The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-26
AT THE CAPITAL.
Still Talk in Washington About
Cuban Reciprocity.
Three of the Kansas Members
Joined Insurgents.
TALKS OF POMEROY.
r. G. Thomas Discusses Career
of Kansas Senator.
Congressman BowersOck Talks
Of Diaries and Other Things.

Washington, D. c., April 26-The dis
turbance .oceasioned by the administra-
tion defeat on Cuban reciprocity in the
house on the 18th has not yet subsided.
and the knowing ones say that it vii.
not be settled until new leaders are
brought to the front in the house, The
speech of Mr.. Cushman Of Washington,
Is given much credit for strengthening
the backbone of many Republicans who
were wavering under pressure from the
leaders and the White House.
The Kansas members who Joined the
so-called insurgents were Bowersock,
Calderhead and Miller. but there are
others of the delegation who would
have done so had they not felt bound
The state Journal correspondent
stated, soon after this bill came before
the house, that the chief difficulty with
the arguments Of its advocates was
that they never even attempted 70
show that the Cuban planter would re-
ceive any benefit from the concession
that all concessions were not Tor the
benefit Of the sugar trust, which
acknowledges. that it owns flve-eighths
of the sugar Of Cuba. Senator Teller
has introduced a resolution in the SEN
ate to ascertain who is to receive any
such benefit should congress grant 1t,
and it has many friends.
Senator Pomeroy, or Beans Pom
erOy as he was Familiarity called, was
one of the most interesting politicians
in the unusual group which the sun
flower state has developed" remarked
Mr. r. c. Thomas, of Chicago, at the
New Willard. Senator Po1nerOy came
TO Kansas in 1857 from Massachusetts,
I believe. Two years later the hot
winds and grasshOppers destroyed all
the crops. and the east was called upon
for assistance Senator Pomeroy was
-1,r.N ali hrr4 1rrf
out the United States and sought aid
for the pOverty-s stricken Kansans. Then
he helped to distribute the supplies
from his home, at Atchison, and there
We're. so many beans sent out to the
sufferers that Mr.. POmeroy was dubbed
Beans He acquired great power in
the state, and when the first legislature
convened he was selected as one of the
senators His control over the Repubn-
can party was so absolute that warning
factions developed in the camp, and
many men Were elected to the legiSla-
ture on condition that they We're to op-
pose P0meroy He held on for three
terms I believe and the story of his
downfall is one of the most interesting
ia Kansas political history. The war
against FOmeroy was so hot that he is
said to have spent a great deal of
money in his attempt to pacify certain
influential members Of the legislature.
YORK, OF Wichita, q member of the
lower house, was among PomerOy's op-
ponents- He was an eloquent young
fellow and man with quite a follow
ing Several efforts to pacify York had
failed. One night before the day set
for Joint session TO vote for United
States senator, York was approached
by friends of Senator POmeroy, who
wanted to know what his price was.
Finally $4,000 was offered York He
asked 1000. and the price was finally
paid. When the joint session was
called to order the next morning. York
was the nrst speaker to gain the floor.
In a few terse sentences he announced
that Senator Pomeroy had corrupted
the legislature. He declared that thou
sands Of dollars had been spent IN buy