The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-09
GIFTS AND ORATORY
Accompany the Change of
Court House Officials.
NEW MEN IN CHARGE
Retiring Officers Receive Fine
Presents From Friends.

good cheer when the change of county
officers took place at u o'clock yester-
day. An hour after the furry of the
change from old to new was over the
newly elected officers were at their desks
deeply involved in the new duties.
Never was a change more happily made
than that Of yesterday. The officers
who had to give up their places did so
with as much or more good cheer as
those who came into possession OF them
after having strived so energetically in a
hot campaign. And well might the old
ones go out with smiles. They were sur
prised with elegant presents. howery
speeches and kindly words of commenda-
ton from friends.
The changes are:
John Chain. succeeding A. NJ. Denny
as county clerk.
]. NJ. Kerr succeeding E. L. Carnahan
as register of deeds.
NJ. NJ. McCollister, succeeding Mr.. Nc
Laughlin as coroner.
Robert Ballentine, succeeding D. T.
Sealock as county commissioner.
Sheriff Simmons and County Surveyor
Brown succeed themselves.
The oaths taken by Mr.. Ballentine and
Mr.. Chain were administered by County
Clerk Denny before his retirement. Mr..
Chain, the new county clerk, admins
tered the rest of the oaths.
Just before the retirement OF the old
officers they were summoned into the
county clerks office, where some sur
prises awaited them, possibly greater sur
prises than they found in the election
returns which boosted them into office
County Commissioner Sealock was pre-
scented with an elegant cane by his COM
rades in office, Commissioners Wilson and
Howard. The cane is a very handsome
one, having an electric light in the end
of it.
Sheriff Simmons was presented with a
800 gold badge, which is most beautiful
thing. The sheriff's name appears in
raised letters across the bar from which
is swung a large star. In the center of
the star is a diamond and worked in fla
gree around the diamond are the words:
SHERIFF Of Sedgwick County. Kansas"
The badge is the gift of his friends and
employees.
County Clerk Denny was the recipient
Of fine gold initial ring from the en-
ployes Of his Office and an elegant par
Tor lamp by his friends in the court house.
Register of Deeds Carnahan was pre-
sented with a parlor lamp similar to that
presented to Mr.. Denny.
The presentation speeches were made
by County Attorney Amidon and Probate
Judge Haymaker, and were models of
a sensation in his speech presenting the
lamps to Mr.. Denny and Mr.. Carnahan
He said:
There IS something a little strange
about these two gentlemen, which ought
to be shown up, now that their scheme
worked and they are both out of office
Twenty years ago both lived in the same
county, Logan, in Illinois. They were
then Of the same political faith. They
made up their minds to come to Kansas
and run for office. so fixed up a scheme
by which they might help each other and
at the same time avoid being possible
in the same party for the
same Office. One was to change his poll
itical faith and at the first opportunity
jump into the political field. They did 81
and here they are, elected at the same
time by their respective parties and both
having been allowed to serve four years
In view of these fine lamps here
deem It proper to throw some light on the /
After this story on the boys, Mr. Ami !
don spoke nicely Of their records while i
In Office and the appreciation their SET
vices by the tax payers. He said he be-
lieved the two offices never had better /
men in charges Of them than Mr. Denny /
and Mr. Carnahan.
Judge lawmakers presentation speech !
to Coroner Mclaughlin and Commissioner T
Sealock, was classic in wording and style. J
Judge Haymaker said:
Messrs. SeaIock and McLaughlin:-The /
sun OF your life has passed its meridian, =
and is now shining upon you out Of the ,
wester sky. When man has passed a /
life Of usextllness and Integrity. it ia .
pleasant thing in old age to look back +
upon It's changing scenes and pictures. .
One Of the first visions that comes before /
your mind is that Of prattling children, /
playing about your mothers knee, a. the
Did hcarth-stone. Another is that OF your
ooyhood and young manhood, Just enter
ing upon life's active and arduous stage.
Then comes the vision when you led a
Gushing bride TO tts altar and the twain
became one flesh. The follows a holier
vision when that blusbing bride went
iown into the very gates Of death and
zane back mother. with blessed babe
upon her breast. The scene changes then
snd you see your own children playing
snd prattling around your own door-yard-
Then follow pictures Of maturer life. and
,mong these viii doubtless Re that o
-FOUR Official life as officers Of sedgwick
county, Kansas.
Your friends and brother officers desire
his picture TO be as pleasing as possible
md indulge the hope that thsy may Be
igures therein II order that your medi-
ations may be ire pieasan1er. and yosr
'etrospection OF lies way the mora COM