The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-19
READING NOT SATISFIED.
Postoffice Appointment Is Creating
Trouble.
Reading, Kan. Feb 16. 1902.

Reading, Kan, Feb. 16, 1902.
To the Editor of the State Journal
In the Topeka Capitals issue of jan
uary %, we notice the following article
which we quote in full:
Among the many politicians around
Copeland county during these exciting
days, DIR. d. S. Fisher, of Reading, is an
interesting fiugre.
DIR. Fisher is the postmaster in his
town, having won out after an interest
ing contest and is one of the most sue
cessful men in politics in Lyon county.
AS Republican central committeeman
for his township, DIR. Fisher gained his
township for the Republican ticket four
years in succession. a thing which has
not been done before for years If there
is ever any work to be done for the Re
publican ticket in Lyon county or else
where, Fisher is alwayssure to be next
He does not always get his man nomi-
mated at the primaries but when the
election comes around he is found
working hard for the success of the
ticket. He can always find time from
his large medical practice to do some
work for the Republican ticket
The above article makes very interest
ing reading to the Republicans of Lyon
county and especially of Reading town.
ship Interesting because it sounds so
like fiction of which It is largely made
up We do not know who authorized the
statements in the above article burt 1t
has the ring of the man himself. How
ever as to the facts in the case, DR..
Fisher was elected township committee
man in the fall of 1898 and it is general
ly understood here that he broke the tie
between himself and William Cowden,
another delegate, by voting for himself
thus winning for him the place. There
was little or no opposition to nominees
Of the Republican party in the election
of '9e, which so elated the township
committeeman that he announced he
had the Republican vote of Reading
township in his vest pocket
After StanleY'S election in 1888 he went
to Topeka and announced himself
candidate for position as physician III
institution that required a physician.
Any old place" as the Capital then put
il, but when the pie was all cut and
given out there were not enough pieces
to go around and DR.. Fisher was among
those who were obliged to ''go way back
and sit down" -
However, he still held the position of
township committeeman and marshall
ed his forces and fixed the slate for city
election but it was broken and another
set of candidates put up. Failure did
not dampen his powder and he entered
a fight on the election of school officers
fatefuI day arrived. candidates were
placed in nomination, ballots taken,
votes counted. The other fellows got
'em nearly all But all this was good
training for the doctor in the campaign
of 1899 in which he landed just half of
the three Republican candidates. S. c.
Johns, Republican, was elected trustee;
Brewer, Republican, candidate for
treasurer, was tied and won on the toss
of dollar; AgreliuS, Republican, can
didate for clerk, was defeated. In 1900
the Reading township committeeman was
in his element. Conventions and deals
innumerable. So much so that he was
known among the school children here
as the president of politics"
Whether he failed to get his men NOM
mated at primaries in 1900 we do not
lyr1nx hI1f % allowed 1ndRR
would say no: as in counting the bal
lots in the Mason Keen contest in Ly-
on county the ballot cast by the Repub-
lican central committeeman of Reading
precinct was found to be signed by him
self and though it was thrown out it
showed inst how hard DR.. Fisher work
ed for the success of the ticket He did
not vote for Republican candidate for
clerk O. G. Agrelius, nor the Republi
can candidate for treasurer, Z. T.. Brow
er. Another defeated candidate of 1900
was S. c. Johns, then running for COM
missioner of this district whose friends
cause of his affinity to DIR. Fisher.
As early as 1897, DIR. Fisher began to
train his political guns on the Reading
postoffice-fOr one of his friendS-and i'll
the campaign of 1900 this was the price
put upon his support to the candidate
that Immediately following the election
would be in position to help him IL
elected-the next day he got a petition
TOT have himself appointed postmaster
instead Of his friend, and circulated the
same among the people and secured
signers, even though they did not, never
had, nor ever expect to get their mail
from the Reading pOStoffice. The other
applicant had 20 per cent OF the business
men of Reading and large majority
of the Republican voters OF the town
ship, also a separate petition from the
women of the town praying for his APP
pointment and demonstrating against
DR.. Fishers. besides innumerable strong
endorsements from good men who as
citizens were intereStind, but these were
things of small moment compared with
the redemption of a political promise. It
was written on the slate whO should be
postmaster and DR.. Fisher finally got
the appointment. If such a condition
can be called IAN interesting hight
then that part o. the Capitals article Is
true.
career as township central committee
man of Reading township, we wish to
remark that in 1901, 1.-The fourth year
that he carried the Republican ticket in
Reading township" successfully CD he
and his henchmen got out and worked
hard to roll up a good big Republican
majority'-Quoting their own words =
lust to show Congressman Miller that
the people were satisfied with his APP
pointment for postmaster, but when the
votes were Tailed up it was found they
had elected just one road overseer, Pete
AIbertson, of the Fifth road district 1t
was the worst defeat the Republican
party of Reading township had suffer
ed since the Populist landslide of $780,
Continued defeat or something else of
which we do not know, caused the doc
tor to take a tumble to himself and he
concluded to close his political career by
resigning his position as township COM
mitteeman. He still, however enjoys
going away from home to big political
conclaves and there poses as the man
who killed the bear by telling of the
great things he has done here for the
s. H. STRATTON.