Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-24
REV. MIR. BOTKIN THOUGHT HE HAD
A GLORIOUS EXAMPLE.
PRAYED FOR CASH AND IT CAME
But AN ALLWISE PROVIDENCE WAS
NOT THE DONOR.
The $50 Was What Governor Smith
Thought 1t Would he Worth to
Him to Have Colonel BIue
Defeated-Interestin
Kansas News.

Topeka. kas.. Nav 23.-(SpeCalD a good
story is told on Congressnlan-a j. D..
Botkn and his belief in the efficacy Of
prayer. Shortly after the Abilene conven-
tion last fall, the Populist state committee
held a meeting and ordered the nominees
TO appear and tell how much they could
contribute to the campaign fund. When
BOtkins name was reached he arose and
said: Gentlemen. / haven't a cent nor
any credit. l can't subscribe one penny
But / tell you what ! can do: l will stand
all Of my own expenses during the cam
paign and keep in the field all the time.
The committee OF course. could do moth
ing but let II 20 at that. When BOtkin
was ready to start cut on his itinerary. he
had succeeded in saving up a little cash.
Then he would take mp collections at each
meeting. Every night before retiring he
would pray for the Lord 10 send him
enough cash 10 make the campaign. He
finally reached a little town in Southwest
ern Kansas where cash was about as
scarce with the people as it was with him.
lie had spent his Hast cent TO reach the
town. a collection was taken up and
netted only $50. He was billed to speak
at a town a hundred miles away the next
evening and had only Sl.5) to pay his board
bill and car fare CBotkin carried no pass.
That night he went to his room and prayed
long and loud for more cash. He was
stranded and things looked discouraging.
The next morning a letter overlook him
containing a draft for so. 1t was sent
from Leavenworth by some one who signed
himself John Randolph. Botkin did not
know him. and Immediately after getting
the draft Cashed acknowledged receipt of
the same. He then took the train and filled
his engagement at the other town that
- . h..
receipt OF the money that he dropped his
speech on the Seven COnspiracies' and
the Crime of '73'' altogether that night
and spoke of the efficacy Of prayer. He
referred 10 the matter in every speech he
made after that until he struck the town
Of Lyndon. a month later. At Lyndon he
told the story in brief and emphasized the
assertion that il was his prayer that
brought him the $50
You may call il prayer II you want to-"
said one Of the members of the audience,
rising in his seat. but | know that you
got that money on account of the undying
hate a certain prominent man bore to
your opponent. Prayer had nothing what
ever to do with it
This stumped BAtkin and when he closed
his meeting that Night he hunted up the
man who had interrupted him. II was ex-
Senator II. b. Kelly. Botkn was then in.
formed as TO that $50 deal 1t happened
this way: Kelly was anxious TO see Bot.
kin elected. but he could not figure it
out where his election would help anybody
to get office. and therefore. none Of the
politicians could be depended upon to lend
him financial assistance. Then he turned
the proposition backward. ii were. He
wondered who there was that wanted Blue
defeated. 1t dawned upon him that Gov
eInoL- Smith, of the National Soldiers
home at LeavenwoTth for whom Blue had
been making il very uncomfortable, might
delight in witnessing Blues defeat. Kelly
went over TO the home one Sunday and
after a hard days talk succeeded in get
ting Smith to send Botkin $50. 1t was
money was so badly needed. and john
Randolph, the sender, was a fictitious per-
son.