The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-28
More Talk About 4. ID. C0burn,
Of Kansas.
Gossip Again Connects Him
With Agriculture Portfolio.
DOES NOT EXPECT 1T.
Modestly Says That He Antici-
pates No Change.
Chairman Albaugh's Severe Ar
raignment of Senator Burton.

Notwithstanding the report from
Washington that Secretary Wilson is to
be retained at the head of the national
department of agriculture, many people
believe that Mr.. Wilson will resign his
place in President Roosevelts cabinet
before long 1t is unreasonable, they
argue. to suppose that the president
would take two members of his cabinet
from the same state, and when he Sc
lected Governor Shaw of Iowa to take
charge of the treasury portfolio Presi-
dent Roosevelt doubtless understood
that Secretary Wilson would retire-not
Immediately, perhaps, but at a not very
distant date.
If there should be a vacancy at the
head of the United States department
of agriculture, there is little doubt that
Secretary Coburn, of the Kansas state
board of agriculture, will be strongly
urged for the place.
Mr.. Coburn himself has little idea that
, any such thing will take place, and he
is not anticipating it.
4 do not anticipate for moment
that Secretary Wilson will retire." SAID
Mr. Coburn. "and if 1 were candidate
and were seeking the place the wish
would doubtless be father of the
thought that he would do So
Secretary Coburn's boom for the place
comes from the people and not from the
opposing him, but neither are they TAX
ing a hand in pushing forward his
BOOM If they were there would per-
haps be a greater possibility that Secre-
tary Wilson would retire.
Secretary Coburn is not a politician
He is affable and agreeable and knows
how to entertain, but he can't pull wires
and put up schemes after the manner
of the professional politician The
movement to place him at the head OF
the United States department of agri-
culture in case there is an opportunity,
comes from the farmers and people VINO
have seen the good of Mr. Coburn's
work for the state of Kansas. That is
why the State Horticultural society at
its session yesterday enthusiastically
endorsed Mr. Co5urn for the place.
One of the hardest knocks that has
yet been administered to Senator Bur
ton was dealt out to him this week by
Morton Albaugh in his paper, the King
nan Courier. 1t should be remembered
in this connection that Mr. Albaugh is
chairman of the Republican state CEN
trail committee. and Senator Burton is
in position which would naturally be
the head of the party In commenting
briefly on the turning down of Cyrus
Leland for pension agent Mr.. Albaugh
says, making his remarks more en-
phatic by printing them in italic:
1T is a surprising ending to men,
orable contest. for two reasons.
--F'irst-Everybody believed an old sol
der would be appointed.
--Second-A United States senator, in
order to defeat an old soldier, sacrificed
his integrity and honor and practically
broke faith with the martyred Me-
Kinley-
It looks as though the entire First
district might not get behind Congress
man Curtis in the atorial race, al
though it is generally conceded to be
long to him. For instance, an editorial
utterance from the Seneca Tribune
would indicate that the Tribune will
support Governor Stanley, Here it is:
Governor Stanley has awakened to
the fact that if ne gets into the sena-
torial race he has got to hurry The
governor has made an excellent con-
ScientiouS and clean officer and his ad-
lninistration will go down in the states
history as one of the best and wisest.
His work for the welfare of the COM
monwealth he will have served so well
that with hustling just a little he will
prove a strong senatorial candidate.
'Feelers' have been sent forth and the
governor is beginning to locate and
gather the loose ends of what is to be
an aggressive senatorial campaign"
A great deal of fun has been poked at
Congressman Reeder, of the Sixth dis
trict but his friends and admirers
has climbed higher than any other Kan
sas congressman except Curtis and he
Is a comparatively new man in con-
greSS, too. He IS chairman of the COM
mittee on mileage, and has a fine COM
mittee room for his use. Mr. Curtis is
the only other Kansan who has this dis
tinction, and Mr.. Curtis will sooff have
rounded out a full decade as a member
of congress. Mr.. Reeder has also be-
come an important factor in the prepa-
ration Of irrigation legislation. which is
commanding considerable attention
since President Roosevelt recommended
1t so strongly in his message. Irrigation
has been the big plank in Reeder's plat
form. Many farmers in the western
part of the state, Populist as well as
Republican. believe he is now in a fair
way to accomplish something for them.
The Wellington Voice, a Populist
paper edited by William Stryker. for
merly Populist state superintendent of
public instruction, comes out in a long
editorial for Pitts. of wellington, for
tral committee. in the place of ]. Mack
Love Stryker claims that Pitts would
be acceptable to the Popu1ists. as he is
an out-and-out -Bryanite," and he says
I there is to be union of forces the
Democrats should have a chairman who
can work with the Populists
James A. Troutman. the local candi-
uate for governor, is coming in for con-
siderable favorable comment on his
candidacy in the country papers The
Bnrhngton Republican recently pub
lshed an editorial of this character
and 1t Is being reproduced by a number
oI papers IN southern and western
Kansas In discussing Mr. Troutman's
candidacy the Republican said: What
MS chances for success are cannot now
pc told but If i'm the lottery of politics
ne could draw she prize the Republican
man is the type of man who ought to, be
gwen prominence in the dominant
party He is young, ambitious bright
ABLE. vigorous virile and indomitable