The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1898-10-27

He Never Was Soldler-H0W His Father
Used Him 70 Perpetr.te Fr.ud-Held
Him Upas IN Example Of the Re-
suit Of ~Algerism."
Topeka, Oct 1A-Second only to DR..
Wetmore's expose of the Topeka in
created in political circles here to-day
Dy written statement made by vol
unteer army officer showing up the rec
ord of Ralph Botkin, son of Congress
clan-at-Large Botkin.
Raj PHI Botkin returned to Leaven-
worth with the Twenty.second Kan
sas regiment from Washington re-
Gently. He wore soldiers uniform.
He gained Is pounds at Camp Alger,
SO his father said the day he returned.
A few days later Ralph came to To-
peka to visit relatives. While here he
became sick. He was taken to his
home at Winfield. where his condition
became worse. and where for several
days he lowered between life and
death. He is now improving. While
Ralph was sick, his father, Rev. Mr..
Jerry Botkin, congressman-at-large
and pop nominee for reelection, spent
considerable OF his time making cam
paign speeches.
In all of them Mr. Botkin took occa-
sion to play on the emotions of his
hearers by winding in pathetic story
of his sons fate in the army. He told
what good soldier Ralph was, how it
took an order from the president for
him to get into the army. what q
strong physical system he had when
he went in, and how he now lay at
home. probably on his deathbed, as q
result of Algerism. People paid con-
siderable attention to the story until
the Journal printed an interview which
Botkin gave shortly after his son came
back, and before he fell sick. telling
how we'll Ralph Jared in the army.
Then they began to doubt his SINGER
ity, but he kept up the vail in his,
speeches. Finally, he got to writing
interviews for populist papers on that
theme. Story after story was prin ted
about how Algerism was brought close
to the home of Congressman Botkin.
In those interviews Botkin held Alger
up to the gaze of the public as fiend
incarnate. He heaped all kinds of
vituperation on the head of the secre-
tary of war daily. Other speakers
took it up and are still working it.
But the whole story was efectually
punctured to-day by an army officer.
Lieut.. A. F. Williams, a regimental
recruiting officer of the Twenty-sec.
ond Kansas He not only punc:ures
it, but tells story that dumbfounds
populist officials and politicians here.
He says that Ralph Botkin was never
in the army; that he was nothing more
than camp follower; that he
"bummed' his rations and clothes
from volunteers, and worked the gov
eminent out of transportation from
Camp Alger to Middietown. Pa. and
from there to Fort Leavenworth.
Lieut.. Williams tells the story over
his signature. Here it is:
s'BelOw is concise statement of the
facts concerning the army record of
Ralph w. Botkin. son of j. D. Botkin,
congressman at large. This statment
make from the fact that have seen
comments in newspapers and have
heard many remarks derogatory to the
action of Secretary Alger in relation
to the treatment of young Botkin. As
regimental recruiting officer of the
Twenty-second Kansas volunteers, /
am in a position to state the facts in
regard to the same,
Ralph Botkin applied to me for en-
listment about the middle part of
June, 1898, at Camp Alger, Va. He
presented himself on the day desig-
mated for physical examination and
jected. l told him he could under no
circumstances get into our regiment,
as he was not physically fit for mill
tary service. He was only 16 years old,
but he filed written consent of his
father with his application.
After his rejection. which was, as
the physician stated, on account of a
cataract on the left eye, slight ply
sique and under height. added to which
reject-under age-he left camp.
"Botkin went to Washington, about
Is miles, and procured an order from
the secretary of war, Endorsed by Pres
ident Mckinley, which was obtained
by his fathers influence, being a con-
gresham. requesting his enlistment
took him to division headquarters,
and consulted my superior in the re-
cruiting and mastering service. and
showed him the papers, and he refused
to muster young Botkin, the same a.
did. In order to settle the affair
went to Washington and presented
the whole matter in toto and was sus.
tanned in every point. While at the
adjutant generals Office, after con.
sulting with President McKinley's
private secretary. from whom l now
hold letter stating that the president
had referred the matter to the adm.
tant general, an order was sent to Col
Lindsay, in command of the regiment
BY the war department saying no en-
listment could be made of Ralph W.
Botkin into the volunteer service, but
that he might enter the regular service
IS q buglar.
sT)rClers were issued to Capt. Par.