The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-13
S. 0. TEACHERS WORD
A journal" Reporter Goes To
Lawrence to See Him
About the Chief Justiceship
RumOrS.
EXPECTED THE PLACE.
Judge THqher Supposed He
W66ddia Be Named.
Says That Cy Leland Prevented
His Naming.
MORRILL, OWED A DEBT
Of a Political Nature to Judge
Thacher
Which He Would Have Paid But
for Leland.
Tells of a Deal" on the Pen
itentiary Board.
Says That Cy Leland Prevented
His Naming.
MORRILL, OWED DEBT
Of a Political Nature to Judge
Thacher
He Would Have Paid But
for Leland.
Tells of a Deal" on the Pen
itentiary Board.

The public is anxious to know the ex-
act truth about the connection of the
name of Judge Scion o. Thacher of
Lawrence with the appointment of
chief justice to succeed Justice Horton.
That is why JOURNAL reporter was sent
to Lawrence to see Judge
Thacher yesterday and for the first time
the story of the whole matter will be
printed as it came from Judge Thacher's
own lips. He had just finished letter
on the subject to u. R Anthony when
the reporter called.
81 never heard that I was appointed
chief justice" said Judge Thacher.
The Governor gave me no such infor-
nation, nor did l ever talk to him about
the appointment. I consider the place
too honorable and digniied to make a
fight for and if l was appointed l never
knew it I did not know that Judge HOr-
ton had resigned until l saw the notice
of Martins appointment.
"The appointment was first mentioned
to me by Joe Cox early in the winter,
when there was some talk of Judge HOr-
ton resigning. He said that we had bet-
ter see Cy and have it fixed I told him
that / would not see any ore, and that
the appointment would have to come TO
me unsought if it came at ALL"
For the benefit Of a large section of
the reading public who don't know who
Joe Cox is. it is we'll to state that he is a
prominent contractor of Lawrence, and a
member of the executive committee that
managed the last Republican campaign.
"Charley Tucker, our representative"
said Judge Thacher "told me that Judge
Horton had mentioned my name to the
governor as his successor and that the
governor had expressed himself favor
ably, but so far as my having any talk
with the governor is concerned there is
no truth whatever in the report. l did
nave talk with the governor about the
appointment of the appellate judges.
he wanted to discuss the financial views
of the various men and was particularly
anxious about that point so l was very
much surprised when the appointment
of man who holds the opinions held by
Judge Martin on that question was an
nounced. l heard that Leland wanted
Martin appointed to squelch Ingalls,.
L am satisfied that if Governor
Morrill, would have followed his
own inclination he would have ap-
pointed me for he owed me a
political debt Long ago when he first
ran for congress he came to Lawrence
and called upon me, told him l be-
lleved he would suit US and I went
around with him and introduced him to
the prominent people. When he left he
turned to me, took me by the hand,
thanked me and said: 'If the time ever
comes when l can repay you for your
kindnesSI will not neglect the opportun-
ity. This is the first sunshine I have en-
countered on my trip Governor Nor
rill may not remember the occurrence
but l do and it is true that l expected
the appointment
"Do you know why you were not ap-
pointed?"
mo, do not. Senator Sterne told me
that Cy wouldn't let the governor do it
but l never talked to the governor about
the appointment"
"If the governor is not controlled by
Cy Leland how does it happen that DR..
Biddle of EmpOria was appointed super
intendent of the Osawatomie ASYLUM?
Ike Lambert was on the Rogers investi-
eating commysers. nd l was sure that he
was for RogefsN N5nad received repeated
assurances thai Is was, but much to my
surprise he voted against uss There is no
doubt in my mind that the matter WAS
fixed up by the promise to have Biddle
appointed superintendent at Osawatomie.
Then there is Major Warner, another
member of the committee A friend Of
mine who had visited Warner at his
house came to me and told me that he
WOuAu W al right d6 SAID tnat when
he went to Warmers house Warner
brought out bottle and offered him "a
drink. Either of the two men drink
more than Rogers and still they voted TO
convict the old man of drunkenness
when. engaged in his official duties
when the whole faculty and
hoard of regents all testified be-
fore the committee that they had
never seen Rogers intoxicated It was
q great bntrage. Now l understand that
Warner is to be appointed on the board
of directors of the penitentiary If he is.
it will verify what l have said about a
deal
''Then we offended Cy Leland when
we voted to abolish the board of public
works. Both Rogers and myself supposed
that we we're following the desire Of the
F. governor when we took the position we
did. He had recommended in his mes
sage that the board be abolished. and I
made a motion that the sconferees'
report follow the. governors recon-