The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-20
Observations on the Contest For
Pension Agent.
Congressman BOwersock's Faith
fulness to Leland.
MUST BE PACIFIED.
Old Soldiers Are Not at All
Satisfied.
Will Whites Comment on the
Leland Defeat.

One of the remarkable things about
the contest over the pension agency is
the fidelity with which Congressman
BowerSock stood by Cyrus Leland. 1t
has been rumored several times within
the past three months that Senator
Burton and Mr.. Bowersock had fixed
up a combination by which Burton
might throw his influence to Bowersock
in the senatorial contest, but the action
of Mr.. Bowersock would indicate that
there is no foundation for such report
Had Bowersock desired to go over to
Senator Burton's side in the pension
agency contest, the candidacy of Gen
eral Metcalf would certainly have given
him ample reason for doing So Metcalf
is from Bowersocks home. But instead
Bowersock stood firmly by Leland.
When General Metcalf came home
from Washington a short time ago he
gave it out that he had not been offered
any position and that he was not can
didate for the pension agency Then he
went down to Burlington Soon after
his departure a telegram came to him
from Senator Burton telling him 10
bring some sort of pressure on MI.
Bowersock to induce him to desert Le-
land and endorse Metcalf. The telegram
was forwarded to General MetcaH at
Burlington, VINO wired back to an in
him to get his Lawrence friends to tele-
graph Bowersock in Metcalf's behalf.
They did so, but Bowersock remained
faithful to Leland to the end of the con-
test.
An interesting problem which has now
entered into Kansas politics is, how will
Senator Burton square himself with the
old soldiers? The hearty endorsement
given to Leland by the G. A r. posts
over the state generally and their pro-
faCf 7gf he inf of
who is not Civil war veteran indicate
that Senator Burton may have serious
trouble ahead of him. Even some of
Mr.. Burton's warmest supporters have
said openly that he ought to endorse
Leland for the place. Some of the men
who have stood by Burton for years
signed kilograms to President Roose-
welt this week urging him to appoint
Leland. The old soldiers believe that
the Topeka pension agency was their
special patronage. The appointment of
Colonel Metcalf will doubtless make lit
tie difference in the administration of
the affairs of the office-the pensioners
will get their checks just as regularly
as though Mr.. Leland had been re-
appointed-but the Civil war veterans
felt that they had a special claim on the
pension department. There is only one
other agency in the country in which
the agent is not an old soldier.
For this reason the old soldiers are
angered at Senator Burton for refusing
to heed their requests that he recon-
mend Civil war veteran for the place
if not Leland. If Senator Burton were
a candidate for reelection this winter
he might have exceedingly hard sled
ding, but Mr.. Burton has five years be-
fore him before he will have to be re-
elected That is abundant time for
things to shape themselves several dif-
ferent times before Mr.. Burton has to
worry about a reelection. But in the
meantime he has his prestige to look
after. 1t doesn't augur well for a senior
United States senator, which Mr.. Bur
ton will doubtless be after the next
session of the legislature, to lose pres
tige in his own party, and there is great
danger that Mr.. Burton may have done
that very thing. Anyway there will be
a strong contest for the control of the
next Republican state convention, and
the old soldier influence will probably
be against the Burton faction
Another interesting problem for the
politicians to talk about is. What will
Cyrus Leland do in the senatorial con-
test?
Mr.. Leland and Governor Stanley
have always been warm friends Some
of Leland'S strongest supporters are
also backing the governor in his sena-
toriai candidacy. Leland, on the other
hand, owes a great deal to Congress-
date. If both insist on being candidates
he will have to choose between them.
Another possibility, which is some
times regarded as almost probability,
is that Congressman BowerSock will
also become a candidate for senator.
This would still further complicate Le-
lands position, he undoubtedly owes
Bowersock a political debt for the fidel-
ity with which the latter stood by Le-
land in the contest just closed.
Then again, what will Leland do
about Doniphan county? 1t has been
talked that the First congressional dis
trict belongs to Congressman Curtis in
the senatorial contest, but Leland has
it in his power to withhold Doniphan
and perhaps one or two other counties
from Curtis. What will he do?
AS to his own situation, Mr.. Leland
is conceded to have long head for
STRENGTHENING out complications among
his friends. and it is quite likely that
he will effect a combination of some
sort among the anti-Burton element in
the senatorial fight.
F.. L. vandegrTft says that M A. Low
feels the defeat of Leland even more
keenly than does Mr. Leland himself.
Mr.. Low believed that after what he
had done for Burton the latter owed it
to him to concede the appointment of
Leland Vandegrift writes of the stu
alton as follOws-
1.-The man who feels the sudden ap-
pointment more keenly than any other
is M. A. Low. While he will not talk to
newspaper men, ne talks to others. and
1t has been sifted around the hotel lob
bies that he feels that he has been bad
ly treated. When he left Washington it
was well understood that the matter
should be held up until after the holiday
recess of congress- Mr.. Low was so
sure of this that he made a statement
of the situation to the newspapers. and
this was telegraphed to Washington
Mr. Low believed that by that time pub
lie sentiment would be formed on the
question and guide Senator Burton in
his action. He so told Senator Burton,
and while the senator declared he would
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