The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-16
RIDDLE MUST GO
POpuIists and Republicans
Want Him Deposed.
RefOrmers Object to His Place
at Head of the Party.
RUMORS OF A DEAL.
Taylor Riddle and Governor
Stanley Are the Parties.
Echoes of Old Trouble Over In
spectiOn of Cattle.

Governor Stanley is now charged by
the Populist campaign leaders with sin
lister motives in retaining Taylor Riddle
on the state live stock sanitary commits
sion and demand has been made upon
Riddle by some of his friends in writ
ing to do one of two things-resign as
an appointee of the Republican gov
ernOr or vacate the office of chairman
of the POpuliSt state committee.
When z. n. Morrill, was governor OF
Kansas a state live stock sanitary COM
mission appointed by him adopted a
plan of charging two cents per head for
the inspection of cattle entering the
state, the work being done by partisans
who were rewarded for party service by
being given the places as inspectors.
The cattle men protested and finally
caused an abrogation of the inspection
rules, especially that feature requiring
the extra expense. Then came Governor
Leedy and the board appointed by MIN
plunged the administration into a con-
troversy with the cattlemen by inaug-
urating the same plan of inspection.
Another roar from the men who were
suffering from the additional financial
burden thereby imposed upon them,
caused Governor Leedy to order his
commission to make a new arrange
ment. This was done but Governor
Leedy went out of office with the cattle
man fighting him
After suffering the hardships of this
inspection system for several years the
CaIIlGIQ6n became SuSI6U anu SNdIl6Q
in new way to secure exemption from
what they believed to be an imposition.
One of their representa- called on
Governor Stanley and presented the
matter to him in detail. This man, who
is one of the leading cattlemen of the
state, says Governor Stanley promised
that no inspectors should be appointed
during his admins tratiOn. How well
the wishes of the cattlemen were OBJ
served is explained by the fact that
there are now a greater number of in
Spectors at work at various points of
entry into this state than there were
ever before employed since the live
stock sanitary commission was Gre
ated.
This method of doing business is dis
tasteful to the cattlemen and they are
complaining to some extent that this adj
ministratiOn is going farther in the
work of increasing their financial. bur
dens than any of its predecessors.
This year too the railroads are being
held up" as their manag express it,
for the payment of certain inspectors.
The fees which the inspectors receive do
not come from the state of Kansas but
from the treasures of the railroad cor
porations and the pockets of the ship
Ders. These two features Of the cattle
business are not what best suits the
cattlemen and they are not slow to
raise their voices in protest.
Involved in this controversy also is
the job held by Taylor Riddle. The
Populist administration enforced the
L
cattlemen were angered at Governor
Leedy and one of the first acts on their
part was to confer with Governor
Stanley through their representatives.
1t is claimed that the governor not only
promised to abandon the inspection
system but agreed that Taylor Riddle
would be the first Populist office-holder
removed. This pleased the cattlemen be-
cause Riddle had been especially active
in requiring the enforcement of the old
cent inspection fee regulation.
Cattlemen are after Riddles scalp
and members of his own party are anX-
ious to get rid of him as chairman of
the PopuIist state committee.
This desire has been expressed not
ty but it is an opinion shared by the
leaders. John Breidenthal, one of the
big men in the party thinks Riddle
should vacate the office. BreidenthaPs
reason is that Riddle is incompetent
for the duties of chairman Then there
is another faction of the party which
urges the election of an entirely new
committee.
Mr. Riddle has recently received sew
eral letters containing the suggestion
that he resign as chairman or as a rep
resentative of Governor Leedy's ad-
ministration.
Then too there are several men in the
Republican party who would like to
have Riddles job but there seems to be
no way in which to dispose of Riddle.
The POpuliStS are becoming suspicious
of Riddle. One of them. well known in
the state, in a letter to a Journal re-
porter says Riddle is retained because
he has consented to flop back to the
Republican party next year. why"
says this letter, Riddle wasaRepublican