The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-06
CLEAN The SLATE
w. +. Benson, Bank Commits
sioner Has Views of Own.
FavOrs a Dark Horse for Ma
tionaI Committeeman.
NO TIME FOR A ROW, He SAYS
Sldestep Every Candidate New
i'm the Race.
Only Chance fer Harmony at
Hutchinson Convention.
NO TIME FOR A ROW, HE SAYS

Elimination of ali candidates for
Democratic national committeeman
was demanded today by w. F. Benson
state bank commissioner. Benson be
lieves the only course that will permit
Kansas Bourbens to escape the rocks
in the campaign next fall is through
the wiping out ef all faetienal party
lines. The state bank commissioner
proposes the selection of a dark horse
candidate for the job held by Gel. w
F. Sapp of Galena.
With the Democratic state conven-
ton less than a week away, one OF the
fOtteSt fights in years faces the party;
Friends of William H. Thompson,
United States senator, are said to have
filed on all the available hotel space
and Will go into the convention with a
determination to support James w.
orr of Atchison through a finish fight
orr viii have the support of the fed
eral patronage crowd, while Sapp
appeal for support will be made to the
delegates who do not hold federal jobs
and have little hopes of attaching their
names to either state or federal pay
rolls John +. Wagner of Larned will
offer himself as a harmony candidate
Many of the counties in the state
have instructed their delegates con-
corning preferences for national com
mitteeman. In other counties there is
a heated contest for control Of the
delegations and neither the Orr ner the
Sapp factien has Stopped with mere
trouble o. expense in winning the
fishs before the Hutchinson eenven-
ton Wagner viii go into the fight
with a number of votes from western
Kansas and hope that he may win
through the elimination of beth Orr
and Sapp.
should Wipe on the slate
No
heves the slate should be cleaned of
all the men whose candidates. have
been announced. He would select =
harmony candidate who would not
arouse the Gutagonlsm of either fac
zion In the party and would be accept
able To Hodges, Thompson. Neeley and
Billiard supporters. Such men are diff
flcult to find, but Benson believes it
can be done.
Conditions demand that we get to
gether and the Hutchinson convention
a. no place to start a new row." said
Benson. 1t is not possible for either
orr or Sapp to bring the factions to-
gether and man whose name has not
yet been mentioned shaId be named in
the interest Of party harmony and
success. OF course opposition papers
and politicians are hoping for fight.
My guess. though. is that one viii be
lodged when the time comes.
A harmony candidate is the only
solution of the situation and I believe
the matter will be ironed out IL ad-
vance of the convention"
Hugh P. Farrelly of Chanute: Judge
A. NJ Jackson, Winfield, and E Z.
Murphy Leavenworth. have been sug
gested as probable harmony candi-
dates. Neither man has announced his
candidacy
The Hutchinson convention will b.
held Tuesday. II viii elect delegates
to the national convention in st. Louis
June IA will nominate presidential
electors and d national committeeman.
Representation in the convention ill
be heard on the votes for secretary. of
state in 1914 one delegate will be
permitted for every ESQ votes cast for
Burt f. Brown. No county, however
will have less than two delegates in the
conventions There will be 7SS dele
gates in tAe convention.