The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-15

it the Topeka public may draw it's own
conclusions as to the possibility of hav-
ans the regiment mustered out here.
1t has been generally supposed in To-
peka that Senator Baker promised to
have the Twentieth regiment mustered
out in this city The supposition was
the result of statements made by as
substantial citizens as Major Anderson
and United States Marshal W. E.
Sterne. Senator Baker said that he had
said a great many things in his life he
did not remember, remarked that Major
Anderson and Mr.. Sterne were two
very nice men but as far as he was
concerned must speak for themselves,
and then left 1t at that. However, he
further stated that he had said nothing
about the matter for publication, and
thereby branded recent announcements
in the Kansas City and LeaYenworth
papers as false.
Incidentally Senator Baker made a
wonderful showing Of diplomacy, that
is, if diplomacy is scientific evasion. He
proved himself thoroughly accomplished
an the art of being nOn-cOmmittal.
When the subject of the selection of
mastering out place for the regiment
was opened by the State Journal rep
resentatiVe. Senator Baker made haste
to say; oh, know nothing about the
matter haven't given it any thought
Then recovering almost quickly from
the little burst of irritability, he asked:
Reports from the Philippines would
indicate that it has not" the reporter
answered.
"Ah ha. Be home by Christmas don't
you think2'' he queried.
The reporter respected the senator's
happy style, and said something in
keeping with it. Then the senator said:
What's the use of all this furore
about matter that hasn't come up
yet? But then 1 don't care. 1 really
enjoy seeing the different towns fussing
over it. Topeka wants the regiment
and LeavenWOrth wants it and every
other town in the state wants it, and
Missouri wants it. OF course L under
stand the exact motive of each; it's
nothing else OF course not a single
thought is given to the fact that money
VIII be thrown into the saloons and the
restaurants and different nlaces
Patriotism it is and nothing else
wouldn't Topeka have an advantage
over LeaNenworth on the saloon ques-
uon? the reporter ventured to INQUIRE
m not judge of such matters
replied Senator Baker abruptly 'Idon't
know that there is a saloon in Leaven-
worth, although L have been told that
there is
The war department has said moth
ing to me about mastering out of the
regiment" the senator continued IF it
Is left to me 1 Will settle if when the
proper time comes, but before that
tlme L Will say nothing about it I don't
know that it will be left to me
uon know that any suggestion / might
make would be acted upon The ad-
IIllhlstration has never done anything
on my suggestion. -
rms was just a little joke the sena-
~ @sEI sprung Ot course everyone knows
that he has dictated Kansas Datronaes
under the present administrator.
Topeka wants the opportunity of
preparing a fitting celebration
the reporter began
50 does Leavenworth and so does
Kansas City and so does a dozen other
towns. the senator Interrupted
put 1opeka as the capital of the
state the reporter again be-
gan IN an awful struggle to convince
the mighty politician of this cifv's
claims. S
Topeka had all the regiments at the
mastering in" the senator declared in
another interruption
1he reporter was forced to substanti-