The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-20
For Congress in the First Dis
trict Next Year.
BrOderick Also Had to Be Dis
posed OF.
ALL THE PATRONAGE
VIII Be Handed Out in Kansas
by " Leland
While Senator Baker Sits By.
Political Superfluity.

Republicans are of the opinion that
j. L. Bristow will be named today as
the fourth assistant postmaster gen
eral and Leland will be master of the
situation. From the late dispatches
that have been received from Wash
ington it would seem that Mr.. Bristow
had succeeded in making his candidacy
come under the rule that has been laid
down by the administration that be-
fore any appointment is made the ap-
phcant must get the united support of
the congressional delegation.
Bristow semes to have secured this
from the fact that dispatches have been
received that Charles Curtis had aas-
surances' that Bristow would be the.
appointee- Most of the Republicans
who heard of this said that it clearly
indicated that Curtis has taken up the
tight for Bristow and that he is work
ing for him. Nobody knew that Curtis
was particularly pining for these as
surances.'
The duties of the fourth assistant
postmaster general are to look after the
appointment and removal of postmas-
ters. All applications are fled in this
offlce and all correspondence in regard
to the appointment of the postmasters
is referred to this division of the sery-
ice The pay of the place is 81, 900 per
year
Some of the leading politicians who
are in position to know say that thev
are not yet ready to believe that Curtis
has gone over and Joined the cause of
Leland and his crowd, and for that
reason refuse to allow their names to
be mentioned at the present time. yet
they are not surprised if such were
the case.
Ever since this county was put in the
First district Curtis has been figuring
Gf cat +fr4rr 4
ton IN the new district AS stated in
the Journal not long since there is
likely to be a three -cOrpered fight at
the Republican congressional conven-
ton, and in that event neither of the
candidates would go into the conven-
ton with enough votes to nominate
him. Both Curtis and Broderick have
been anxious not to offend the all DOW
erful Leland; each of them have to let
Bristow alone on this account One
of the leading Republicans of the state
said today: I am afraid that it is so
that Charley Curtis is in with Leland
He has been scared to death over the
situation in the First district and may
have indorsed Bristow in hopes that
he will get Leland's support in the con-
greSsional convention when it comes
off. 1 have been afraid that he would
do something of this kind for some
time, as he has written several letters
to parties who have asked him to work
for them that they had better secure
the Endorsement of Mr.. Leland This
looks as if he had played into Leland's
hands"
Considerable indignation is expressed
among Republicans. One said: In
case it turns out that Curtis has gone
into the Leland camp, 1 will turn in and
fight him for congress. He may gain
DOniphan county by the DEAL but he
might also lose Shawnee county.
don't think that Charley Curtis has
made any kind of trade or combine.
If he has, he has simply played into the
hands of Mr.. Leland"
Senator Baker has also gotten into
line with the Bristow crowd and 1t is
said that he will not oppose the con-
frmatiOn of BristOW should he be
named. 1t is claimed by some that
Baker is on the recommendations of
Bristow. OF course, with BristOw il
the postoffice department, Baker will
simply amount to a cipher as far as the
influence in obtaining positions for
anyone who wants a job in that de-
partnent is concerned, unless they are
first recommended by Mr.. Leland. and
in the latter event an applicant will get
a place without the Endorsement of the
senator at all.
local politician said today: IF
Baker lets Bristow be confirmed he is
signing his own death warrant. He is
in a position where he could prevent it
if he chose The president is in
place where he has got to have every
vote he can get in the senate, and 1t
seems to me that Baker could very
easily fix it up with a silver man or a
Democrat or two and block the whole
scheme -