The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-23
WOULD RUIN IT.
Cy Leland, Drunk With Power,
Does Not Hesitate
To Threaten the Wreck of the
Kansas Republican Party.'
IF HIS WILL is DEFIED
Heated Encounter Between Hic
and Senator Baker,
Takes Place at the Copeland
Last Night.
TOWERING ARROGANC
Demands That Sterne and
Scates Be Turned Down.
Senator Baker Refuses and Boss
Takes Place at the Copeland
Last Night.
TOWERING ARROGANC
Demands That Sterne and
Scates Be Turned Down.
Senator Baker Refuses and Boss
Leland Leaves Him
Declaring He Will Take the
Fight Before the President.

A very interesting conversation took
place between Senator Baker and Mr..
Cyrus Leland last night at the Copeland
hotel, in Mr.. Bakers room, which
throws much light on the fight on Sen
ator Sterne for the United States mar
shalship. The Journal obtained this
information today subsequent to the
article on the same subject printed on
another page. The later information
is much more important and authentic
than the other but the facts are ma
terialIy the same.
In the conversation at the Cope and last
night Mr.. Leland started out by saying
that after visiting the Leavenworth re
union he had met several of his sup
pOrters at Kansas City, and afterwards
a general conference was held in To
peka. He said the political situation
had been thoroughly discussed and es-
pecially the federal positions yet to be
filled. He stated that the men who at
tended the conference in Topeka had
controlled the Republican politics of
the state for years and expected to do
so in the future. That they had deter
mined to stand or fall together. That
they had requested him to inform Mr.
Baker of their conclusions and hoped he
would conform his actions hereafter to
their wishes unless a good reason
could be given to doing otherwise, and
that their plan had been for several
years to build up controlling Organi-
zation within the Republican party and
that they had been successful That
they would gladly consider the senator
a working member of their close Orga-
nizatiOn, but he could only become so
by working in harmony with them.
Senator Baker said. before giving a
definite answer to so startling prOpO-
SitiOn he would like to know the result
of their recent conference in so far as
it applied to his recommendations for
the principal federal officers. Mr. Le-
land said they had thoroughly discus
sed his CBaker's) slate announced last
June, and with three exceptions it was
unsatisfactory. That the appointment
of Mr.. Sutton, which had already been
made, was very obnoxious, but that
could not be changed. That they had
defeated the appointment of Col. TiltOn
in spite of the senator's recOmmen-
dation and newspaper support, which
was very gratifying. That they de-
manded without any equiVOcaJion or
cOncealment a pledge be given that
Senator Sterne be not recommended for
marshal and that Tom Scates be not
recommended for register of the land
office at Dodge City, and that he sub
stftute Crum for Sterne and Fitzgerald
for Scates, and that they would con-
slider the other appointments at a meet
ing to be held in the near future. Mr..
Baker asked him who the men were
that had attended the conference. Mr..
Leland replied they were Morton AL
baugh, Jim Simpson, G. S. Jobes and
IuGy WOulQ nave the cooperation OF
Frank Brown, Joe BristOw and Jim
DObSOn.
Mr.. Baker then got up and walked up
and down the room several times with
his hands behind his back and his head
bowed. and finally stopped before Mr..
Leland, and his eyes cold and deter
mined and his face paIer than usual,
looking down at him, replied.
Mr.. Leland the people of Kansas
placed a grave responsibility upon me
when they elected me senator have
tried to fill the trust condded to me
with honor and fidelity. I have been
anxious to strengthen and unite the
Republican party in Kansas. I have
earnestly refraiLed from considering
factions and have only thought of my
party associates as Republicans. I have
done some things hated to do but o.
thought they would tend to promote
party unity. have consulted with
many Republicans in Kansas because
did not want to be considered as us
ing the prerogatives of my office arbi-
trarlly or to advance my personal in
tereStS- Some people have attributed
my caution to cOwardice, and have 81
lently submitted to these unjust accu-
sations in the hope that through my
sacrifice I could unite the Republicans
of Kansas into a harmonious whole I
am now led to believe that / have got
to surrender to the humiliation of bow
ing down to the dictatiOn of a small
faction in my party or incur their dis
pleasure and probable open hostility
Such being the case I have only one
IeDly 10 MAKE anu LI1iL IS LEaL i VIII
never do it. I have known Senator
Sterne for years. He is n loyal and
honorable gentleman. He is worths-
of any recognition the party may ex-
tend to him. In strong contrast with
your action, he stated to me less than
an hour go that il I could advance
my personal interests or promote the
interests of the party by dropping him
he was willing to be sacrificed and
would be as true to me and the party
as ever. I decided to recommend Mr..
ScateS after mature and careful deliD-
Grafton. I viii not abandon these men
I will urge the President to appoint
them. This decision is final and ire
vOcabIe"
Mr.. LELAND. Ivid with rage, but with
downcast and averted eyes, then de-
clared that he would take the fight be-
fore the President. He said he had al
ready set on foot a plan to get his
friends to write direct to the President
to protest against Sterne's appointments
and ne would carry on the fight mora
bitterly than ever and he didn't giv1
a d who it involved, or whether IL
disrupted the Republican party or nOt-