The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-04
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Is the Old Soldier in Politics
Passing?
Recent Acts Indicate That Such
Is the Case.
ONLY FEW IN OFFICE.
Those in Elective Positions at
State House Are Rare.
Several Have Recently Been
Turned Down.
POstOffiee SquabbIe in Sixth
District B0bs Up.
ONLY FEW IN OFFICE

District Bobs Up.
Has the influence of the old soldier in
politics passed away?
For 80 years he has been a potent
factor in the dominant political party,
especially in Kansas. He has had the
right of way. The public said that
nothing was too good for him. One of
the prime requisites for candidate fo"
any high office was that he should have
faced the bullets under his country's
flag in the war for the preservation of
the Union.
But the events of the past few months
seem to indicate that this condition of
affairs has passed away Old soldiers
have been turned down repeatedly. Only
a few weeks ago an old soldier who had
been deputy internal revenue collec-
tor was turned out of office at the re-
quest of Senator Burton and his place
given to a Democrat. Congressman
Reeder has turned down the old soldier
postmaster at Cawker City and ap-
points a young man to succeed him.
Senator Barton and several members
of the Kansas delegation in congress
turned down an old soldier for the
place which the veterans have always
regarded as peculiarly their own and
appointed a young man in his place.
AT the coming Kansas Day banquet
there viii be a rush of candidates but
they viii nearly all be young men. The
success of Colonel Metcalf and others
has inspired the younger generation of
Kansas Republicans to go after"
things.
The Republican United States sena-
tor from Kansas is not an old soldier.
1t is doubtful if an old soldier ever
again occupies the White House. Go
through the state house and you will
find none of the state officers there old
soldiers. The only ones to be found in
the state house are in minor positions
except some of the judges of the su-
preme court, and one of them is a Pop
uIist
All of these things would indicate
that the old soldier has lost much of his
prestige in the Republican party. The
Arkansas City Traveller in commenting
on this situation says:
"A letter received from Topeka fur
nishes food for reflection. 1t says of
the score or more candidates spoken
of for state offices next year there is
only one veteran soldier in the lot and
he will probably be defeated in the con-
Vention, and then the question is ask
ed: Can not Cowley county present the
name of worthy veteran for state
oftice?'
At the Republican state convention
three years ago Cowley county present
ed veteran soldier, in the person of
John s Wilkin for state treasurer. but
he was defeated in the convention by a
young man, worthy and competent. it
is true.
The old soldier is passing-in poll
tics True, there are scores and hun
dreds of them in Cowley county who
labor and earn their living. but the old
story is repeated again and again that
he is too old to hold office
Judge James McDerrnott and Colonel
s E Fink are actively engage in the
practice of law. John s. Wilkin devotes
full time to the stock business and J.
D. Guthrie labors on the farm. All of
these men, and more are vigorous in
mind and body, but there is doubt as 30
their willingness to enter a campaign
where it is necessary to batter down
the growing prejudice against the old
veterans.
If either of the men named should
offer themselves for office, no power
could prevent the county from sending
a solid delegation for him, but what
could be expected of the convention as a
whole.
"Cowley county has the material to
strengthen d state ticket, but before it
is submitted there should be some as
surance that the material will be used
for the structure. instead . of being
thrown into a pile of refuse
E. w. Wellington has been making
MS campaign against Congressman
Reeder on the SuppOSition that he will
have the distribution of postoffice an
pointments Immediately after the con
gresSional convention if he gets the
nomination. Some of the present post
masters and also the aspirants believe
their sails accordingly. There are a
large number of postmasters whose
terms will expire the coming summer
and the belief that Mr.. Wellington may
have the naming of their successors II
he wins his fight puts them in a pre-
dicament, for they do not know whether
10 support Wellington or Reeder.
Thus far Mr.. Reeder has appointed |
only three postmasters in the more i'm |
portant offices-Smith Center, Phillips
burg and Cawker City There are p
county seats in the Sixth district be- |
sides a number of important towns |
which are not county seats. The county |
seat postmaster frequently has consid- |
cradle influence in congressional mat |
1ers in his county. so that the postofsice !
question is an important matter TO. con-
gressional aspirants.
The present poStmasterS most of |
them, owe no allegiance TO Mr.. Reeder |
unless they choose to give it Most of |
them We're named either by Judge Ellis
who was the Republican candidate for |
congress in the Sixth district imme- |
oiately prior to their appointment or /
by Senator Baker. Mr. Reeder is now |
poinIments.
A short time ago Wellington an |
nouncea TO a Reeder supporter that ne /
would have the distribution of the post
1he Reeder man disputed it. He said /
Mr. Reeder would name all the post
masters during the next year or more
even II Wellington should get the nom- |
nation Wellington was positive and so /
was the other man. They finally agreed /
TO refer 1t to Congressman Curtis when /
the latter should come home on his /
Christmas vacation. Mr. Curtis did not
come, however, 50 the question was put /
TO Congressnan Calderhead when ne /
was in Topeka the first of this week. |