The Topeka state journal., 1902-01-22
FOURTH DISTRICT.
The Most Interesting Of the
Congressional Fights.
Senator Kennedy's Advent Into
the Race.
MAKES 1T LIVELY.
J 1T LIVELY.
Kennedy's New Strength In q
Miller Stronghold.
Congressman's Quarrel With
the President.

The most interesting congressional
fight in Kansas this year is in the
Fourth district. For time it seemed
as though ]. NJ. Miller had the best
of it but in the last two weeks the
landscape has been changing and with
the advent of Senator Kennedy to the
race, Miller stock is beginning to shake
Senator Kennedy is one of the most
persistent politicians in Kansas. He
never sleeps; from the hour that he an
nounced his candidacy he has been
at home but half day; and when Ken
nedy is away from home he is at work
He spent his first week away from
home in Usage county. He lined up the
strong men of that county for him, and
went into every township and made an
organization. He stirred things up so
deeply that Senator II. B. Miller, ,Osage's
gubernatorial candidate, who. is sup
posed to be for J. NJ. Miller. went over
into Coffey county-Kennedy'S home
county to see how Kennedy stood there.
The result of H. B. Millers visit to
Coney county may be an agreement be-
tween Senator Kennedy and n. B.
Kennedy for congress. ]. M. Miller
has Harry Richter, a gubernatoria1 can
didate, in his home county, and has
nothing to offer H. B. Miller. Kennedy
has. 1t is absolutely certain that Usage
county will divide its congressional del
egation at least between J. NJ. Miller
and Senator Kennedy. Usage has been
regarded as Congressman Miller's
fortress. In Marion county. Ed Hoch
will control, and as Kennedy and Hoch
are friends, and as Kennedy Will have
a vote state printer, it Is reaSOQably
sure that Hoch will divide Marion
county with Senator Kennedy. He may
even do better.
Bent Murdock is out hustling also and
has visited Pottawatomie and Green
wood, Chase and Lyon counties
and claims he will prevent Instructions
for Miller and carry a big majority of
these delegations. There seems to be
fair certainty that Murdock and Ken
nedy will organize the conventions
against Miller. The feeling against
on account of his quarrel with President
Roosevelt. 1t all came about over the
Emporia postoffice. The Emporia Ga
zette tells the story as follows:
Miller which the Republicans of this
district make without fear of contra
diction. They are incompetence and
quarrelsomeness. Miller is a two-by-
four. He has been in congress now two
terms and hasn't got his nose above
the surface of oblivion. He hasn't faith
cred a bill. He hasn't made a speech.
He hasn't landed a single appointment
for the district which would not have
come to the district if there had been
no Republican congressman represent
ing it. He reflects no credit on the
solidest Republican district in Kansas,
and is a clear case of a twenty-five do
ing the work of a battery.
''As a twenty-five Miller is a joe
dandy, but he is out of his class when
he tries to fire a salute. He would m AXE
a good congressman for a district about
the size of Center township
Now as to his quarreIsomeness:
To begin WITH he has stirred up a nasty.
little postoffice row in every county in
the district. Generally he has promised
both sides-at least both sides claim
promise. The postn1asters whom Char
ley Curtis named are all good men,
But they We're not good enough for j.
NJ. Miller. So he is firing them all out
He got off on the wrong foot in Lyon
county, and Postmaster General Smith
turned Miller down hard on the ap-
pointment of John Wiggam. Smith
absolutely refused to discuss the
matter with Miller, it was so
manifestly wrong. There was no
pull used Smith. Merely
the petitions of citizens and their state
ments We're taken. Miller got mad. He
took his fight to the White House. There
he told the president the story and 1t
was the first time the president mad
heard of the situation. 1t was so un-
fair that from Miller's own story the
president disagreed with Miller. Then