The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-21
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Will Jndgeship Fight Cause a
New Alignment.
Burton and Leland Factions
Very Much Mixed.
CONTEST is BITTER.
Both Johnston and Pollock Have
Been Leland Men.
Senator Longs Forces Are Also
Badly Divided.

viii the federal judgeship cause a
new alignment of political forces in
Kansas?
This is the question that some of the
politicians are thinking about now, and
there is every indication that it can be
answered in the affirmative. Many
strong influences in former political con-
tests in the Republican party are now
working along entirely different lines
from what they have ever done before,
and the judgeship fight has become 80
bitter that it is not at all improbable
that this new alignment may become
permanent.
Heretofore the line in nearly every po-
htical contest for several years has been
drawn along the line of the Leland ana
Burton differences. Three years ago the
Burton faction won a victory that seat
j. r. Burton to the United states sen
ate. Lined up behind him in hghtlng
Leland were Congressman Curtis, M a.
Low and many other strong influences
Now they are all apart. Curtis and Le-
land have been the bittereSt kind OF en-
emies for several years, and stlu are.
but some of these who have been with
Curtis are with Leland in the Judgeshlp
fight, while some of Leland's friends are
giving aid and sympathy to Curtis IN
the present congressional tight III the
First district.
The iudeeship contest in Washington
has become so personal and so bitter
IN its characte that former good
friends are now likely to be bitter en-
emies. A week ago it was confidently
predicted that Senator Long was as
iikely to be for Chief Justice Johnston
as for Justice Pollock, and it was eX-
pected that those who were known 10
lean towards Pollock would line up for
Johnston If it became evident that
Pollock could not win. Now some OF
the politicians say that Pollocks
strength is likely to go to anybody but
Johnston, and that Pollock himself is
liable to make a fight on Johnstons
appointment
The reason for this is that those who
have been making the fight on Pollock
are known to be more favorable to
Johnston than to any of the other
candidates. This may not be john
ston's fault and probably is not, but it
can be readily seen how it would work
against him with Pollock's friends. If
they should allow Johnston to be ap-
pointed it would look like too much of
a personal victory for PollOcks enc
mics, although it is undoubtedly true
that the chief justice is the choice of a
majority OF the bar of Kansas and is
the popular candidate with the people
of the state generally, although not in
some localities where other candidates
are better known.
1t is reported from Washington that
Johnston is the only one of the candi-
dates who has refused to give Pollock
Il letter certifying to his good character,
and this, of course, has greatly Widened
the breach between them. 1t has also
decreased the proba bility that PolIock's
friends will go to Johnston. On the con-
trary they will argue that Johnston has
hand in the personal fight on Pol
lock. This would not necessarily be
true. Johnston may believe the charges
against Pollock. and if 50 he is not the
man to stultify himself by certifying to
Pollocks good character, even if he dis
approved the fight on him.
About the only man who is coming out
of the iudgeship fight free from new
fractional alliances is H. LOOMS.
Loomis worked hard for Long last win
ter, but at the same time he has main
tanned friendly relations with Curtis,
Burton and Mulvane. It seems to be a
faculty that Loomis has 1t is probably
because he does scarcely anything Sc
cretly, but tells every body his position
and makes an open fight for whatever
he wants.
Both Johnston and Pollock have been
friends of Leland in his political fights,
but it seems extremely probable that
the judgeship fight will separate them.
Leland is making a fight for Pollock,
and when he fights he fights hard.
There is no halfway business about it.
But if Leland loses some of the Johns
ton supporters, he has also made new
friends. NJ. A. Low, who controls the
Rock Island influence has Joined with
Leland in fighting for Pollock. 1t is a
we'll known fact that the railroad in
1uences are against Johnston, though
it is difficult to point out any special
reason for their antagonism. Mr.. Low,
for some reason. did not see fit to en-
dorse Mr. Loomis, and his choice fell
upon Justice Pollock. Heretofore MI.
Low has always been the close friend
of Congressman Curtis, and this join
ing of forces with Leland, between
whom and Curtis there is a bitter feud,
causes considerable comment.
Senator Burton's forces, too. are con-
siderably chopped to pieces. There
seems to be every indication that Sen
ator Burton and Mr.. Curtis will be
rivals in the senatorial race three years
hence, so playing for position even now.
They have thus far been apart in the
Judgeship fight, but not radically so
and there is a prospect that they will
get together. Burton is for Smith,
while Curtis has been supporting j. G.
Slonecker, but says Smith is his second
choice. M. A. Low has heretofore been
with Burton, but they are now apart
and Low is with Burton's old-time en-
envy, Cyrus Leland. Even Senator Bur
tons personal appointees are not with
him. W. H. Mackey who has been one
of his closest political lieutenants ever
since Mackey became United States
marshal, is now supporting N. H
Loomis and has been from the begin
ming of the judgeship contest. On the
other hand, J. S. Dean, whom Senator
Burton appointed United States district
attorney. is working hard for Pollock
1t is reported here that Mr. Dean had
promised his support to Smith along
with Senator Burton, but Burton does
not seem to control Dean. The real
force back of Dean is NJ A Low. In
fact, Mr.. Low is said to be the man
who really named Dean. After B. II
Tracy was turned down for United
States district attorney by President
Roosevelt, and il developed upon Sen
ator Burton to pick out new mar
against whom there were no charges
the chances were about even with him
for Dean and S. J. Osborn of Salina
Mr.. Low decided the matter by insist
ing upon the appointment of Dean
Therefore, MI Dean is now with Low
in the judgeship fight. and he is doing
all be can to bring Senator Burton tbs