Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-03-08

ments to Arthur Capper's newspaper
genius
The Mail and Breeze kept Capper
busy eight years. At the end of that
time he began to have occasional
touches of ennuidue, doubtless, to the
fact that he was working less than
eighteen hours a day. The Topeka
Capital had fallen into bad repute
with the bankers. A succession OF
unpleasant episodes had crippled its
financial standing. The men who
held the mortgage were trying to I'M
load. and the Republicans of Kansas
were demanding party paper, the
sponsors Of which should be known
among men. In the last days of Feb
ruary, 1901, the deal was contaminated
by which a new company of which
Arthur Capper is president, became
the owners of the paper. H. T.
Chase, w. B. Robey. and r. L. Thorn
as, who had been employed on the
Capital a number of years, are asso-
ciated with him. CappeT's interest
represents a majority of the stock
and he became managing editor of the
paper. When the new owners took
charge the Capital was losing $500
month. In three months it was pay
ing it's way and it has never been so
good paper as it is today. Capper is
unquestionably the most successful
and best all-round newspaper man in
Kansas today. He is proprietor of
the Missouri Valley Farmer. an agri-
cultural publication having a circula-
tion of 1O0, 900, and is the owner of the
only engraving plant in the state
Politically Capper has figured ever
since he attained his majority as the
man who was either irving to help
the Republican party or a friend. He
went out with the wrecking crewsent
to get the Republican party back on
the track after tile disastrous collision
with Populism in 1892. He assisted
in gathering up the fragments and
has done much to keep the track
smooth since. He was elected Secre-
tary of the Kansas Republican league
in 1890, and was the youngest man
year he organized more Republican
clubs than were started in any one
year in the history OF that organiza-
tion. There was no money in the
League treasury to do the work, and
Capper paid out of his own pocket all
of the money necessary to carry it on.
He was one of the active promoters of
the Kansas Day club, and was present
at its birth subsequently he served
five years as its secretary and one year
as its president. He has always been
one of the leading spirits in the Or
ganization.
He was for eight years member of
the Shawnee County Republican Gen.
trail committee End served one year as
its chairman. Four years ago he was
elected chairman of the First District
Congressional committee at the re-
quest of Congressman Curtis, and he
has since that time had charge of Mr..
Curtis campaigns. The First district
has never seen his superior as tire
less political worker, nor questioned
the soundness of his Judgment as to
things political.
Capper will ask the next legislature
to elect him State Printer. He was a
candidate four years ago and came
within three votes of securing the
place. He was beaten by an unfair
combination after the position was
practically within his grasp and by
methods which he declined to use in
his own behalf. But he never whim-
pered. The day after he was beaten
he was none the less loyal Republic
can than when he looked to be 100
to shot in the fight. He got right
back into the game and whooped it
up for every man whom the Republi-
can party saw dit to nominate for OFF,
cial position. The untiring energy
and the answering loyalty he has
given to the Republican party in Kan
sas in its darkest hours should alone
entitle him to the Office without ques
tion. The fact that he has worked
unselfishly for his political friends
through all these years is additional
reason why he should be rewarded.
There is another thing the Repab-
lican voters of Kansas should not lose
sight of. Capper controls the greatest
forces for the good of the Republican
party in Kansas. He can do the party
more efficient service than any other
one man. The Mail and Breeze has