The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25

essentially Populist district. There were
few Democrats, outside OF Tully Scott Of
| Oberlin and Jim Fike of Colby In 1880.
| 1892 and 1894 William Baker Of Lincoln
had been elected TO Congress. defeating
| Webb McNall in 1890; State Senator Harry
Pestana of Russell in 1892, and Judge Abe
Ellis Of Beloit in 1894. In 1896 Baker de-
clined a denomination. and n. B. Nc
Cornick Of Phillipsburg was nominated
The Republicans had about despaired OF
eleeting a candidate.
one day early in 1898 old Major Drumhil-
Ter Of the little town of Logan approached
Reeder and asked him if he had ever
though: how desperate Republican
chances were getting in the district Rec
der replied he had. Well said Major
Drumhiller; Il haven't given up in all
these years. believe we can elect If We
have good candidate"
| Reeder inquired if he had thought Of
any particular candidate. The major re-
piled he had. and when asked who. said:
You're the man, Reeder."
| Reeder laughed at the idea, but it
took" for the next morning he drove
past the major and asked him TO get in
| behind a spanking team he was driving
and go TO Phnlipsburg, the county seat
| twenty miles away, and see what the
boys" thought of the idea. Well. TWEEN
tv-four hours later Reeder was announced
| for Congress. and went before the con-
vention. some weeks later, winning after
/ a hard contest. Reeder couldn't make
much of a speech, but he campaigned the
district so thoroughly that he was elected
( bv substantial plurality. In 1900 he had
another fight for the nomination and
again won. and later at the polls. This
year. in the three-cornered contest, Ed
wellington Of Russell and State Senator
/ HAYS B. White Of Beloit set our TO do up
the representative but he beat them both
at Norton a month ago in the stubbornest
+ sort of fight
! Reeder rewarded his old friend Major
DrumhiIler, who originally brought him
out for congress. by giving him the Lo-
gan postoffice. A year ago Drumhlller
was here seeing the sights about inaug-
uration time and Reeder started home
with him. Between here and Baltimore,
as the train turned a curve, the major,
who was going from one car TO another,
was thrown off and died in few hours.
Representative Reeder is bending all
his energies these days toward irrigation
LEGISLATION, in which he is very much in
terested He has made it a special study
and is one Of the foremost advocates Of
that subject in the house.
The house committee on invalid pen
sions has favorably recommended the
passage of Representative CaIderhead's
bill TO raise the maximum limit under
what is known as the pension act of 1900
from sl2 per month TO $50 per month,in
certain cases.
The bill provides that where a pensioner
under the above act is now receiving $l2
and is totally disabled from the perform
ance OF manual labor, and requires the
periodical aid and attendance of another
person. such showing shall entite him to
$50 per month
The act OF 1880 was passed in the year
indicated, E. N Morrill,, for eight years
representative from the First Kansas
district and later governor of Kansas. be-
ing chairman of the committee on in
valid pensions. 1t provided that old SOL
diers who could not make the required
proof to grant them larger pensions I'M
der the old law should. upon showing
present disability, irrespective of whether
the disability was of service origin, re-
ceive from Sc to So per month pension.
In the last congress Judge Calderhead
introduced his bill TO raise the maximum
limit to $50. and introduced it in this con-
gress. Now that he has succeeded in Sc
curing the report he believes it will pass
4 frs,r Mt
Calderhead's bill was added 10 the SEN
ate bill providing for increased rates 10
manned soldiers, a favorable report being
made to the house on both bills.
The new commissioner Of pensions, Mr.
Ware of Kansas. has taken charge of his
office and is displaying an aptitude for it
that is winning him many compliments
The other day Mr.. Ware walked over TO
the department OF the interior and asked
Judge Campbell. the assistant secretary
who has charge Of pension appeals. to let
him see a typical case, a tough case that
would be in point and which had its
difficult phases. The assistant secretary
had one brought in that he thought
would be a staggerer. Ware looked at it,
asked a question or two and grasped the
thing so well as to win at once the most
generous praise and delight of Judge
Campbell. he hasn't got through telling
OF it yet.
The fact that Mr.. Ware is not only
lawyer. but a mighty good one. helped
him in this particular case. and it will
help him all the way through. \ commits
sioner Of pensions not only has to admin
ister the affairs Of his bureau, almost as
important as "A department. which alone
REQUIRES rare executive ability to succeed.
but his position is judicial. ard It takes
legal knowledge and training to give the
results which should follow. Mr.. Ware
possesses al the requisite points. and he
viii make commissioner who will sue
coed.
The Kansas contingent was very small
this week. Every Republican representa-
tive and Senator Burton went 10 Wichita
70 the state convention. and there was
scarcity Of Kansas visitors on that &C
count.
A party Of Kansans spent last Satur-
fsv az the naval academy at Annapolis,
MARYLAND. It included: Representative
and Mrs Chester 7. Long; Representative
and Mrs. Charles r Scott. Miss Edith
NcNair Of Halst1ad. and Miss Leila Pur-
due OF Wichita, who are students al Ma
tional Park Seminary near Washington.
adm A A Richards Of Wellington The
marty was shown around by Cadet car
enoe A. Richards Of Wellington. who VII
shortly leave for his annual cruise
REPRESENTATIVE Reeaer has been aocus-