The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-04
BURTON AGAIN FAILS.
He Recommended Smith OrBIue
For Pension Commissioner.

From every indication Senator Burton
is beat to it again in the forthcoming ap-
pointment Of a pension commissioner to
succeed H. Clay Evans, who is to be
provided with another place by the adj
ministration before the change is final
ly made. The event that will settle it
will be the appointment of Judge 5 R
Peters, Of Newton, who is reported from
several sources to have the inside track
and, judging from the activity that Is
going on in Newton to secure Peters
place as postmaster, some one is pretty
sure that Peters will land the plum.
The story is that when the decision
was arrived at to otherwise provide for
H. Clay Evans upon whom for long
time the Kansas delegation waged a Wig
OrouS war, and that the place should pc
given to Kansas, Senator Burton pushed
Farmer Smith forward at once and near
" succeeded in getting the place for
him Then the other side of the house
of Kansas Republicans came to the
front and the president concluded that II
would be necessary to have lawyer Tor
commissioner of pensions and Farmer
Smith was shelved. Congressman Chester
l. Long brought up Judge Peters and
groomed him we'll Senator Burton cast
around again and his choice fell on Col
onel Dick Blue, as a man to meet the
requirements Of being an accomplished
lawyer.
Farmer Smith himself says that the
president wants not only lawyer, but
one with considerable experience on the
bench and in this respect Judge Peters
has the best Of Colonel Blue This IS all
in addition to the personal friendship OF
Judge Peters and the president, because
they were in congress together and by
reason of Peters three terms in the
house. In fact the latter consideration
may be considered as a secondary weight
as compared to the other pressure.
Representative Robert DOugherty and
J. c. Nicholson are hustling for the aP-
pointment to the expected vacancy IN
the Newton postoffice. Nicholson is the
law partner of Judge Peters. Mr.
Dougherty was a candidate for a place
as consul at Vera Cruz, but it was
awarded to Indiana He Will have
many Endorsements from the business
men of the city for the postmaster
Congressman Long arrived in Topeka
direct from Washington last night, and
had a conference here today with Cy
Leland. Mort Albaugh. and others Rep
resentative Dougherty and Mr. Nichol-
son were both on hand, too, TO push
their claims for the postmastership-
Dougherty and Nicholson raced up from
Newton to get Longs ear. Nicholson
got here first, but Dougherty sat up late
for the train to come in and saw the
congressman first.
When seen by a State Journal reporter
about the coming appointment of q. pen
sion commissioner, Congressman Long
said: II eft Washington on Monday
evening. and have heard nothing new
about the matter since arriving. The
Kansas delegation, as you know, gave
the two names to the president of Col
Blue and Judge Peters"
s'Ts 1t not quite a victory for Kansas
to have Evans displaced2'' was asked
II never looked at it in that light"
he replied with diplomatic courtesy.
Mr.. Evans is not displaced. He is to
have an important appointment by the
president before there viii be a new
commissioner 1t is gossip that he will
be made minister to Japan, but of
course only the president knows. KAN
sas was one of the states that criticised
Mr.. Evans administration heavily. it is
true. I think that Judge Peters will be
the appointee. if the appointment comes
to Kansas"