The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-16
A WIDER FIELD.
Cy Leland Wants to Be Federal
Boss, Too.
He Is Looking Ahead and
Making Plans.
PIE HUNTERS BUSY.
They Want to Keep Cy Out OF
the Fold.
Joe Wilson a Rising Star in the
Political Sky.

As soon as one political fight is over
In Kansas, another one is on. This is es-
pecially true of the Republican party.
The bosses have an eye to the main
chance and they are constantly looking
ahead hoping to shape things so that
when a new administration comes in
they will be in position to deal out the
patronage.
It is pretty generally conceded that
Cyrus Leland Jr., the present head of the
Republican state central committee is
the biggest boss the party ever had il
Kansas Billy Buchan bOssed things
with a high hand while he was in that
business, but his wings were clipped and
no one has heard of him since 1892
Republican bosses flourish for a time
and then they quit sometimes they
quit very quick. History fails to record
a single instance, however, where one
quit Of his own vOlition. They stay with
their job until there is an uprising"
and then they surrender the work Of
running the party to other hands.
There will have to be a new presi-
dental boss selected for the Republican
party next year and there is considerable
talk about it now. 1t was discussed at
the recent meeting of the state central
committee, and numerous were the sug-
gestions offered All agreed that Cy
Leland wanted to succeed to that posi-
tiOn. 1t was the unanimous opinion
that he would be through with his pres
snt office of state boss by that time, be-
cause he would have dispensed every
thing in sight and there would be prac-
tically nothing to do.
Al the present time William Mckinley
appears to have the call in Kansas This
may not be true three months hence. 1t
might not be true now if Benjamin Har-
rison and Thomas B. Reed had been es-
corted through Kansas on special traina
last fall. This special train business Is
n good thing in two ways: 1t gives the
fellow who happens to be h0ssing the
party a chance to make himself solid
with the presidential candidate, and it
gives the candidate a chance to make
himself solid with the people.
The Republicans of Kansas who want
office under a Republican president and
who are outside the breastworks, that is,
not within the charmed circle over which
Cy Oficlates as rlngmaster, are doing
deal of thinking just now. They are
wondering where they will appear
if the willy chairman succeeds in
his ambition and becomes the
federal boss for Kansas They admit
that he would have the call with McKin-
come as near being law with the Ohio
man as it has been with Governor Nor
rill
1t is q bold thing for plain, common,
everyday Republican like Cy. Leland TO
aspire to the position of federal. boss in
Kansas. Heretofore, when the sunfower
state was in the heydav of her Repub-
lican lorv, the two United States SEN
ators and members of congress attended
to the little details Of parceling out
United States marshalships, land offices,
revenue cOllectorships, post offices, etc.
But in the days of redemption things
have changed, and the man who led the
redeemers is going after bigger game.
The fact is that those who advocated
state convention this year, believed that
it WAS possible to get together enough
anti-Leland delegates to take his scalp.
This they intended to do by electing a
new committee. The reason they wanted
to do this was to weaken him before
the big fight which will come off next
spring.
To convince Mckinley or any other
man who secures the Republican nomi-
nation that he is big enough to boss the
federal patronage in Kansas, Leland
must be able to go as a delegate to the
national convention That is the big fight
for the Doniphan county statesman, and
arraved against him is every fellow who
is not at the Kansas pie counter, and who
wants a chunk of the federal pudding
In the first district the anti crowd are sit
ing up nights plotting and scheming to
defeat Cy for delegate. If they are able
TO lay him out at home, they say, they
will meet him again at Phillip, or To-
peka. and attend to his case should he
bob up as a candidate for delegate at
large.
With Leland thus licked, the pie hunt
ing brigade which has been turned
adrift by the state administration would
have to look for q boss. They would
probably find him in Senator Baker, who,
they claim, is able to deal out the patron
age without the assistance of any body.
Senator Baker is said to be awake to
the situation. He is q mild hammered
man and slow to wrath. but if Leland or
anybody else undertakes to deliver the
federal patronage along with the
Kansas delegation in the national
convention, Senator Baker will GER
tainly enter a vigorous kick. His
friends say that he will look after
his share of the patronage if a Repub-
lican president is elected aud if Charley
Curtis, Broderick. Calderhead, Kirk
patrick, Miller and Long permit a boss
TO dispense theirs, they must stand the
responsibility.
Already names are being discussed for
delegates to the convention. The only
one thus far mentioned for delegate at
large is that of J. C. Wilson, of this city.
Dave Aulvane was talked of as re-
preventative of the crowd, but as soon as
Joe Wilson was suggested Mulvane
withdrew and said he would do all he
could for him.