The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-29
Will Allow Mr.. Rfdgley to Name
Census EnumeratOrs.
DANGER OF.APOPLEXY
Republican Leaders In a State
of CONSERVATION.
DON'T Want a POpulist to DC
tate Appointments.
Senator Baker Ready to Pro-
test to President.

Kansas Republicans are just no"
- ,r,,,Cr interested in the intention of
I,irector W. K. Merriam. in charge OF
IN census bureau at Washington u
1.s,-a CONGRESSMAN Tidgley, PopuIsl'
,Ifspose OF the census patronage Al 1Ae
Third congressional district
The affair is in such a condition that
senator Baker has his grip pach 1'@1
ready to hurry to Washington 70 PAS
sent a protest to the president l.
When Director Merriam wanted 70
divide the census patronage III nl7'(S "a !
between the Democrats anu ~ ,I'oI,-1
cans equally, there was a great nov
among Republican politicians IN nc
state Merriam insisted upon TINS Pc pc
and at last accounts the president hd1
been called upon TO lnterIeIe W., W. If
directors unprecedented hlelAIIei u
dispensing patronage III. 80 -
Merriam seems to have a peculiar way
Of doing things. he is also an eXceptl0Il
10 the rule of men in politics IN the
t-st instance he insists upon having ms
own way and has been running thinSs
with a high hand. In the second place
ne seems determined TO recognize tne
Pouulist and Democratic congressman
in the western states
The idea of giving a Populist congress-
man a fat plum under a RepubHcan ma
rional administration is something
which almost gives Republican pom
1icians a stroke of apOpleXy. w men II
was announced that Merriam proposed
In hermit CONGRESSMAN Rldgiey to run
things in the Third district Senator
Baker Immediately wrote strong let
ter of protest to Merriam, a reply TO
which he has not received MI BAKER
VIII start for Washington should Mer-
RAMS reply be to the effect that Hldg-
lev will be. designated az the authority
on census appOintees in the Third DIS
trict.
Merriam has once written upon the
subject He said: 1T viii be impOs-
sible to place this patronage in the
hands of the Republicans. The Third
Kansas district is represented in con-
gress by Populist and he should nave
the right to dispense the offices IN his
district"
When this letter was received by Sen
ator Baker it was several days before
he was restored TO full consciousness;
He summoned some OF the political
leaders and explained the situation to
them. Then the wires and mails were
warmed with stirring protests against
the designation of Ridgley.
Mr.. Ridgley could foTtify himself for
a reelection to congress very nicely by
having this list of appointments to give
out There are nine counties in the Third
Observation-Disclosures. Cherokee. NeoshO,
I.abette. Wilson, Montgomery, Elk,
ChautauQua and COwley. With an aver
age of fifteen to twenty subordinate
positions in each of these counties Mr..
Ridgley could organize a strong fighting
force
The close result in the district last fall
convinced the Republican campaign
mana gers that had little active work
been done in the interests of Kirk
patrick the district would not have
gone t. the PoDulists. For this reason
the Republicans are now especially eX-
erciSed at the attitude Of Mr.. Merriam
They are confident that an organization
of the census enumeratOrs in the dis
triCt would prove an effective force to
aid them in the campaign next year
and they are. as a consequence. bitterly
opposing the designation of Mr.. Ridgley
to take charge of the patronage
The guessers have it that ex-Repre-
sentative Andy White of Atchison will
be supervisor in the First district James
Humphrey of Fort Scott in the Second;
Charles :. Briggs of Carbonate in the
Fourth: Mayor HalIett of Abilene in the
Fifth the contest is between Represen-
tatiVe Ward of Wallace and Charlie
lands Of Osborne in the Sixth: Charlie
lobceu is expected to land in the
seventh His opponent is Newt Bridg-
man of Wichita.