The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-11
Congressman Curtis Refuses TO
Interfere in Local Fight.
Telegraphs That He is Not In
the Scramble.
MIR. WEIGH is HAPPY.
Says 1t is Exactly What He
Said.
C. Il. Gault Attempts to EX-
plain IL Away.

r. B. WEIGH received a telegram from
Congressman Charles Curtis late Mon
day afternoon in response to a letter
written by Mr.. WEIGH on February 6
The telegram is as follows: Il intend
to keep out of the fight between Mr.
| Troutman and you in Shawnee county
4 Mr.. WEIGH said today that the tele-
| gram simply emphatically defined the
| position of Mr.. Curtis which he. Curtis
| had stated to him several times before
! 4 told Mr.. Curtis of my intention OF
| becoming q candidate for justice on the
| supreme BENCH said Mr.. WEIGH. u
| told Mr.. Curtis that if my candidacy
would in any way injure his interests
| that would not begin. He assured me
| that it would not affect him and SO l be-
| gan my candidacy"
| The telegram from Charles Curtis
| was shown to c. E. Gault who is manag-
| ing the Troutman campaign for Mr.
Mulvane, and he was asked to express
an opinion as to what effect it would
have on the local situation. He said:
1T indicates to my mind that Mr.. Cur
| tbs is willing to entrust his interests to
his friends in Shawnee county, feeling
that they being on the ground are bet
ter able to decide what would be for his
interest that he is.
TT has not been contended by the
| friends of Mr.. Curtis or the anti-Leland
element that Mr.. Curtis had any per-
sonal feeling as between the two candi-
dates in this county. But it has been
contended that any friend of Mr.. Curtis
who has his interests at heart in Shaw
nee county would realize that a Bailey
victory or anything which might be
construed into Bailey victory in Shaw
nee county, would be inimical to his in
terests.
1T has also seemed plain to many of
the friends of Mr.. Curtis in Shawnee
county, in fact to all of them who have
studied the situation, that the success
of Mr.. Troutman in this county was
necessary to prevent Mr. Bailey from
going into the state convention with a
large number of delegates instructed for
him who would otherwise be for Mr..
Troutman.
1T is conceded on all hands that the
success of. Mr.. Bailey and his friends in
the state convention would eliminate
Mr.. Curtis senatorial possibility
Mr.. Curtis telegram simply means that
he leaves it to his friends to decide
whether he shall be eliminated so far as
any action that they may take in the
local contest is concerned.
LAS to the effect which Mr.. Trout
mans nomination would have upon Mr..
Curtis interests, that is a question
which it is not yet necessary to SER
iously consider. But it would certainly
be conceded by everyone that Mr.. Cur
it's interests would be better subserved
if Mr.. Troutman were governor than if
Mr.. Bailey We're governor.
There seems to be difference OF
opinion as to the real purpose of D. w.
Mulvanes visit to Washington. 1t was
given out yesterday that he had gone
to consult with Congressman Curtis re-
garding the Welch contest,
but a dispatch from Washington this
morning says that he is there because
of the alleged illegality of the contracts
of himself and z. IT. Burton as Indian
attorneys. Mr. Gault is reticent as to
the purpose of Mr.. Mulvane's visit.
If Mr.. Mulvane went to Washington
for the purpose of seeing Mr.. Curtis
regarding the contest in Shawnee coun-
~ ha hn eif
turned down by Mr.. Curtis or he is not
supporting TrOutnan as vigorously in
Washington as he is at home. Some
politicians believe that Mr.. Curtis
would prefer that neither Bailey nor
Troutman win the gubernatorial nomi-
nation. If Bailey should win he would
throw the influence of the state patron
age against Curtis in the senatorial
contest, and if Troutman should win
it would injure Curtis because the legis-
lature would think that Topeka is not
entitled to both governor and United
States senator.
The reference to the Indian attorney
ship trouble in the morning dispatches
relates to the fact that the interior de-
ator Burton until few months ago,
and more recently his brother, z. T.
Burton, and Mr.. Mulvane have con-
tracts to act as attorneys for certain
Indian tribes at a salary of $1,000 Il
year, contrary to the direction of the
secretary of the interior, who refused to
approve the contracts and did not know
until recently that they had been made
over his disapproval. 1t is stated in
Washington that suits may be instf-
tuted to recover the amounts paid out
by the Indians on these contracts, and
it may be that this is what has called
Mr.. Mulvane to Washington, as well as
to consult with Congressman Curtis.
The Republican county central COM
mittee will meet Wednesday afternoon,
but it is not expected that a contest of
strength between Troutman and WEIGH
will be shown there, as both sides seem
to be in favor of the nominations hold
ing over and both wish an early pri-
mary. Mr.. TToutman'S boom has taken
form in Oakland by a Troutman club
being organized there last night.