The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-12
Declares the Adjutant General
Misguided Him.
WAS NOT CONFIDENTIAL
So States About the Conversa-
ton Between Them.
Took Place in Public Office Con-
corning Public Matter.
Did Not Tell All That COrbin
Said Concerning Funston.

Medicine Lodge. Kan. April 12.-Con-
gresham Chester I. Long gave to a corr
respondent last night a formal state
ment in regard to his controversy with
Adjutant General Corbin over the ap-
pointment of General Funston to a brig
adler generalship. A recent dispatch
from Wichita quoted Mr.. Long as assert
ing that General Corbin demurred to the
proposition to make Funston a brigadier,
saying, according to Mr.. Long: "Funs-
ton is a boss scout-that is ALL and T
am making lieutenants out Of better
stuff than Funston every day"
General Corbin replied to this inter-
view with the statement that he re-
garded the conversation with Mr. Long
as confidential, incidentally taking a
shot at Long by declaring that Long
told him that the reason Kansas poll
ticians were anxious to get a commits
sion for General Funston was that they
wanted to keep him from running for
governor, or congress. or the senate
Now comes Congressman Long with the
following signed statement:
My attention has just been called to
General COrbin'S statement about our
conversation over Fupston's appoint
@nent gave out no interview on the
subject. Several days ago in Wichita a
delegation of ex-UniOn soldiers called on
me- They were very much interested in
General Funston'S appointment and
could not comprehend how anyone would
object to it. I explained somewhat in
detail General Corbin's opposition to the,
appointment. They We're very much in
censed about it, and repeated my state
ment to an enterprising newspaper man
in Wichita, who gave it publicity Later
a portion Of the published statement was
sent out as an interview by the repre-
sentative of the Associated Press with
out my knowledge. I did not consider
my conversation with General Corbin
confidential. It was on a public matter
in a public Office, and in the presence Of
other persons. The statements winch
have been published were not made by
him alone to me, but also other persons
at different times during the two days
preceding the appointment. The opposi-
ton of General COrbin to the appoint
ment was open and notorious, and was
commented upon by all the leading pa
pers Of the country at the time.
General COrbin has a resOurceful
memory. I did not say to him that
General Funston might run for governor
if he We're not appointed.
1.-The Kansas delegation, and myself
especially, felt no concern about General
Funston's possible political ambitions.
We and the people of Kansas generally
thought he had earned the appointment
by his capture of Aguinaldo, and said
as much toy General Corbin. am sorry
that the general has been embarrassed
by the publicity given to portion OF
our conversation. I gave only part of it.
He has attempted to give another part,
thus entirely divesting it of it's alleged
confidential nature. Not wishing to en-
from narrating that part not yet made
public. which would greatly add to his
embarrassment if it were known.
'CHESTER /. LONG"