The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-23
IT MAY WORK
A Sudden Change in Plans at
Washington.
The Attempt to Force Senator
Baker
INTO THE JUDGESHIE
May Succeed, Opening the Wa.
For Burton
To Be u. s. Senator for the
Unexpired Term.

IOQay'S GLOBE democrat contains Ln0
following Washington special:
Washington, Jan. 22.-The announce
ment that the president has determined
to appoint Mr.. Hook to the federal
judgeship in Kansas may prove to be
premature. It was made by Mr.. Hooks
friends after their visit to the White
House yesterday afternoon. But the
opposition also had an inning late in
the day. It laid before the president in
formation which may bring about a
great change in the situation. The pro-
gramme proposed is that Senator Lu-
Glen Baker shall take the judgeship, and
that J. R. Burton shall be elected sem
ator.
The president wishes to appoint Sen
ator Baker. He has said that If the
senator will accept he thinks this will
be the best solution that can be found
The senator personally is favorable to
the suggestion. He said to Senator FL
kins, who is one of his closest friends
in the senate, that it would crafty his
federal bench. Senator ElkinS saw the
president yesterday and told him of
Senator Bakers real sentiments. He
advised his appointment.
But Mr.. Hook is the law partner of
Senator Baker. The latter Joined in
the movement for Hooks appointment,
and he feels bound to insist that his
own name shall not be considered.
Yesterday morning the friends of Mr..
Hook, having discovered the inclination
of the president to appoint the senator,
went to him and persuaded him to give
them a letter saying that he could not
accept the judgeship. Senator Baker
is quite sick. He has been confined to
the house for some time. He gave the
letter. There is some. question as to
whether he really wrote it. One state
ment is that the letter was drafted by
Hooks friends and was laid before the
senator for his signature. Cyrus Lee
land, the national committeeman from
Kansas, is supporting Hook vigorously.
The letter was prepared at his Sugges-
ton, and soon as 1t was signed it
was taken to the White House and
given to the president. Upon the pres
ident's comments when he saw the let
ter was based the announcement that
Mr.. Hook would be appointed.
URGING BAKERS APPOINTMENT.
Friends of Senator Baker who are
against Hook saw him after the letter
was signed. To them the senator re-
peated what he had told Senator ElkinS
about how much he would esteem such
an appointment if he was not commit
ted to Mr.. Hook. These opponents of
Hook saw the president late yesterday
and renewed their request for the ap-
pointment of Senator Baker.
But" replied the president, 'here is
a. letter from Senator Baker saying he
can not accept
The delegation explained the situation
and repeated what Senator Baker had
told them only couple of hours earlier
of his position. The president at length
told the delegation to see Senator Baker
again and to let him know what he said.
There was a conference at Senator
Bakers sick room last night. The sem
ator was told of the conversation at the
White House and was urged to with
draw his letter He said that he did
not feel that he could do so. But" he
added, the president is omnipotent in
this matter
The friends of Senator Baker and the
opponents of Mr.. Hook will visit the
White House again tomorrow to report
the results of the conference with the
senator, and to ask that he be appointed
judge.
When the contest for this judgeship
opened it appeared to be between Hor-
ton and Hook. The only question now
remaining seems to be about Bakers
acceptance. If he had not written the
letter he would have been appointed.
The opposition to Hook is concentrating
today on Baker. There will be strong
pressure brought to bear at the White
House tomorrow to induce the president
to appoint Baker in spite of his letter.
The opposition to Hook is not limited
to the preference for other candidates.
During the past three days his fitness
has been assailed. Mr.. Richards and
Mr. Mulvane are especially active
against Mr.. Hook. Mr.. Kenna, the gem
eral counsel of the Santa F'e system,
had an hours talk with the president
upon the subject of this judgeship. Mr..
ing that someone who is not tinctured
with Populism shall be appointed
THE OPPOSITION TO HOOK.
The opposition to Mr.. Hook asserts
that he has not the regard for property
rights which occupant of the bench
should possess. To be specific it is
charged that Mr.. Hook was responsible
for the election to the circuit bench of
Judge Meyers, who issued the famous
order by which it was attempted to
throw into a receivership the whole
Santa Fe system. The movement was
stopped, but for a few days it created
a tremendous sensation.
Many objections to Mr.. Hook have
| been urged upon the president, but this
| one relating to his alleged disregard of
| property rights is the most serious
Senator Baker has the good will of
| everybody. His appointment, it is said
would give satisfaction to Cyrus Le-
| land, the principal supporter of Mr.
Hook, if the latter can not be appointed.
| 1t is expected that there will be a good
| deal of telegraphing from Kansas to the
| White House as soon as the real situa-
| ton is understood. Protests against the
| selection of Hook and requests for the
appointment of Senator Baker are ex-
pected to come in large numbers. If
Senator Baker should be appointed he
| would resign from the senate immedi-
ately and the present Republican 1egis-
lature would elect somebody to fill the
| term, which expires March 8, 1901.
Among the Kansans here the opinion
| is strong that ]. r. Burton of Abilene
would be the man. Mr.. Burton is in
Washington. He is opposing Mr.. Hook,
| but he disavows any designs on the
senatorship. He says he will be salts