The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-23
THAT Topeka TROUBLE.


argued. that the secundum artem OF
the politicO-railway environment would
be more satisfactorily conserved, espec-
tally should the successor TO the apostle
of apple Jack be so distinctiyely identi-
| fed with the Santa Fe, as 10 render
his subservience TO the interests of the
state through that corporation, unqueS-
toned. After much fasting and prayer
but more caucusing, the overwhelming
thought occurred TO some one of the
patriots that Ex-Governor, eX-Minister.
ex- United State Marshal Thomas A.
Osborn. the present state senator from
Topeka, was just the man TO save the
state. He is a Santa Fe director. Tom,
whose whole life has been one amending
sacrifice TO public life, consented 10 be
come at once the victim of duty and
the factor who would do up the gentle
man from Doniphan. With Tom as
national committeeman there could be
nothing more desired by Topeka In the
way of a political cinch on the situa-
ton. whereupon the suave Thomas hied
him off TO Washington, as always is his
wont when congress is in session. How
ever. man proposes but God diSpOses.
That is true, everywhere, except in
Kansas in matters wherein the Santa
Fe is interested, of which corporation,
as afOre mentioned, Tom is a director.
But he was hardly out of sight when
it occurred to other members of the
combine that as soon as Judge j. Is.
Johnson of Topeka, ex-speaker OF the
house, should, as master in chancery,
close his business relations with the
Santa Fe, by selling the same at public
auction and pOcketing thirty odd thous-
and dollars for that stupendous deal,
an ordeal of an hour, he, Judge John
son, would be out Of a job, while Tom
wouldn't be. Hence the subsequent
spectacle of a misunderstanding be-
tween two Topeka men and their
friends, both related TO the Santa Fe,
in which Thomas A. Osborn got the
worst of it and Judge J. B. Johnson
was elected as the Topeka man who
should force a fight that would result
in another political plum for Topeka,
but for which like plums she and hers
would starve.
So far as the Republicans Of the state
at large are concerned they, presuma-
bly,. care very little for the personal am
billions of the gentlemen named, but
they are most emphatically opposed to
being made cats paws in personal
squable i'm which they are presump-
tiously invited to take sides as between
Leland and Johnson, and having ven
tured their political all upon such a
throw abide their fate. The check of
the thing surpasses anything that could
possibly ever occur anywhere outside
of Topeka.
But now comes the funny part of this
farce too broad to be dignified as a
comedy. There is another Tom in To
peka. Yesterday the papers announc-
ed the fact that Major Tom Anderson
has SHE'D his castor into the ring with
the announcement that he is the Topeka
man who wants TO go as. delegate-at-
large to the national convention, the
incidental duty Of which delegate it
shall be TO do up the Cy Leland gang.
No man in the state is personally more
widely known that Tom Anderson, and
he is universally popular. BY test
vote. instituted only two weeks ago by
the official state paper, ii was ascertain
ed that Tom is the most popular man
in all Topeka. Added to the interest
ing episode is the happening that Tom
! Anderson is not only not 4 Santa Fe
attache, but an official Of the Rock Is
land. and the further chance that he is
not opposed to DOniphan county apple
| jack as a beverage. Besides, it is
| given out that Tom has NO desire 10
1 force a state issue as between himself
and anybody else. He simply wants
| TO go to the national convention at st
J Louis. as the delegate-at-large. from
/ Curtis congressional district, which dis
| trict is principally composed of Topeka
We hope that Topeka will not take
1 the kindly suggestion amiss that in her
! attempt TO hog everything in sight she
may like Aesop'S greedy dog, find her
self in the soup. with only a shadow in
her mouth. and vacancy in her stomach
! Topeka is not Kansas. that is not all OF
Kansas. If nearly all, still there is a
! contingent, a meaSly microbe, tOrtur-
ed trichina, n Squirming worm which
might possibly turn. That there is
power in corporations. profit in their
pay rolls, and politics in their perqui
sites. is conceded. as also that there il
a livelihood for the many in Topeka in
the daily disbursements made 10y the
state treasurer, still these have their
| limitations. The Republicans Of the
state. at large. have no objection 10 one
Of the MISUNDERSTANDING coming from
Topeka. and either Thomas \. Osborn
Judge ]. b. Johnson or Thomas Ander
son. would prove entirely acceptable
but the concession or choice of eithel
does not necessarily mean that the dele
! gate from Topeka shall head the dele
CATION 10 the national convention Of
that it is a foregone conclusion that tn,
Topeka delegate must he chosen III,
states member Of the national Republi
can committee.
: a KANSAS MAN GONE.
General Thomas Ewing. who died il