The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-06
Democrats Are Facing Hot
Fight Within the Party.
Rivals for Place as Delegate to
st. Louis Convention.
PLAN ON FOOT TO BEAT SAPP
j. w. Orr VIII Try to Wrest
Place From Veteran.
f. L. Murphy Has an Eye on
the Situation.

Not all of the years political trou-
bles will concern the Republicans
Just now Kansas Democrats are FACING
several rows that threaten almost as
much trouble as the Hodges-Neeley-
Billiard troubles of 1914. In addition
to the troubled situation regarding
delegates to the national convention,
the Democrats are padding the floor
for a James w. Orr-Col. BILL Sapp
fight for national committeeman.
For years Col. bill" Sapp has rep
resented Kansas Democrats in the
councils of national leaders. He knew
more national characters who were
really worth while than any six other
Kansas Democrats. What was more
the leaders knew Col. Bill Sapp.
Maybe they identified the Kansas COM
mitteeman by his swallow tail coat
and two story silk hat. Anyway,
when "Bill" Sapp went a days jour
ney into the wilderness, he always met
some one worth while.
Brought Home the Bacon.
An Of which was of more or less
concern. From a strictly financial
standpoint. Col bill" Sapp's ac-
quaintance was almost as good as
negotiable note at the bank. Always
when the campaign needed a cash con-
tribution, Col. BILL Sapp was select
ed to go to Washington or some other
port and bring home the funds. Some
times when collections for the Kansas
cause came slowly. Col. "BilP' remem-
bered to ante from his personal ac-
count
Then Sapp kicked himself out of
line with the powers. He didn't har-
monte with the Hodges administra-
tion and he came to the party coun-
ell with an inlaid crouch, He made
a speech against the prohibition plank
in the state platform and frankly told
I..4T IL Iaa vx#Dr .
trying TO fool the waters and not eX-
pressing their honest sentiments. Then,
for a time at least. Col. Bill Sapp
was in bad repute with certain of his
party contingent. He had also made
some kindly reference to the Billiard
candidacy and Immediately Hodges
and his friends forgot the funds that
Col. "Bill" had brought home for the
campaigns Of 1910 and 1912.
Orr in the Race.
Now James w. Orr is to enter the
race against Sapp. Orr was a candi
date for speaker of the house in 1913,
but was beaten by w. Oronjaw)
Brown. In Atchison Orr has in recent
years been against almost anything
that Senator Bale p. Waggener was
FOR" and he has supported almost
every proposition that Waggener has
opposed.
None the less. though. orr will have
a real following against the Sapp
forces. He will probably gather most
of the Hodges strength and the fact
that he helped to swing the Kansas
delegation to Wilson in 1912, will not
cripple his standing with close friends
and advisers of the national admins
tration More than a year ago, Orr
was appointed a special assistant by
the department of justice in Wash
fngton and he has represented the
government in the trial of number
of cases.
With Orr and Sapp both fightisg for
the election as committeeman from
Kansas. there is a probability that
T. L. Murphy of Leavenworth, may
also enter the fight. Murphy is a vet
eran in Democratic politics in Kansas
and is we'll adorned with banners and
scars as a result of his conflicts. II
1914 he was chairman of the state
committee. AS yet, Murphy has mere.
" viewed the prospects from a safe
distance and will probably enter the
ring only when he is convinced there
IS a strong chance for the elimination
Of both SaDD and Orr