The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-20
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Speculation About Federal
Judge at It's Height.
Evident That congressman
Would Avoid fractional Fight.
NOT ALL OUTSPOKEN.
Mr. Scott Is Openly for Justice
Johnston.
Curtis known to Be for j. q.
SIOnecker.

The fact that the Kansas congress
sional delegation proposes to hold a
meeting next Wednesday to discuss the
United States judgeship indicates that
the congressman would like to avoid
/ long fight which might develop faction
al bitterness and perhaps drag along
for months.
It is practically certain that Judge
Hook Will not resign from the district
bench to accept his promotion to the
circuit court until he is confirmed by
i the senate, which cannot be until next
November when congress will prob
/ ably meet in extra session. There will
therefore be no vacancy on the dis
trict bench before that time, and Presi-
4 dent Roosevelt will, of course, make no
appointment for a place which is not
! yet vacant Yet in the face of this, the
Kansas congressman are to hold a con-
/ ference to discuss candidates for a
place which will not be vacant for
months.
It is therefore plainly evident that
the congressional delegation is anxious
to have the judgeship matter settled as
early as possible and without arousing
bitterness beween the different factions
It is also evident that they are anxious
to agree on some one candidate if it is
possible to do so. because none of them
are expressing themselves to any great
degree.
Congressmer Curtis. Calderhead and
Scott are the only ones who can be
placed with any degree Of certainty. 1t
is presumed that Mr.. Curtis will be
for j. G. SlOnecker, inaSmuch as Sion
ecker is his manager. Some people
think that Slonecker's candidacy is for
Rc of -at
cuse to keep from lining up for one of
the other candidates a t present, but
Sloneclxer's friends insist that he is in
the race to win.
Congressman Scott has given num-
Der of people to understand that his
preference Of the candidates is Chief
Justice Johnston, and he comes nearer
being outspOksn with reference to his
position than any of the congressman.
Congressman Calderhead is also sup
posed to be for Johnston. inasmuch as
Johnston is from the Fifth congression-
al district and the two have always
been very friendly
{ For a similar reason Congressman
Campbell viii probably be for Justice
4 Pollock, although they are from opposite
ENDS of the Third congressional district
This is about as far as prophecies can
+ be made with any degree of certainty,
although Senator Long is supposed to
4 be for Johnston
Mr. Long. however, has given no in
/ timation of his intentions. Instead he
/ has been getting the view of other peO-
pie The same is also true of Senator
j Burton Mr. Burton insists that he has
made no recommendation and has not
+ yet made up his mind whom he VIII en-
dOrse but first proposes to find out
whom the people want and will then
/ endorse that candidate He says that
while he and Chief Justice Johnston
4 have not always worked together in poll
i itics heretofore. that fact will make no
4 in, 1,p MT
i that he Will hold no prejudice against
+ Johnston. Burton and Long had
/ lengthy conference in Topeka this week.
but both steadfastly refused to talk
about what passed between them.
The other four congressman are also
on the doubtful list-in fact, they are
extremely doubtful They are Bower
sock, Miller Reeder and Murdock- Con-
/ gressman Reeder was in Topeka last
night and he intimated that he should
take no very active part in the judicial
contest He said he does not propose
to return to Topeka to the conference
next week, and he thinks a judge can
+ be made without his help.
Judging from expressions from over
/ the state Chief Justice Johnston seems
to be the popular candidate The people
! generally a re better acquainted with his
work than with that OF the other candi-
dates During his 20 years on the su-
preme bench he has gained a reputation
/ for judicial knowledge and integrity
which makes him the leading candidate
4 with the people in the present contest
It is probable that Johnston has more
of the bar of the state for him than any
of the other candidates although each
of the others has a strong following
I among the lawyers, and indeed per-
sonal following IS we'll Justice Pol
/ lock is a good organizer and an astute
politician and this will be of good SER
vice to him in this contest. Charles
/ Blood Smith has a stronger array of
4
/ try for him than any other candidate,
I but this does not necessarily count in a
contest in which Kansas alone is con-
cerned although it may have weight if
the president is compelled to make
personal choice from the list of candi-
dates.
n H Loomis is placed in a peculiar
position. which is somewhat embar-
RAISING. 1t is generally understood that
Charles Blood Smith IS the railroad
corporation candidate. yet Mr.. Loomis,
himself a railroad attorney, has strong
following for the appointment from
people who are generally opposed to rail
roads in politics, and although he is not
a candidate for the place. The report of
the I4oonis boom reached the ears of the
Union Pacific people in the east some
time ago and it is said that MI LoOmis
has received positive orders not to be-
come a candidate for the place because
the Union Pacific wishes to keep him as
its attorney This is what makes it
embarrassing Tor MIN, because he runs
the risk of offending some very good
friends of his if he insists on their
ceasing to boom him. He has given it
out fatty that he is not a candidate,
but he evidently dislikes going to the
extreme of shaping his friends in the
face by making any stronger statement.
1t is a well known fact that President
Roosevelt seemed much taken with Mr..
LOOMS on his trip through Kansas. and
thereby hangs a tale. It was noticeable
that the president paid considerable at
tention to Loomis at the dinner given
h. fs.a,-arrac.r I2ailn1- md t.s-ica or, the