The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-11
SMITH NOT ALONE
There Are Others Looking For
Mr.. Leland's Job.
T. J. Anderson and VIII. Smith
on the List.
MIR. BURTON'S POSITION
Would Like to Get Rid of Leland
But is Afraid.
Kansas Might Lose Some of the
Patronage.
MIR. BURTON'S POSITION

Washington, d. c., Feb. n.-There are
now three avowed candidates besides
Cyrus Leland for commissioner of PEN
sions at the agency at Topeka Besides
Farmer A w Smith of Mcpherson, Tom
Anderson of Topeka is working for the
appointment, as we'll as W. II. Smith of
MarysvilIe. The latter was Mr.. Calder
heads manager in the Fifth district last
fall. The matter concerning this ap-
pointment has resolved itself in a way
that leads the politicians here to believe
Mr.. Leland will succeed himself.
At the end of Grover Cleveland's term
he issued an order abolishing the To-
pel<a office and transferring it to St
Louis, where its business would be COM
bined with the pension office of that city
to cover the district. The district in
cIudes Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Okla
homa and the Indian Territory. Upon
the recommendation Of the influential
Republicans of these states, particularly
Kansas, President Mckinley shortly af
ter taking his seat rescinded the order
and installed Mr. Leland in charge OF
the Kansas Office as a reward for his
long service of generalship in the Re
publican party of his state. At that
time Senator Wolcott Of Colorado made
a strong fight to land Colorado man
in the place.
IN the event that Mr. Leland is re-
moved it is feared Colorado would get
the Office, as a determined fight would
undoubtedly be made for it by that state.
In fact it is understood that when Mr..
Leland goes out Colorado has been
promised.
Although Senator Burton has not ex-
pressed himself in the matter it is well
known that he would like to have Le-
land removed. What policy he will pur-
sue is not known. but it is said that he
well realizes that should he secure Le-
lands head under these conditions Kan
sas would without doubt lose a greater
portion of its patronage now in the Office,
which would go to Colorado. Were it
not for this reason Leland would be dis
missed and a Kansas man installed very
soon after March 4.
There is no question that Burton could
secure Leland'S removal if he so desired,
but 1T is likely he will let him be re-
tanned only however in the interests of
Kansas appointments in the office
At the present time Kansas has only
two foreign consulate positions to her
credit. but Mr.. Curtis says President
Mckinley has promised the state at
least seven of these appointments. Five
are to be dispensed by the delegation,
and two appointed at large. General
Caldwell of Topeka. who is consul gem
eral at Costa Rica, will probably be con-
tinued, as well will Frank Brooks of
Lawrence, as vice consul at Smyrna,
Turkey. Winfield Freeman Of Kansas
City, Kansas, is being pressed for con-
sui to Dublin, and in all probability a
place will be found for a colored man of
Topeka Representative Curtis and
Long viii call upon the president next
Monday, or Tuesday in relation to ap-
plicatiohs from their district for con
sulate and army appointments.
The vote on an amendment to strike
out the appropriation of $25, ,000 for the
fast mail between Kansas City and
Newton, Kansas, was beaten without
division in committee last Friday. The
opponents of the appropriations for spe-
cial facilities carried the fight into the
house, where there could be a record
vote. Mr.. Swanson moved to recon-
mend the bill and upon that motion he
demanded the previous question As
only one motion to recommit is in order,
this cut off Mr.. Burke, who desired to
move to recOmnit with instructions to
strike out the appropriation for special
facilities. The ayes and noes were de-
manded and ordered upon the demand
for the previous question. The previous
question was Ordered-160 to 50. The
motion to recommit was then defeated
3S to 79-and the bill passed.
It is reported that information has
been received at the war department
that General Fred Funston does not
wish to stay In military service any
longer, but wishes to return to his home
in Kansas. An offort to verify this re-
port at the department was made by the
State Journal representative but it
could not be traced
s'Those of us who hear of the crusade
of Mrs Nation at this distance. and ap-
preciate the local conditions are getting
a lot of fun out of it,, observed Repre-
sentative James Monroe Miller, of Coun-
ell Grove, Kansas, the other day at the
capitol. According to Kansas laws the
state does not recognize any property
in articles that are used in connection
with the sale Of intoNcants, so. as long
as Mrs Nation snashes bottles and
glasses and knocks in the heads OF
whisky barrels, she is violating no
statute. Another peculiar feature of the
situation is that the saloonkeepers do
not dare to have her arrested o
charge of destroying property, for fear
the courts viii declare that there is no
property in the eyes of the law in the
articles demolished That would only
emDha size to the tOughS their absolute
freedom to smash Things in q saloon
whenever the notion strikes them The
Kansas prohibitory law not only de-
clares that saloons are public nuisance
but authorizes private citizens, as well
as sheriffs and constables, to abate those
nuisances. OF course, such violent pro-
ceedings hurt the reputation of the
state Nevertheless, it is incorrect to
suppose that the prohibitOry law is not
enforced in Kansas 1t is enforced in
three-fourths Of the state, rigidly and
absolutely, but in Fort Scott. Wichita,
Topeka and other Kansas cities it is not
enforced In those cities the sale of
liquor is wide open and in defiance OF
the law
Collin Ball. of Sedan, Kas., who is
seeking a first lieutenancy in the reg
ular army, is in the city, the guest Of
Corporal Tanner Mr.. Ball became
close friends with his host while he
and the latter We're campaigning in
Kansas this past fall. Mr. Bah will re-
main IN Washington until the matter Of
his appointment is settled If he re-
ceives the appointment he viii go at
once to Fortress Monroe to take the
necessary examination
Representative Bowersock presented a