terms as
county clerk of Barton county. He
| lost an arm in the battle Of Antietam,
| and has q war record that Is excep-
tionally brilliant He has been active
| in the affairs Of the g. A. r. in Kan
sas for a number of years and is
popular among the old soldiers Of the
state.
| Because he has served two years as
department commander. Colonel Har-
rison was not eligible to succeed him.
| self and his name was not presented
/ at the business meeting.