Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-04-20
Old Soldiers Are Honored.

Ul0 o0lQleTS are dOnOreu
The old soldiers of Kansas are high
ly pleased over the treatment accord
ed them by Governor Stanley in the
matter Of appointments The first
pledge made by the governor in his
tirstocampaign speech was that, il
elected governor, he would give the
preference to old soldiers in making
appointments. He has carried out
his promise to the letter. There are
more old soldier employees at work
around the state house today than
were ever there under any previous
administration. Three Of them are
old soldiers. He had three Judges Of
the court Of visitation to appoint.
Two of them are old soldiers. He
had three members of the board of
managers Of the Soldiers Home to
appoint. All of them are old soldiers.
His adjutant general and assistant
adjutant general are both old soldiers.
One member of the live stock sani-
tary commission is an old soldier.
In the reorganization Of the various
charitable institutions, the state
board of charities, a majority being
old soldiers, has given the preference
| to old soldiers in the selection Of en-
ployes. The veterans understand
how well they have been taken care
of and feel kindly toward the gov
ernor.
There are just two old soldiers in
the State who have shown any dispo-
sition to kick. One of them is Major
Tom Anderson, of Topeka. He be-
lieves he has not been consulted with
as much by the governor as a Repub-
lican state senator from Topeka
should be, and he is pouting. While
he is grumbling, the county Republic
can organization of Shawnee is work.
ing hand in hand with the admins
tration and is getting about every
thing it is after.
The other old soldier who is kick
ing is one who did not get a position
for which he was an applicant He
wanted a big job, but his indorse-
ments were rather thin in his own
community and he did not have the
ability to fill the position. Governor
Stanley knew it and turned him down.
He has written to the governor, de-
nouncing him in unmeasured terms
and has threatened "to tour the State
and turn every old soldier against the
administration. l." The governor is a
man who can be pleaded with, but
cannot be bluffed. He has called this !
particular old soldiers bluff. In a
reply to the "threatening''lettsr the
governor said:
81 am more firmly convinced now
than ever that made no mistake by
not appointing you. Your loyalty to
the party and to the Grand Army is
measured by your greed for office. A
man with your disposition cannot
get anything under my administra-
ton. am glad to learn that you
propose to tour the State and de-
nounce me. That will be an excellent |
thing to do. 1t will probably crafty |
your feelings and it will not hurt me-
Governor Stanley is having less
trouble over the patronage question
than any of his predecessors. He is
trying to carry out the promises Of
the Hutchinson platform relating to
old soldiers and at the same time in
endeavoring to get the most compe-
tent and upright men he can find for
the various offices. He is not at
tempting to Guild up personal po-
litical machine, as Leedy did. He is
going ahead doing as his judgment
dictates for the best interests Of the
State and the people.--[K. c. Journal.