The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-27
STORIES ABOUT PECK.
Interesting Anecdotes About an Hon
ored Gentleman Now Visiting Here

Since George r. Peck arrived in To-
pel<a his friends who knew him in the
early days of his career here have been
In a reminiscent mood and many old
stories about the famous railroad law
yer have been the result
Among them is the story of Peck's
first defeat for political honors. 1t was
early in the eighties and Peck was
somewhat interested in county politics
as a friend of his was running for office.
Peck cared for nothing himself but he
wished his friend to win so he annOunc-
ed himself as a candidate for delegate
to the county convention. He worked
as hard to win as If he were running
for governor and several of his friends
decided to play a practical Joke upon
him. There was no opposition to his
candidacy so the joker nominated a col
ored man, very aged and decrepit, by
the name of Columbus Johnson to run
against him.
Peck had no idea that the colored
man would win as all his friends assur-
ed him that they would stand by him
till the last but secretly they worked
for Columbus and when the polls were
closed on the day of the primaries *
was found that Columbus Johnson had
won by an overwhelming majority.
The jokers had sent about a thousand
postal cards to persons all over the
state directing them to address them to
George r. Peck, alias Columbus John
son. and to condole with him upon his
tai cards came pouring into Peck's Of
flee He stood the joking very we'll but
one night he and Eugene Hagan were
walking home and at the corner of Sew
enth and Topeka avenues Hagan was
trying to console Peck and the story
goes that Peck sat down on the curb
stone and shed tears of bitterness over
his defeat.
Not long after that the Republican
state convention met and nominated
their candidate for governor. The night
of the convention Peck was making a
speech in LukenS' opera house, North
Topeka Several who did not like the
choice of the regular convention started
a runp convention that nominated DR..
Struggled of Topeka as candidate for
governor. When Peck and his friends
left the hall in North Topeka they met
a procession on the bridge going north.
Each man carried a sunf1ower and a
burning candle. Peck asked what the
procession was for and Major Tom An
derson said: I'VE have nominated
Struggled for governor and now we are
looking for him" Peck entered into the
joke as much as anyone and made an
eloquent speech informing Struggled
of the nomination. The newly nomin-
ated man for governor did not see the
| joke and took it all in good faith. The
next night a ratification was held and
Struggled and Peck spoke from the
| balcony of the Tefft house.
Before Peck had reached the zenith
| of his fame as a lawyer, a young man
| law. He had a letter of Introduction to
Peck and presented it, He was a very
young man and had only been admitted
to the bar a short time, but he offered
| to take Peck into limited partnership.
''What?" exclaimed Peck.
"Why, a limited partnership" said
! the young man.
Peck was dumfounded but explained
| that he was not looking for partner
ships.
At one time several friends of the law
yer met at his house to spend the even
| ing. Some one proposed game of
poker. Peck was not much of a card
! player, but he agreed to a game of
| poker with kernels of corn to play for.
| Things went smoothly, but Peck's pile
of corn was diminishing. A Jackpot
was made and when it had grown to a
| good size and all had failed to open it,
| Peck said he would open it. He did
| so, and, as he expected, all the others
/ stayed out. He started to rake In the
corn.
"Show your hand" said one.
do I have to do that?" asked Peck.
Yes
well, 1 didn't know I had to show
| the hand" said Peck, as he exhibited a
pair of fiye-spOtS.