The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-28
First Visit to Kansas for Nearly
Il Year.
Says That He Is Feeling First
Rate.
N THE STATE A WEEK.
He Will Then Return to Work
in Washington.
Reticent About His Kansas Sem
atOriaI Boom.

Joseph l. Bristow, fourth assistant
postmaster general, reached Topeka this
afternoon from Washington. 1t is his
first visit to Kansas for almost year.
He was last here just before the sena-
torial election last January. A few
weeks after his return to Washington
after that trip he was detailed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to Investigate the post
office department, and since then he has
been out of Washington only for day
or two during the summer when he
went to Oyster Bay to consult the presi-
dent.
I'm feeling first rate, thank you." he
said in response to question from
reporter who met him in the Copeland
lobby soon after his arrival.
And he looked that way, too. AL
though he has been hard at work upon
his Investigation and his subsequent
report, which was recently given to
the public, he seems to be in better
health than when he was in Kansas a
year ago
I just came out to Kansas to see
how my earthly possessions are get
ting along" said this Kansas man who
during the past year has won the ap-
plause of the nation by his work in
unearthing official dishonesty.
4 haven't had a chance to get out
here for quite awhile" he continued
with a laugh. You see, I've been
little busy"
How long will you be out here" he
was asked.
"A week or ten days. I'll have to get
back to Washington before long. I am
now on my way out to Salina. Guess
III go out there tomorrow or next day,
and then want 10 go down to Ottawa
for a few days, too
Salina is Mr.. Bristow's old home. 1t
was there that he first attracted atten-
ton in Kansas, as editor of the Salina
Republican. His work on that paper
brought him to the front in Kansas
politics. When Morrill, was elected gov
ernor he asked Mr.. Bristow to become
secretary of the Republican state cen
trail committee, and afterwards asked
him to be his private secretary. His
work in organizing Kansas Republi-
cans for Mckinley in 1885 attracted
the attention of Mckinley, who ap-
pointed him to his present position.
Although he disposed of his Salina
property when he became secretary tC
! Governor Morrill,, during the past year
| he with H. J. Allen, has purchased II
| back and this IS tie first time he has
| been to Kansas since. That is why he
/ is on his way to Salina to look 1t over
| The two also own the Ottawa Herald
Mr. BristOw refused to talk about his
/ investigation further than what ht
! said nhis official report. There are, OF
/ course. many men high IN 1n1uentla
places who would like to get a chance
4 to discredit him, and any utterance he
might give forth would be seized upor
with avidity if it could be in any way
! misconstrued. He has persistently re
fused to be drawn into any controver
sizes concerning his report with those
whom his investigation showed to b'
| mixed up in official crookedness. anC
| whenever he is asked to say anything
for publication concerning the matte
he simply refers to his official report.
you know, of course, that there is {
senatorial boom well under way fol
you out here in Kansas" said the re
porter.
so I understand" he said. But
win be perfectly frank with you.
have no political plans for the future
whatever. 1 have been busy with my
work for several months and have no
had time to make any plans along pc
litical lines"
Mr.. Bristow does not know whethe
he will return to Topeka again befor
he goes back to Washington or not
If he has time after his visit to Salin
, and Ottawa he will probably come t
Topeka again, but otherwise he will g
, at once to Washington.
He spent the afternoon with his bust
ness partner, H. ]. Allen of Ottawa
going over business matters.