The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-16

This was done two years ago. how
ever, by Mr.. Kelly and his friends. Mr.
Kelly made the plea that he was being
prosecuted because he is a Catholic.
He told the Catholics that religion was
at the bottom of the charges of dishon-
esty against him. Naturally many
Catno1lcs lined up for Kelly. His OPP
ponents made no effort to counterfeit
his secret work among the Catholics,
believing that the church ought not to
be brought into the fight.
There was, of course, no foundation
for the story circulated by Kely's
friends among the Catholics, and to
prove it this year it was deemed best
TO nominate a man against him who is
OF the same religious belief as Mr..
Kelly. Most of those who were suggest
ed for the fusion nomination for state
treasurer were Catholics.
Now the report is being circulated
that Mr.. Dolan, the fusion nominee, is
not a Catholic. Mr.. Dolan regrets that
the church should be drawn into the
matter but he is making a frank state
ment to all inquiries on the subject
inasmuch as Kelly and his friends are
attempting to make political capital
along that line.
4 am not as good a Catholic as
ought to be-" said Mr.. Dolan today,
but 1 was raised a Catholic by Catho-
lie parents, and when person is once
Catholic he is always one until he is ex-
communicated We have no Catholic
church in Clifton, but we have one out
few miles, and the priest of our par
ish will bear out my statements. At the
same time l do not wish to make a
campaign as being a member of any
church and will not do So l am liberal
in my views and / have many friends
in other churches from whom 1 expect
support"
Mr.. Dolan then said that he had set
forth his views in letter in answer to
an inquiry from J. S. Carpenter a Mi
ami county man on this matter. Mr..
Carpenters letter was as follows:
Louisburg, Kan, Aug. 7. 1904. I
Hon. L. M. Dolan, Clifton, Kan.
Dear Sir:-Since your nomination
for state treasurer quite a difference of
opinion has arisen in this community
as to your religious belief. The friends
of T. t. Kelly insist that you are a
Presbyterian, but I see that some of
the papers say that you are a Catholic,
so to satisfy my curiosity I will ask
you direct Very respectfully,
y. S. CARPENTER"
Mr.. Dolan's reply to this letter is as
follows:
Clifton, Kan, Aug. Is, 1904.
Hon. ]. S. Carpenter, Louisburg, Kan.
Dear Sir:-Your very kind favor of
recent date at hand. In reply, I do not
like to have religion brought into our
politics. However. it was introduced
friends. and not us. Personally L am
not hypocrite and presume 1 am not
as good Catholic as 1 ought to be. 1
mean by that I am not very practical.
Catholic; never a Presbyterian or any
other churchman, and never expect to
be.
II mail a paper to you today that gives
about the facts as they exist. 1 am, / be-
lieve, entitled to the votes of Democrats,
no matter what their church views are, or
am not worthy of any.
Il would not want to stay in a party
that is prejudiced to an Irish Catholic as
an officeholder, and no self-respecting
Catholic would (if any such party exists,
as Mr. Kelly would have Catholics be-
lieve) and for that reason above anything
else 1 am Democrat because of the lib
crafty of the old-time Democratic party.
Il hope Mr. Carpenter, this answer will
be satisfactory to you and your friends,
and thank you for the interest you have
taken in the matter. Democra tically
yours, T. NJ. DOLAN."
Mr.. Dolan is here today attending the
meeting of the fusion executive commit
tees and candidates.
Mr.. Dolan is a native of the state of
Ohio, but came to Kansas So years ago.
AS his name indicates, he is of Irish
parentage. He was twice elected sheriff
of Washington county, receiving !, 900 ma
jority when the county was normally 1500
Republican. His friends say he will re-
ceive the same kind of a vote in his home
county this year. He is now engaged in
the insurance and telephone business, and
was for several years vice president of |
the Clifton state bank.