The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22
FORTY YEARS APART
Two Post Office Fights in the
Career of Dan Anthony.
VISIT TO WHITE HOUSE
This Time and During Abra-
ham LincoIn'S Administration.

Washington, June 21.-An old man, 70
years Of age. his shoulders slightly stoop-
ed. but his eye suH bright. came on from
Kansas a week ago and for several days
was ready to engage in the hardest kind
Of fight In fact, fighting has been his
chief pastime for a half century.
OF this old man from Kansas. TWO kan
sans commented. when they learned his
mission in Washington. one said:
1t IS almost pathetic; that man has
had more TO do with Kansas, Its history,
its politics, its development, than almost
any other one man. Now. after he has
fought al his life; now that he is nearly
60. this is probably his last fight"
The other Kansan merely said:
There is plenty Of fight left n that old
man; he is good for many another engage
ment after he gets through with this"
The old man who came to Washington
to fight was Colonel u. r. Anthony OF
Leavenworth. editor of the Times. he
came here in company with his son
Daniel r. Anthony. Jr. The story con-
cerned the Leavenworth postoffice. It was
about like this:
Young Anthony is closing up a four
year term as postmaster. He was reas-
onably certain Of another term. Both he
and his father were on the Leavenworth
delegation in the late Wichita convention.
LeavenWorth was instructed for Bailey
for governor. and was to advance his in
terests at every turn. The story goes that
Curtis demanded Of young Dan Anthony
and his father that they divide-the Leav-
enworth delegation on temporary chair
man Of the convention, or young Dan
would not get the postonice. The An
thongs said IN the interests Of Bailey they
could not make the division. The story
says Curtis threatened; the AnthOnys
stood firm and as a result, Frederick VIII
lard was recommended by the First dis
trict representative 10 be postmaster Of
Leavenworth.
The Anthonys came to washington.
They were taken to the White House BY
Representatives Chester 1. Long and
Charles f. Scott and by them introduced
70 the president. The president took TO the
old Leavenworth warrior at once, and he
also admired the younger Anthony with
his erect form. magnificent physique, and
manly straightforward manner be list
ened TO their story. The next day but
one. they called again. Representative
Scott, and this time. Mr.. Curtis was
along. The president talked things over
and the result was that the old man and
his son left for home early IN the week
convinced that the younger Anthony
would get a reappointment. The presi-
dent had taken q great liking to them,
end satisfactory arrangements finally had
been made with Curtis. after the latter
had talked it over with the president
While Colonel Anthony was in Wash
ington the local papers printed long and
interesting pieces about him. He was rec
ognIzed as one of the men who was prom
tnent in the west and who had made Kan
sas. lie was welcomed everywhere, and
the welcome at the White House was not
The least
Colonel Anthonys history is full Of in
terest. Fcrty-tive years ago he went 20
Ieavenworth and went to work on the old
Conservative In 1851. the day Kansas
was admitted into the union he started
his present paper. The Times. and has
printed and edited It uninterruptedly
since. This is a great record.
Il 1861. Just before the Lincoln admin
istration came in. the retiring delegate
from the Kansas Territory, Marcus J.
PARROT. and the incoming first represen-
tative. Martin F. Conway indOrsed Colo
nel Anthony to be postmaster Of Leaven-
worth. General James II. Lane one Of
the first United states senators from
Kansas. was opposed 70 Anthony The
Colonel came ON TO Washington, and
President Lincoln appointed him. While
Anthony was here. Sumter was fired on.
The Massachusetts, troops were mobbed in
baltimore. Communication by rail was
shut of. Washington became desperate
" alarmed There was much rumor that
the life OF President Lincoln was in dan
ger. A siege OF the capital was feared
The Easements of the treasury and capt.
tol building were hlled with meats and
provisions.
General Zane organized troop Of men
composed of politicians, members Of con-
gress. departmental clerks and transient
visitors to defend the president and the
White House. General Cassius n Clay
OF Kentucky did likewise. Colonel An
thonv Joined enc Of the troops, and the
rieht after Sumter was fred on. he and
his comrades slept in the famous blue
room Of the White House. Those were
troubious times. and the Leavcnworth
colonel. forty years younger than he IS
now. and yet with nearly decade Of
fights in Kansas In his past even at that
time was en- interested participant IN the
events which accompanied the breaking
or Of the wax between the states. Il
raay be wei imagined on his recent visit
that colonel Anthony eagerly sought cut
every little point % interest about the
White House and Washington. ard relat-
ed little incidents 10 those with him
Finally early IN 1851 Colonel Anthony
returned 20 Ieavenworth- lie went into
Kansas regiment and stayed through
out the war. re was Ia many good
nEht. as he had been before and has
ben since
10 so back 10 the day he started the
Times. on that day. January - 1851 the
news camc-to LeaveEworth 81 the birth
O. The state. Anthony got out his arSt
edition of the Times and carried IL on
horseback the thirty-three miles inter
vening between Leavenwcrth and Law
renee. where the last territorial legisla-
ture was in session. Bursting in on the
territorial council and later on the house.
n was first To announce the Elo-ous
news Of the entrance of Kansas into The
Union Of states. Then came forty-e-sht
hours OF jubHation, and shortly after fol-
lowing the election Of senators. and grad
ually the serious work O statehood be-
Ean
RetuTning'-to Leavenworth from law
renee. Colonel Anthony had q good deal
% DO with the celebration held in his