The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-12
HOW PLUMB BECAME SENATOR
20 the E,ditor of TIE World

To the Editor of The World.
have read with much interest, and no
little amusement, an article under the
above caption in your issue of Sunday.
July 70, by r II. Ruggles- Its object
seems to be TO give one w NJ. Congdon the
credit for the discovery and promotion of
the late P B. Plumb to the United States
senate. The story Is that there was coun
ty fair al Newton in 1916, and through the
agency of MIR. Cogdon, Mir Plumb was
there 10 make an address; that Consdon
in introducing the future senator, and in
a fit Of Inspiration, and entirely unoe-
knownst'' 10 the distinguished Enporian,
launched his name to the kansas breezes
as a fit person TO represent Kansas IN
the United States senate. l think can
see the president OF the county argricul-
ural society blush with rnodesty as ne
thus proclaimed himself the discoyerer OF
Plumb. 1 do not wish TO pluck a single
laurel from the brow OF the agricultural
list aforesaid. or to spoil the gushing story
Of Mr.. Ruggles, but am at loss 10 know
how they are going TO get around the
fact that Mr. Plumb first became a candid
ate in 1873. and made a brisk fight for the
position at the legislative session Of 1874.
receiving as high as 8 votes in the two
houses He would have made a much
better run and might have been elected at
this time had it not been for his vote for
Greeley fer president two years before.
This was one OF the most stubborn OBJ
jections his FRIENDS had TO meet in their
canvass for votes.
While upon this subject / might as well
say what the task of making Plumb sen
ator was undertaken at least ten years
before his first candidacy by some OF the
young men of the state who never lost an
opportunity to advance his interests, even
before he ever thought OF such a thing
himself. Among these were the Muir
docks the late W. n. Reynolds, Leslie j.
Perry, the writer and others. Piumb's
promotion started from the young print
ers of the stae. When frs approached on
the subject of the use of his name in 1873.
ne was quite reluctant to yield, but finally
did so. and a cleaner. harder fight never
was made for any Kansan in senatorial
fight. He made scores of friends, which
came in good turn when ne again entered
the contest in 1871. The night of the end
ing of the first struggle Plumb gathered
his friends in a big room in the old Tefft
house in Topeka and in his happiest mood
made them a speech and sent every one OF
them away his firm friend and supporter
In the next fight, which proved victorious.
Plumb could do this when he felt in the
mood.
There was TO such gushing or enthusi-
astic time az EmDOria on the election OF
Plumb as described by Mr.. Ruggles. In
fact, Plumb had plenty of enemies as well
as friends, and some Of the citizens felt
rather stolid over his success. Two OF the
bitterest enemies ne had IN The contest
were from Emporia. They fought him, as
one expressed il. from hell to breakfast"
They We're afterwards won over TO the sen
ator's side by the heaeling and persuasive
plaster of pap. But he was generally
heartily congratulated. His election was
a surprise to the people as well IS TO HIM
self On his way home he told close
friend that he felt that he was vastly over
But after some schooling In
he senate he proved 10 be by all odds the
most useful man to the state and ITS citi
zens they ever sent to Washington to rep
resent them. He had a keen conception
Of the duties devolving upon him, and he
performed them to the letter. He was so
good to the state that ne became a great
power, and you will find men scattered
over the Kansas prairies who yet speak
Of him with fearful eyes because he re-
membered them in their troubles and de-
prsations. j. STOTLER.
West Plains. Mo, July 81. 1896.