The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-26
ALL LIKE IT.
Kansans in Washington Pleased
Over Harris Candidacy.
Irrespective of Party They Hope
He Will Be Named.
ARE THE BEST PLACES.
President Has Nothing Better
at His Disposal.
Thirty-five or Forty Applicants
Have Been Heard From.

Washington, Dec 26-An Kansans
here, regardless of political alignment,
are very much pleased over the prospect
Of the appointment of Senator Harris
to place on the isthmian canal com
mission. OF course it is difficult at this
time to predict just what the outcome
of the Kansas delegations appeal to the
president will be but if Senator Harris
does not land the place, it will not De
the fault OF the delegation. No more
earnest and sincere plea for a political
place was ever made in Washington
than that made by the Kansas members
of congress when they called upon the
president last week and urged the ap-
pointment of Senator Harris to one OF
these places. AS matter of course, the
president gave no intimation as to his
probable action in the matter. The dele
CATION did not expect that. But he ex-
pressed himself as especially pleased
with the unanimity of Senator Harris
Kansas endorsements. which probably
are the best ever filed for federal office
by a Kansas applicant. In addition to
the unanimous endorsement of the Kan
sas Republican delegation in congress.
he has also on file strong recommendd-
tions from men in Kansas prominent IN
If endorsements are worth anything
Senator Harris ought to win the COM
missionership in a walk
OF course there is great scramble
for these places. All the states are get
| ting into the game. and hardly day
passes but that some new asOlrant
makes his appearance. They are the
best offices which the president mas hau
at his disposal in many years, ana ne
probably already has before him the
names of thirty-five or forty prominent
men who are candidates for the places.
AS there are only seven of the places
and as four of the appointees must be
! civil engineers, the task which the presi-
dent has before him can be better imag-
| ined than described. 1t likely VIII pc
some time before any announcements
are made The president has practically
decided to wait until the route OF the
! canal is chosen and there is no teillng
when this will be. He told the Kansas
delegation when it called upon him that
he had not decided upon a single one OF
/ the commissioners yet even in his own
mind so that up to this time 1t IS any
| bo6y's fight. He further told the dele
cation that the fact that Senator Harris
was a civil engineer doubled his chances
! for securing one of the places and that
he would give Senator Harris claims
most careful consideration. Personally
| the president has high regard for the
Kansas senator and this may influence
| him to some extent when he finally.
comes to make a decision. The bill fix
ing the salaries OF the commissioners -
still under discussion in the senate. The
salary is now fixed at $4,000 but may be
reduced to $4,000 before the senate gets
through with it in which event the
scramble for the places may become less
! pronounced.
It is generally admitted here by i'm
partial observers that Senator Harris
stands head and shoulders above any
senate of the United States since the
days of Plumb and ingalls,. There have
been senators here who have accom-
plished more, perhaps, in the matter of
place getting, but they have been Re
publican senators, In full accord with
the administration, while Senator Har-
ris has had to suffer the handicap 10
which every minority senator is subject
ed. But in spite of all that he is today
one of the big men of the senate. and
enjoys a standing and prestige there
which is second to none He has de-
veloped craftsmanship of a high order,
and his absolute and answering hon
esty and loyalty to duty, coupled with
his ever courteous demeanor has en-
deared him to his colleagues, and earn
ed for him the respect and esteem of
every public man with whom he has
come in contact In spite of the fact
that he is a minority senator, he has had
a great deal to do with shaping much
of the important legislation which has
attracted the attention of the country
during the past few years. He played
d particularly llIipOlld ldHl part III liiC 1CS
islation affecting the Union Pacific rail-
way. The story of his fight to force the
Union Pacific railroad to pay its inn
mense obligation to the United States
is too we'll known to warrant repetition
here. 1t was during this fight that an
effort was made to bribe Senator Har-
ris 1t is alleged that representatives of
the railroad company offered him a
small fortune if he would drop the fight
on the company. A gentleman whose re-
lations with the senator have in the
past been especially confidential told
the correspondent of the State Journal
the other day that he was in Senator
Harris office when the attempt was
made to induce him to quit the fight.
This gentleman said that he saw $4,000
laid on table in the senator's office,
which was to be the first installment
of 1aroe sum to be paid in case the
opposition to the railway company
ceased. OF course the bribe was in
dignantly sDurned, the fight was not
stopped, and the 1000 was carried away
intact by the emissary of the company.
Senator Harris will leave the senate
with absolutely clean hands and unsul-
lied honor.
He has been an active member of the
senate committee on interoceanic canals.
| and of course his position on this com
mittee has enabled him to increase his
| knowledge. along this particular line. so
that now there probably is no better
posted man on the subject of canals IN
/ the tnlttu SldteS tidii OcllAlOI 1ldi -.
In addition to the knowledge acquired in
| the senate while serving on this commit
tee, Senator Harris is an engineer Of abil-
| ity. He was for many years an engineer
| connected with the Union Pacific rail
road This was from 1865 to 1868. Since
that time he has been almost constantly
engaged in farming and stock raising,
until elected to the Fifty-third congress
in 1898 He was reaonlinated to the Fifty
fourth congress. but was defeated at the
election. He was elected to the state sen