The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-18
PLAYS A LOSING GAME.
Leland May Dictate All the Fed
eral Appointments,
Says a Republican, But the
State is Against Him
And if it Can't Choke Him Of Will Go
Populist by Whopping Majority

A Kansas Republican, well known in
all sections of the state, but resident
Of the Seventh district, who visited To
peka few days ago said:
Il am neither a prophet or the son of
q prophet but I have had my ear to
the ground during the past few weeks
that / have been travelling over the
state and unless I am seriously mis-
taken. the Republicans of Kansas are
waiting to ind out what Cy Leland
wants in the next campaign and then
they are all going IN together TO oppose
him.
THE Republicans of the Seventh dis
trict have been betrayed by Leland He
promised to make certain men federal
office holders and while pretending 10
them that he was moving heaven ana
earth to secure their appointment. was
really working for another man as he IS
still doing today. Leland promised
faithfully 10 assist Tom Scates in get
ting place, but he IS now trying TO
down Scates as he is trying to down
Billy Sterne. There is no certainty as
to the result Of the fight Leland is
making but it occurs to me that he
must lose. The national administration
may take Leland's word and turn down
the men he is now fighting but when
that action is taken then Mr. Leland
and Mr.. Mckinley have turned all the
Republicans of Kansas against them.
The Republicans have had a shock al
ready in the appointment OF Leland as
pension agent. a position which permits
him to live in Topeka, pays his expenses
and affords him the opportunity to fix
up jobs and deals in an effort to con-
tinue his dominion over the members of
the party.
of course Leland and his followers
whine and declare that they are the
men who do the work. Well what if
they do. They are the men who are
getting all there is in sight They are
Wen paid for the work they do. Le
land and Simpson, Aibaugh. Clark and
the rest of them are not working for
In, hafr hoo IT
very fair when they are not dabbling
in politics. Consequently they must
have something. They get the posi-
tions and then insist that a man recon-
mended by Senator Baker be turned
down to give them show to place one
of the gang who is not deserving of the
office or capable of holding it, at the
pie counter.
The Republicans in my district are
saying but little but are saving wood.
They are looking for a rupture and
want to assist in making one with the
boss. They are dissatisfied with his
selnshness and mismanagement of af-
fairs and want the people to have a
chance at running things.
by the way" continued the speak
er. Il want to commend the suggestion
made through the Journal that here
after the state chairman be selected by
the state convention This places the
Pile The designing politicians cannot
then influence the state officers to Sc
IeCL a man VINO viii not perform his
duty.
1t has been customary in this state
to change chairmen once in a While but
there is no change in prospect now.
Simpson will be Kept on the committee
and in the position he now occupies
just as long as Leland can manipulate
the executive committee. Simpson is
handy man and takes the place of Bris-
tow. who was Leland's man Friday
Simpson winces when it is said Le-
land viii throw him down at the first
opportunity and pretends to say that
he knows Leland will not do such a
mean thing as that. but his demeanOr
shows that he too is conscious of the
fact that he is likely to be dropped any
time he refuses to do Leland's bidding.
Here the other day when Simpson
called the executive committee together
nothing was done until Leland came up
to the hotel and outlined what he ex-
pected the committee to do. The COM
mittee adopted Leland's suggestions
and not one of them pretended to think
for himself When Leland pulls the
string the monkey jumps and there you
are. But there'u come a time some
day, maybe, when things will change"