The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-12
Of His Camp Defiantly With
COIOrs Flying.
SAM PETERS DESERTS.
Details of the Quarrel With
'The Boss"
Wanted to Dictate Prospective
Appointments
Under Peters in the New FEEDER
al District.

4nG D1OSI sensational lnClQenI winch
has transpired among the politicians
this winter and concerning which little
information has yet reached the public,
! is bitter quarrel between Cyrus Lee
land and Judge Samuel R. Peters of
Newton.
The result is that Mr.. Peters and Mr.
Leland are now political enemies, and
the Newton man has allied himself
with the Stanley forces in the campaign
for governor with the declaration:
From now on I will make fight to
overthrow Boss Leland in Kansas
The row took place during the Kan
sas day celebration and was caused by
the proposition to divide the state into
two federal districts.
Mr.. Leland, with his customary ener-
gy, was insisting that in the event Mr.
Peters was appointed judge of the new
court, he should assign to Mr.. Leland
the distribution of the patronage. Mr.
Peters refused.
Up to that time the two men had been
working in harmony and for the federal
court district. It was generally under
stood that Mr.. Peters would be appoint
ed judge, and Mr. Leland invited him to
Jim Simpsons room at the Copeland
and said:
Il will work for the new district and
will ask that you be appointed judge
provided you will appoint Frank Brown
clerk of the court"
Il can't tell you what will be done
about that place." replied Mr.. Peters.
now" said Leland.
''Well. I can't afford to make any
pledge in this matter" was the answer
made by Mr.. Peters.
wen, if you won't do that, then I
won't help you get the place. suggested
Mr.. Leland. You must pledge this
place to Brown
I'll do nothing of the Sort" replied
Mr.. Peters.
''AlI right said Leland, ''you may
count me against your appointment as
judge
And you, returned Mr.. Peters, may
count me against your Ofice-seeking
designs in the future
Mr.. Peters hunted up his Seventh dis
trict friends and informed them Of the
state of affairs.
This quarrel is one of the most sur
prising of the years events in RepubH-
can circles. Mr.. Leland and Mr.. Peters
have been intimate for so many years
that a break between them seemed i'm
possible.
The first intimation that there was
something in the air out Of the ordinary
was suspected when the Newton Re
publican, following the Kansas day
banquet, complimented Charlie Curtis
speech very highly. That paper has
been supporting Leland, and the men
ton of Mr.. Curtis was regarded as
something unusual, especially since Mr..
Leland has become so bitter against
him.
Then Mr.. Peters went to Washington
and Senator Baker He returned home
and announced in his home paper, the
Republican, that the federal district bill
would not pass at this session of con-
gress.
1t is said that Mr.. Peters called on
Senator Baker and assured him that in
the future there will be no 'twO-headed
monster where he has influence, and
that the Republicans who are Peters
friends will follow Senator Bakers lead
and repudiate the domination of Kansas
affairs by the national committeeman.
Since that conference Stanley stock
has gone up.
Whether or not the Stanley followers
are organizing an anti-Leland move
ment at this time is a matter of con-
lecture, but every Indication is that it
is but the beginning of a general up
rising of Republicans against the boss
although Stanley may not be the man
upon which a final combination will be
effected.
Another straw in the wind concerning
this matter is waited along by second
piece which appeared in the Newton
Republican.
1t was a reference to some political
note and the paper commented as fol-
lows:
1.-THE next state ticket in Kansas will
be selected without the aid Of a boss.
These are practically the words used.
If there be any doubt as to the row oc-
curing between Leland and Peters, that
line and a half in the paper, which IS
Mr. Peters official organ, indicates that
it did take place, and that. Mr.. Peters
has put on his red blanket and left the
reservation.