The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-11

of them if there was any friction in
Kansas about this appointment
Then it was that Leland Bristow
and others conceived of a plan TO take
my scalp A meeting was held at the
NOTmandie one night and commission
was named to go to the office of the
Post and protest against the publica-
ton of unreliable reports from KAN
sas. Bristow and Leland headed this
commission, and they used Bakers
name as endorsing the scheme to secure
my removal and Judge Broderick's
name was also used, but without
authority or knowledge of the matter
At any rate, the commission accom-
pltshed its object, for my head fell in
the basket.
After I had made full and salts
factory investigation / wrote Senator
Baker charging him with being in col
fusion with Leland and Bristow. Baker
has replied, denying any knowledge of
the matter. He said: I do not know
the managing editor of the Post and
never had a word of conversation with
him Nor did request anyone di-
rectly or indirectly to say word to
the managing editor of the Post, or to
anyone connected with the Post. If
anyone has done so it was without my
knowledge or authority
In my letter to Baker I expressed
the regret that he (Baker) had sur
rendered to Leland This reference to
surrender seems to have touched a
tender spot in the senator, for he
writes, denying that he has or will al
sumo the prerOgatives beIoning to
United States senator. In fact, he tells
me to cease writing if believe that he
is under the dictation of Leland.
But I am not to be shut up like
jack knife just because a United States
senator orders me to cease writing him
letters"
Mr.. McCray wrote the following let
ter today:
Topeka, Kan, May II, 1897.
Hon. Lucien Baker, Washington,
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours
of the 9Th inst, and in reply beg to say:
If you did not go in person to the Office
of the Washington Post at the dictatiOn
or request of J. L. Bristow and Cyrus
Leland, to request my removal as its
Topeka correspondent, then your name
was used as in full sympathy with that
demand, which had the same effect as
if you had personally appeared. I do
not doubt your statement that you had
nothing to do with it, but that your
name was used in the disreputable
transaction, as well as that Of Judge
BrOderick, I am absolutely certain. If
your relations to BristOw and Leland
are SO close as to permit of such a thing,
then demand that they be sufficiently
strained in the future as to prevent
a like occurrence of the outrage. That's
all I have to say on that point.
I feel that I am treading on danger
Gus grounds to write you after reading
yours of the 9Th. In that letter you
PLAINLY mint IEaL you prefer THAT
should suspend my correspondence If l
believe that you are under the Leland
spell. I believe YOU are. and until
see some signs of breaking away I shall
continue to hold that opinion If this
be treason to your highness. make the
most of it. I had supposed that a Re
publican constituent who had never
failed to support the Republican ticket.
yea, who even stood firm in 1890, had a
right to express his views to his United
States senator who, after all, is but a
public servant, and not a king or car.
Having that kind of a notion about the
honors that doth hedge you about, I
wrote you, and behold your first reply
was the chestnutty, stereotyped answer
prepared by clerk who affixed your
name with a rubber stamp. 1t was one
of those harmless and meaningless
communications which are sent out to
thousands of Republicans over the
state. 1t did not convey to me any IN
formation. so I addressed you q rev
brief and pointed remarks. The result
is I have been able to secure from you
my servant. your autograph, ana II
wasn't made with a rubber stamp,
either.
I had supposed that you would be
glad to have Information from Kansas
No individual has ever yet been great
enough to hold a seat in the nat1OnaI
congress who is moved solely by Ine
influences of Washin gton. And another
proposition is equally true At one
time Leavenworth was the state OF
AAaAAlSeNSs Oul tAl11I gay mas paSSG0. re-
gret that you have not discovered that
fact
In conclusion, let me assure you that
1 shall not again disturb you with my
letters The gang with which you are
training. and who use your name and
the position the Republican party gave
you, to aid in taking bread and butter
from me and in blackening my charac-
ter as newspaper man, may be able
to shut me out of the newspapers of
Washington, but pledge you my word
now that they will not be able TO con-
troll the policy of all of the 500 news
papers of Kansas. I know Of several