The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-26
RIGHTMIRE AND DOsTER.
It Seems That Rightmire Has an Old
Grud e.
The Kansas city Times yesterday
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The Kansas City Times yesterday
published the following:
Topeka, Kan. Oct 24.-W. r. Right
mire, who helped organize the sO-caled
middle of the road movement in Kan
sas and who works under the direction
Of the Republican state committee, APP
piled to the Democratic national COM
mittee for employment early in the
campaign. He wanted TO go south and
labor for fusion in the interest OF El-7-
had an extended acquaintance in the
south. and was in position to DO the
cause much good There We're Popu-
lists. he feared, who would be angry on
account of the action at the national
convention and throw their influence to
Mckinley. He could prevent it.
Rightmire's application was made i'm
person to J. q. johnson. the Kansas
member of the Democratic national
committee He met Mr.. Johnson in
Topeka the day the Democrats and
Populists held their Bryan ratification
meeting.
n want you to get me a job" said
What kind of a job?s Johnson ask
a job with the committee Times are
hard and business is duh, and I've got
to get out and do something. 1 can be
OF great service to the Democrats by
spending a. few weeks in Alabama Mis-
sissippi and Texas. telling the Pops
that they ought to fuse. I am ac-
qUainted with the Pop leaders in those
states and can line lot of them UP
for Bryan and Sewan on fusion deals
Why don't you go to the Popuist
committee They ought to employ
you"
The Pops are too poor to send me
anywhere And then I would rather
work for the Democrats. You folks
must do something to pacify a lot of
southern Pops who are mad about the
St Louis deal or they viii do some
thing that viii aid Mckinley. m the
man to fix it,
Rightmire added that he had quar-
relied with the leading PopuIsts of
Kansas and did not care to do cam
paign work in the state. He mentioned
some trouble he once had with Judge
Doster and John Madden
Mr. Johnson said that he would lay
the matter before the committee which
he did Kansas men who knew Right !
mire were communicated with. and as
a result he was not given employment |
On August IS Rightmire wrote John !
son a letter referring to their CONVEX |
sation in Topeka, and again urging his /
importance as a fusion manipulation !
upon the committee As Fightmire
claims to be in the middle of the road /
solely as a matter of pr1ncl- /
Pile and denies that he ever approached I
the Democrats for a job, a fac smile Of /
his letter to Johnson is given
Tt was not long after Rightmire wrote /
this letter that he was heard agitating /
the middle of the road question He was /
manding that Watson electors be put /
UP in Kansas. FIe and Chairman Simp- /
son of the Republican committee We're
often seen together When ~ atson /
came to Kansas I2ightmire, Steinberger [
and Willis got together, and the public /
knows the rest.
The following is the letter mentioned |
above;
Topeka. Kan, Aug IS. 1896.
Hon. J. G. Johnson, Chicago. Ill.
Dear Sir.-I2eferring to our CONVEX |
sation fin Topeka about my canvassing 4
i'm the south in some state like Texas. /
Missouri or Alabama. where it Will [
need work to keep the PoDulists from /
voting Mckinley electoral ticket, as
you are reported by press to be located /
i'm campaign headquarters, write TO
ask what conclusion the executive /
committee has arrived at
Does it wish to employ me or not?
Between us. J. G.. I want to get out OF
Kansas to work for Bryan and Sewall !
Tia this campaign for it is an awful .
dose of crow for me to support DOster
for chief Justice or John Madden for /
member of congress in this Fourth dis
trict. and were it not for fear that it
would endamger the Bryan electoral |
ticket in this state I would feel it my
duty to the people of this state to turn
loose and hght both Of them for their
treatment Of me in the past and what
know of their lack of honesty.
Awaiting your early reply remain
very truly yours.
wv. r. RIGHTNIRE.