The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-16
Hooper Graft ToIers Leader
ship of Fusion Forces.
TAM MANY GRAND SACHEM
How He Proved His Assem-
dancy Over EnviOuS Ones.

wound the story of his ascendency is
worth telling.
AS there are men in New York who
deny that Dick Croker is boss and men
IN Cleveland who flash the same denial
at mention of Hanna's name, so a small
coterie may be found in Wichita who will
laugh when Hooper Graft Toler is named
as the fusion leader.
Toler knows of the existence of these
snvtous ones. but does not trouble over
It Above all he is Napoleonic in his dis
dain for trouble when there is nothing
to be gained by it. and terribly direct
and certain and spontaneous when there
IS something to be won by a fight So
that while there are a few men in the
fusion ranks who deny his leadership
there is not one among the number who
could be coaxed into a contest with him
to prove their claim.
Hooper Graft Toler was born in Ken
lucky and afuerward drlfted west to Kan
sas City, where he became printer. He
stuck" type until he saw that ne never
would pick a fortune out of the ''e7 box
and 50 became a travelling man, covering
a great portion of the western country
and once pushing into Mexico, where he
picked up Lifts of the Spanish language
When the boom times came he went into
real estate and afterward into FLOODED
horses, dabbl-ing a little bit In politics be-
tween times.
He has way with him that wins big
mon 10 his side. Timidity never laid her
palsying hand upon his heart, and Ian
when he approached the seats of the
mighty. He met Grover Cleveland once
and the Buffalo man was so taken with
him that when a vacancy occurred in the
office of United States marshal Cleveland
offered Hooper Graft Toler the Job. He
declined it, but recommended a man who
obtained it. Before that Senator Vest of
Missouri took "a liking to Toler and in
one election Toler changed the one vote
over which elected the Missouri veteran.
When Bryan. bulged before the horizon
the same qualities which had led Grover
caught Bryan. Bryan was overwhelmed
In 1897 with requests for his speeches.
Hooper Graft Toler was secretary of the
fair at Wichita. He went to Lincoln
and with graceful way he pushed other
applicants aside and secured BRYAN for
Wichita
Bryan came to Wichita and received
the largest fee he ever received for a
single service. 81, 400 for two speeches. He
got it because Of Hooper Graft Toler's
management and Bryan knows it.
Colonel Hooper Grafr Toler had nAva-
been gay with his lead in politics but
other aspiring leaders decided to side
wind Of it. Hooper Graft, just to show
them went TO Topeka and returned as
chairman OF the police commission. ap-
pointed by Governor Leedy. A month
later the Populists forced the abolition
of this commission on Leedy and Hooper
Graf was out.
Then the attacks on him were renewed
His enemies decided to kill him "too daod
to skin" Leedy was coming to Wichita
TO speak. Reception committees ea,oro
were appointed. The name of CoIoDa, |
Hooper Graft Toler was studiousIv and
ostensibly omitted But the crowd which |
had resolved on his undoing had gora
further. letter was written to Cover |
nor Leedy warning him not to associate |
De seen with or speak to Colonel Hooner
Gran Toler during his stay in Wichita.
Inc heart of Hooper Graft had been
kindly disposed towards his ornaments
lie didn't sauirm at being left off recen-
uon committees. He didn't care. Rn+
the letter was too much. tt was an omen
bold challenge with knots on it
Leedy came to Wichita and with hin,
Colonel Hooper Graft Toler. A carriaga
was taken and in that carriage sat c,o1,-
ernor John W. Leedy and Colonel roonar
GraT ToIer.
The reception committees ra,,s;roa
the depot platform. leaning aoairs. ~ -
another and painting Later in the DO,
WINE the reception committee was potrr
n'IDn on Main street a brick fell off
building to the sidewalk with a ,o,,I
S''i7Sh' and the reception committed
peoed and never got together again
Coiohet Hooper Graf Toler accom-
panied the governor to the park and took
front seat on the platform smiling
oiandly all the time. His enemies wers
in a froth We
The incident seems trivial now. but e.
was serious at the time. One man went
TO bed and there are scores OF f,,sionist.
IN Wichita today who have not forgiven
Leedy for permitting Toler to accomnsn,-
him i''-''S
But Hooper Graf Toler's dominancv IN
politics was sealed that day. The lass
bitter Of his enemies began to Jolly hin,
and get on his good side Then the sto-,,
reached town that next to johnson ~
Peabody. Toler stands nearer BRYAN tbs,
any other man in Kansas A Iit,le 1ors-
1t was Colonel Hooper Gran To,ar WIZ
passed the word that con the fusion ,ickA,
IN Secgwick county this fan:
Put none but Democrats M g,,.-, .,
BY his advice the ticket is made y, ~
Democrats. ~ 5
And to cap his triumph his friends rsr-
suaded him to take the posf-i,r -
sashen Of the local Tammany. the CON
trolling factor in fusion politics. II Is bis
"ish that I. G. Fitch be made chairma,
O. the Democratic committee. where as {
llFSt lieutenant Of Hooper Graf Toler. tie
fopalstS VII be led Up 70 the booth and
mace vote the Democratic ticket
hooper Gran To.er viii nor teY VIA.
he wants. Bat he does not se-v IN. - 1
BRYAN is elected next Novense- he vrirl !
so after something. AID after sometime
50 biz that when the local fellows - Z
aoont il their eyes Wlu fan GU, On 5besr
cheaEs "a eHe-F q
- all events Hooper crsr To,s- q
70" aoss Of the fusion situation in se5r-