The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-15
Congressman BOwersOck Is in a
Pretty Muddle.
His POstOffiees Are Cause of
the Trouble.
FIGHT OF FACTIONS.
As Usual Kansas City Is the
Storm Center.
Henry Allen May Pluck Mr..
B0WersOck's Plum.

It looks as though Congressman Bow
ersock may have rough shedding before
another congressional convention meets
in the Second district, and it is by no
means an impossi bility that Henry Al
len may be the next Republican nomi-
nee for congress in that district
1t all grows out of the postoffice
fights.
These postoffice troubles are the bane
of cOngressman's life-when he doesn
know how to handle them. Congress
man Curtis goes at them in the right
way by picking out the man he wants
and appointing him before anybody has
time to start trouble. But with Mr-
BoWersock it is different. His idea has
been to pursue a waiting pohcy untll
everybody has had chance to be
heard.
This is a good theory. but it doesn'
work well in practice. Two or three
candidates get into the race and their
friends push their candidacy for the
place Both sides become convinced
that their particular side is entitled to
the place and a bitter fight grows up.
No matter which side wins the success
full candidate thinks he forced the con-
gressman to appoint him, while the 9TH
er man is the sworn enemy OF the con-
gressman. That's the way the idea
works out in actual practice. There 5
a great difference between theory and
practice in the case.
This is the kind of trouble Mr. Bow
ersock is having over his postmasters-
There are bitter fights on in the two
largest towns OF the district, Kansas
City and Fort Scott, and there is, or has
been trouble in Olathe and Garnett, with
a prospect for more trouble at other
points.
The fight at Kansas City has taken
a peculiar turn, and the Republican pol
iticians down there, usually divided up
into factions from two to dozen in
number, are uniting in telling Mr.. Bow
erSOck a few things.
The term of the present postmaster,
Nat Barnes, expired seven months ago
and he was a candidate for reappolnt-
ment- The opposing faction decided
upon D. D. HOag as its candidate for
postmaster and it made a strong effort
to have Bowersock appoint him. Mr..
BoWersock let the matter drift until
the fight got so hot that he did not like
TO appoint Hoag or Barnes. Finally to
shift the responsibility he left the nam
ing of the postmaster to Judge w. @.
Holt, who is the WyandOtte county
member of the congressional commit
tee.
This action suited Barnes at the time.
as Holt was under obligations to MIN
and he supposed that Holt would give
him the place. But Holt was in no hur-
ry to decide the matter He let the con-
troversy drift and finally it became ru-
mored that Holt would like to be post
master himself
1t has leaked out that Judge Holt came
up to Topeka a few days ago and offer
ed to resign his place as judge of the
court of common pleas of Wyandotte
county if Governor Stanley would let
him name his successor. He suggested
two or three men, but he particularly
wanted Frank Hutchins. Governor
Stanley would make no promises and
Holt went home without resigning.
Both factions have discovered that
Holt intends to take the office himself
and the Buchan faction, which has been
booming Hoag, has now gone over to
Barnes and Joined in common fight
on Holt. They say that they would
much rather have Barnes than Holt if
they can't get Hoag.
Now all kinds of letters are going to
Bowersock at Washington from Wyan-
dotte county, telling him that if he
dares to appoint Holt Wyandotte coun-
ty will go to the congressional conven-
tion to fight his denomination
This is what makes it hard for Mr.. Bow
ersOck- He has turned the settlement of
the postoffice muddle over to Holt, but if
he let's Holt settle it he will get the enmity
OF the big majority of both the Buchan
has such large delegation that it can 90
a long ways toward controlling the Second
district congressional convention. If the
Wyandotte county fellows can get any
three of the other counties in the district
they can defeat MIR. Bowersock for re-
There is a lot of nl-feeling in johnson
county over the outcome of the contest
county Mr.. Bowersock is said to have
turned down friend of Frank Brown for
postmaster at Garnett and made trouble
there. for Frank Browns word goes a
long ways in Anderson county.
Then there is Franklin county 1t is the
home of Henry Allen. and if Mr. Allen
should say that he wants it to give him its
delegation for the congressional nonina-
ton, there is little doubt that it would
do So That. with the support of Wyan-
dOtte and any two of the. other counties
which are reported to be in a state of re-
volt, would give Allen the nomination
The action of Judge Holt in turning his
back on Nat Barnes in the Kansas City
postmaster fight is pointed to by politi-
clans as glaring example of political in
gratitude Barnes is said to have practi-
cally made Holt what he is Holt came to
K. CubbiSon and became a clerk in Cubbi-
sons law office. At the time the court of
common pleas was created in Wyandotte
county Gov Humphrey appointed T P
Anderson as Judge After Anderson had
been elected once he incurred the enulitv
of the Barnes faction, and Barnes picked
up Holt to run against him Barnes el ect-
ed Holt and the latter has been on the
bench drawing a good salary ever since.
Before the national convention of 1000
the Buchan faction fixed on r. l. Marsh
man, at that time mayor of Kansas Citv
to run as candidate for delegate TO the
national convention. This was part of a
plan to beat Barnes out of a reappoint-
ment as postmaster, and he knew if
Marshman was elected it would mean his
retirement Barnes therefore brought ont
Holt candidate for delegate to Phila-
ing him. Holt won and Barnes felt safer.
Then Barnes got control of the conereSs-
ional situation and had Holt put on the
congressional committee from Wyandotte
county.
Now Holt has risen above Barnes and
1t is claimed, is preparing to shove him
out and take his place in the postoffice
nTUTnE TIE cD0rrC