The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-23
FIGHT MADE ON STERNE
Effort to Keep Him Out of q. s.
Marshalship
Said to Emanate From BristOW
Backed 6y Leland.
Gossip Concerning the Situation
Gathered From a Number
of Sources

Despite the fact that an effort is be
ing made by some of the politicians in
the Republican party to defeat w. z.
Sterne's confirmation as United States
marshal, he is going ahead making ar
engagements to take charge of the office
the first of the year.
The contest is arousing much specu-
latiOn, as it will undoubtedly be a test
of the influence of Senator Baker and
Cyrus Leland with the national ad-
mlnistratlon' yet Mr. Sterne's friends
are confident that Senator Baker will
assume the prerogatives which belong
to his office and insist upon the cOnfir-
nation of Mr. Sterne as against t Mr..
Crum of OsWegO, whom Mr.. Leland and
Mr.. BristOW would be pleased to have
the place.
During the session of the legislature
last winter Senator Sterne prepared and
forwarded to Washington a protest
signed by senators and members of the
Kansas house, against the appointment
of BriStOW as fourth assistant postmas-
ter general For this action BristOw
and his nearest friend, Leland would
like to see Sterne turned down and are
doing what they can to accomplish it.
The politicians who are informed as
to the situation decline to- discuss it
puDllCly. They hesitate to line uD with
either faction and are therefore guard
ed in their utterances. After making
the Journal reporter promise to not
PRINT MS name IN connection with the
statement, a well known politician
took him by the arm, and, leading the
way to a, corner on Kansas avenue,
drew up by a lamp post and said:
Leland and BristOw are doing ev-
erything that can be done by them to
defeat Sterne's confirmation. They will
not hesitate to resort to the worst pO-
Htical treachery to be ina gined to ac-
complish it. 1t is question in which
Leland is extremely Interested as it is
in measure test of his power with
the administration. Then BriStOW, too,
has been able to make himself reason
ably solid with the powers that be.
something which he could not do with
the constituency in Kansas, and upon
that he relies for assistance in the pres
ent emergency"
Another well known Republican said:
Leland is showing the greatest in
gratitude in this affair. He has a soft
thing and wants to deprive a man who
is more of a worker for the party than
Leland of a just reward for his serv-
ices. Leland has worked for himself:
Sterne has worked for the party. 1t is
not difficult to determine which is entit-
led to the highest consideration"
a Topeka politician said:
IF Senator Baker does not rise in
his might and defeat Leland and Bris-
tow in their ambition to have Billy
Sterne turned down it will be a death
blow to his future political aspirations.
Sterne worked and made it possible for
Baker to be nominated. When Baker
came to Sterne and declared that he
could not secure the caucus nomination
and announced that he would enter the
meeting and withdraw, Sterne seized
him by the arm and said: No, you
won't withdraw. Keep quiet, and Wen
nominate you in an hour In less than
half an hour, the tide had turned in
Bakers favor and the caucus nominat-
ed him.
ITO Sterne's effort was due the COM
plete organization of the small force
with which Baker started in the race,
In such a fighting shape that they were
able to defeat the powerful combination
which was out against them"
Mr.. Sterne is keeping his own coun-
sci. If there is a. fight being made
against him, he does not appear dis
concerted. He was asked today if he
had heard of the effort to defeat him.
He said:
4 have heard rumors of such a fight
being made. but have received no defin-
ite information concerning it"
DO you know who is engineering the
fight against yOu?' was asked.
L cannot answer that question be-
cause [ am not sure there is a fight on
me- he said. ''As I said before, I
have nothing authentic concerning it. -
Mr.. Leland also processes ignorance
of any fight being made on Sterne. He
said today:
4 really cannot talk about this mat
ter, because don't know thing about
it. If there is fight being made on
Sterne, 1 know nothing of it He has
been recommended by Mr.. Baker, and
see no reason why he should not be
appointed"
Are you opposing Sterne's confirma-
tion?" asked the reporter.
Certainly not I know nothing about
it. I have been busy with my own af-
fairs, and business in another direc-
tiOn, politically, has occupied my at
tention. and 1 have no information con-
cerning the status of Mr.. Sterne's case.
Further than this, I have nothing to
say
To Cure Cold IN One Day