The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-25
Pringle Leaders Believe That
Barker Will Withdraw.
COLES THIRD TRIAL.
Auditor Has Twice Recommend
ed Reducing Pay Roll.
Not Welcome Christmas News
to the Politicians.

OfCA tuC SpSdhefSHlp OIL lKl0 mouse may
go to the point where it will include all
the other officers of the house down to
the last page-perhaps the last para
graph, as Mark Twain might say.
Some of the leaders on the Pringle
side believe that George j. Barker will
withdraw from the speakership race be-
fore the legislature meets. They say he
is too smart a politician to go up
against a game where he knows he will
lose, and they believe that if he becomes
convinced that he cannot win he win
withdraw and allow Pringle to be elect
ed by acclamation.
The Barker forces have not yet given
up. however. The final struggle is still
at least two weeks away, and while it
is admitted that Barker has not votes
enough to win at present, they hope to
get them. They now claim forty votes
for Barker. while it takes forty-eight
to nominate in the house caucus. The
Barker people are hoping that Senator
Burton may be able to line up the other
eight when he gets here.
If Barker stays in the race there win
probably be two preliminary caucuses-
one Barker caucus and the other
Pringle caucus. If this happens the
caucuses will probably go down the list
and select its candidates for each of the
Offices
This might lead to some queer compli-
cations. For instance. there are two
i candidates for chief clerk of the house,
4 L. ). StoVer of lola. and Charles Hall of
/ Russell. Slower belongs to the crowd
which is supporting Pringle, yet the
member from his county, John Francis,
is for Barker for speaker because two
/ years ago Barker made HIM chairman
of the ways and means committee and
also appointed him on the tax commits
sion. Hall on the other hand is said to
belong to the faction which is support
1 ing Barker, yet the majority of the
members from the Sixth district are for
Pr1ngle and they may take Hall up as
their candidate.
IF there should be only one candidate
for speaker the line up on the olher or
ficers might not be along the lines OF
Pringle-Barker fight.
Lieutenant Governor d. ]. Hanna has
engaged quarters for the winter at the
National There will also be about
twenty state senators there. So far only
four or five members of the house have
quarters at the National, but one of
them is B. P. Waggener. Fifteen SEN
ators have already been assigned rooms
at the National They are Allen Nor
Fitzpatrick, Morehouse, Peterson, Noftz-
ger, Sponable, Cubbison, Vincent, Por-
+ ter, Fulton and Carpenter.
It is now reported that c. w. Trickett.
of Wyandotte, is slated for Judge Vests
place as assistant attorney general.
Since Labor Commissioner Lee John
son announced himself a Roosevelt
Republican" some Republicans are intl-
mating that it is because he is fishing
for reapDointment by Governor Bailey
This might be a good guess if Mr.. Bailey
had the appointment of the labor COM
missioner, but he hasn't The labor com
missioner is the same as the secretary
of the State Society of Labor, and is
elected by the society.
The recommendations made by State
Auditor Cole in the matter of appro-
priations were not very welcome Christ
mas news to those who would suffer if
the recommendations were followed Mr.
Cole has made similar recommendations
to former legislatures, however. without
effect, and the result may be the same
this time.
Mr.. Cole was first auditor during Gov
ernor Morrills administration. and at
that time he recommended that some
of the state boards be abolished but
the succeeding legislature was Populis;.
and too many politicians wanted the
jobs to think Of cutting down the num-
Der. Again two years ago Mr.. Cole made
several recommendations similar to
those included in his report this year,
but again most of them were disregard
ed. This year Mr.. Cole made a careful
investiga ton of the needs of all [he
is more competent in such matters than
he.
Three boards would be cut out entire
ly if Mr.. Coles recommendations are
followed. At present each of the state
educational institutions has a board OF
regents of six members of its own. Is
in all. Mr.. Cole wants all of these com
: bined into one board of four members
The penitentiary and Hutchinson srefor-
! natory each have board of directors
Mr.. Cole wants these two combined into
| one. In addition he would cut off two
members of the state hoard of charities
and corrections and make the three re.
naming members spend all of their time
in looking after the state charitable in
stitutions. This would cut out 10 iohs
on these boards alone.
J. NJ. Nation, who will be assistant
state auditor under the new adninistra-
ton has rented the residence at 3O-
, Western avenue. but he will not move
his family to Topeka Immediately.
r A bet was made in Copeland count,
l few days ago that Pringle would bea-
Barker for speaker by vote of two Il
/ one.
I It is now announced that Senator !
: K CHDbison will vote for Bowersocl
Z Tor senator. It has been heretofore re.
2 ported that Cubbison is in a receptive
I attitude towards the senatorshio him
E self. That may still be true.
The Labor Champion of Topeka ha.
started a boom for John Mitchell fo
president to succeed Roosevelt
Temperatures of Large Cities.
Chicago. Dec. 25.-7 a. m. tempera
n lures: New York. "a; Boston, "a: Phila
5, delphia, "a: Washington, 30; Chicago, 6