People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-10-27
AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK.
Republican towards Who Are Now Pur-
suing Young Ralph Botkin.


OF all the calumnies that have
emanated from tile Republican CAIN
palgn mud mill the most vicious au0
cruel Is Jne attack made in RepuOll-
can papers On Ralph BUtkln, tile IL
year-Old son OF Congressman j. ID.
DOtkin. The Republican organs
charge that young BOtkln was not ill
enlisted soldier; that he was merc
nanger-on at the camps and stayed
among the soldiers in defiance OF the
officers Of the regiment. Here are the
facts:
When the war broke out Ralph be-
seeched his fathers consent 10 enlist.
Congressman Botkin tried tOpersuade
his boy that he was too young To en-
ter the service and too fragile 10 en-
dure the hardships incident TO a cam
paign. The boy was not to be dis
suaded, and finally his father, who
enlisted as a soldier in the civil war
when he Was the age OF Ralph, and
remembering his own desire TO serve
his country, gave him written consent
to enter the army. Ralph presented
himself at the recruiting Office, but
was rejected Oh account of a very
slight defect in one OF his eyes,
which in 10 degree impaired his
vision. The lad was heart-brOken
and again sought his fathers consent
and Influence 70 enter the army. At
Ralph's suggestion Mr.. BOtkin took
the boy to the White house to obtain
a special permit from President Nc.
Kinley to enlist as private They
arrived at the executive mansion just
as cabinet meeting adjourned, and
the president had a few moments
leisure to devote to his Kansas callers.
He took quite an interest in Ralph'S
case and was pleased at his determin.
alton TO go to war. After asking the
lad if be appreciated the hardships
and perilS Of army life, TO which
Ralph answered in the affirmative,
President Mckinley telephoned to
Adjutant General COrbin and said:
Congressman BOtkin OF Kansas and
his son will be over to see you at
once. Please enlist the boy in the
Twenty-seCOnd Kansas regiment"
Mr.. BUtkin and Ralph then went to
the war department, where Adjutant
General Corbln received them graci.
Ousiy. He promised that Ralph's
case would be attended to, and gave
the boy note to the regimental re.
Cruiting officer. The next time Con-
gresham Botkin saw his son he wore
the uniform of soldier and had a
gun, knapsack and other parapher.
MALTA. Both Ralph and his father
supposed he had been regularly mus
tered in. 1t now transpires that per-
haps the same regimental officer VINO
first rejected him on account OF his
visionary defect neglected to formal.
ly swear him into the service. If such
is the case the petty officer neglected
to carry out the explicit orders Of
both Adjutant General COrbin and
President Mckinley.
Whether Ralph BOtkin was regular
ly enlisted or not, he and his parents
supposed that he was, and he perform
ed nobly and without word of COM
plant the tasks assigned to him by
his superiors. He did not "bum" his
ratiOns aud clothes from volunteers,
but drew them in the regular way.
lie did not "wOrk" the government
out of transportation from Camp
Alger TO Mlddletown, Pa; He was
regularly detailed with other soldiers
TO guard the camp equipment and
stood guard over it night after night,
though already suffering with the
preliminary symptoms Of typhoid
fever. Yet net word Of complaint
ever escaped his lips. His officers all
agreed that while he was the young
est soldier in the regiment, he was
one Of the best.
Ralph WINS taken sick at Topeka, as
stated by the Republican papers. He
had every symptom of typhoid fever
before he left Camp Meade. When
the regiment arrived at LeavenwOrth,
sick as he was himself, he started TO
carry the equipments Of a sick com.
rade TO his camp IL addition 10 his
own. On the way he sank. down ex.
hausted, and yet these human ghOuls
who were too CUwardly to enlist them.
selves, call him "bummer." Oh
politics, what crimes are committed
in thy name. 1t was there that his
uncle in Topeka, hearing of the
matter, hurried to LeavenwOrth,
brought him to Topeka aud
telegraphed 10 his father, who took
him home and has tenderly cared for
him ever since.
Such are the facts. If there was
ever more scurrilOus attack made on
brave though helpless victim. his
tory has failed TO record it. There
was no occasion for it whatever, ex-
cept to crafty that morbid prOpen-
sity for lying which has become as
deep seated disease in the gang as
that ailment imputed to it by John
J. ingalls,, and which he declares "no
Hot Springs Of mercury can ever
cleanse"
Andy Richards, the mouth
piece of Chester Long in Sum
ner county, says a vote for the