The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-17
TAKES new TURN
Old Soldiers Take q Hand in
Pension Office Fight
of Their Number.
is NOT YET SETTLED.
Fight Is Assuming a Comedy
Phase.
appointment Not Likely to Be
Made Soon.
is NOT YET SETTLED.


G. A. R. in Kansas are today lombard
ing Washington with kilograms asking
that Cyrus Leland be reappointed TO
the Topeka pension agency Those who
do not ask directly for Mr.. Leland's re-
appointment ask that an old soldier be
appointed. Hundreds of these kilograms
are going to the president from all over
the state.
1t has always been conceded by Re
publicans that the pension agency is the
patronage of the old soldiers. They are
most deeply interested in it, and it has
always been customary to appoint one
of their number to the place. In the
fight which Senator Burton and his fol-
lowers are making on Mr.. Leland in
behalf of Colonel Metcalf an attempt
ten law. Colonel Metcalf served with
distinction in the Spanish-American
war, but he belongs to a younger gen
GRAFTON from most of those who are IN
terested most vitality in pension affairs
Among the pensioners who are paid
through the Topeka agency are 9O,524
veterans of the civil war, and $40 sol
dierS of the Spanish American war
The contest over the pension agency
is becoming great comedy. One day
Senator Burton or some of his friends
calls on President Roosevelt and the
report is sent out that Colonel Metcaff
ately afterwards some of Mr.. Lelands s
friends call on the president and are in
formed that there has been no change
in the situation. This morning it was
the inning of the Burton people. The
morning papers contained special tele-
grams in which Colonel Metcalf was ap-
pointed almost as positively as he was
last Thursday. The night dispatches
stated that Congressman Long and Cal
derhead called on the president and
We're told, in the presence of D. W.
T,,1xro hot Cov7o tor fnrasc
mendation would be followed. Today
that report is denied. 1t is true that
the two congressman called on the pres
ident and they asked that the appoint
ment be delayed. President Roosevelt
assured them that he would wait, and
no immediate appointment is therefore
looked for
William Allen White, who stands
close to the president. and who
recently returned from Washington,
publishes two lines of comment on the
situation in the Emporia Gazette of
Monday, but they are very striking.
Here they are: ssStill you know what
Grimes said about Tracy"
Lawrence people believe that the fight
calf in Mr.. Leland's place is for the
purpose of diverting the fight Lit
Crunl. A great fight is being made on
Crum. whom Senator Burton is under
stood to favor for United States mar
shall. This is the place which most of
Colonel Metcalf's friends would like
to see him get, as it is more in his line
than the pension agency, and they as
sert the Burton people discovered that
he might be appointed instead of Crum
and Immediately began plans to switch
Metcaf to the pension agency.
There is no doubt that the great ma
jority of Kansas Republicans would be
glad to see Colonel Metcalf N ade
United States marshal and he is emin-
emily fitted for the place. The salary of
the two offices is the same, $4,000 a
year.
The Lawrence World, published in
Colonel Metcalf's home town, says:
'"The position of pension agent at To-
peka is still hung up. While Lawrence
would appreciate the appointment of it's
distinguished citizen at the same time
the people of this vicinity realize that it
is asking too much to ask President
Roosevelt to disregard the known wish
es of his predecessor after all that has
been said. Gen. Metcalf ought to be
appointed United States marshal and
Mr. Leland oueht to be appointed PEN
sion agent at Topeka
In speaking of the position of Colonel
Metcalf. C. S. Finch editor of the Law
renee Journal, says:
1.-THE principal interest of Colonel
Metcalf in an office is from a monetary
standpoint He does not care for an
office for the honor there is in it. be-
cause he already has more honor than
any appointment or state office could
bring him. He would not care to be
governor, because being colonel of the
L w .
or than being governor, and it costs
more to be governor than it comes to.
Colonel Metcalf probably wants some
thing, but if SO he will pick out an Of
fee that will pay well rather than one
to which there is great amount of
honor attached"
The statement that the president has
been influenced by charges that Leland
violated civil service rules is doubtless
untrue, because these old charges were
long ago disproved and have no stand
ing before the president.
President Roosevelt naturally desires
so far as possible to be in harm ony
with Senator Burton. The turning down
ator now knows should never have been
recommended, makes the president nat
urally anxious to now please Burton.
The latter should see that he ought to
defer to RooseVelt's emphatic promise
to carry out McKinley's known wishes
in the pensiop agency appointment, and
bend his influence and energy to secure
for Metca1f the United States mar
shalship. This would solve the problem
and create harmony in big chunks.
Burton ought to see that to urge his
present position against the desires of
both former and present presidents is
not only the worst of taste, but bad
policy for himself and his friends when
a. happy solution is so apparently easy.
Metcalf has been strongly endorsed
by Burton. If his endorsements are
80. K.'d'' for the marshalship, Metcalf
will secure place of especial fitness
and of equal profit.
This course would also enable Mr..
Burton to be consistent with himself, in
connection with the emphatic state
ment he made in Topeka some weeks
ago that the pension appointment was
presidential patronage and he did not
position upon the part of the sena tor
makes it apparent that some OF Eur