The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-05
Shawnee's Craftsmanship Selec-
ton Is of Importance.
Probable That Sessions Will
Become State Chairman.
TWO OTHERS ARE MENTIONED
Al Williams of Columbus and
Fred Greer of Marion.
J. C. GaffOrd Has Been Called
Out of the State.

Action of the Shawnee county Re
publican committee today, in the Sc
lection of county chairman. is mat
ter of state wide political importance
and is being watched with keen inter-
est in many localities. Through the
probable selection of Charles Sessions
of Topeka as county chairman, IL Is
likely that Sessions will become the
next state chairman to carry out the
work which he has largely directed in
the last two years.
No fight has been made in Kansas
for the selection of a Republican state
chairman. The matter is being left
largely to the candidates for state Of
flee. Because of this situation, the
candidates themselves will watch with
interest the action of the Shawnee
county committee. A number of these
candidates are known to believe that
Sessions can direct a course in the
campaign that will please both the
radicals and the conservatives.
Since the election of ]. c. Gafford
as state chairman two years ago, SeS-
sions has been in charge Of much of
the work of the state committee.
Business interests have taken Gafford
out of the state much of the time and
the work fell on Sessions's shoulders.
Four years as secretary of state,
number of years g s political reporter
and experience and judgment in the
political affairs of the state. enabled
Sessions to handle the work most sat-
isfactorily. Now there is a probable
ity that the Shawnee county commit
tee will pave the way to the election
of Sessions as permanent chairman of
the state committee.
Two Others Mentioned.
Two candidates have been men
toned outside of Topeka One is Al
F. Williams of Columbus. Williams
IS a strong man. But he has been in
the fights of former years with the
conservative wing of the party and is
not entirely acceptable to TIE pro-
gressive element. Fred Greer of Ma
rion has also been mentioned. But
Greer has been on the other side of
the fence. His activities in the inter-
ests of the progressive element did
rot always please the conservatives
Sessions as provisional chairman has
handled the situation fairly and i'm
partially and both elements of the
party have shown a tendency to agree
on the Topeka man if he be placed in
a position to be elected
Because of his work as provisional
chairman and his familiarity with the
details of the coming campaign, Ses-
sions has been looked upon as a logi-
cal man to direct the 1915 battle
election, although his friends are
known to have urged his selection
and will present his name for county
chairman at today's meeting
In order to secure election as state
chairman it is necessary that a man
be chairman of his county committee.
This week Sessions was elected as pre-
cinct committeeman without opposi-
ton. That makes him a member of
the county committee and eligible to
the county Craftsmanship. Selection
as chairman of the county committee
would give Sessions a seat in the party
council, which meets in Topeka Au-
gust 20. He would then be eligible
for election as state chairman. The
fact that Sessions is in touch with
every detail of the work at this time,
is in a position to direct the work
from the state capital. and is accept
able to state candidates of both fac
tons, 1T is generally believed, will lead
the county committee this afternoon
to take the first step looking toward
Sessions's election to the state chair
manshiD