The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-25
WILL KEEP OUT.
Kansas Congressman Not Anx-
iOus to Come Home.

Washington, Jan. 24-The fierce fac
tional fight which the HOch boomers
have precipitated in Kansas has hadits
effect upon the members Of the Kansas
delegation in congress, for whereas a
month ago, when the indications were
that there would be no fight, the entire
delegation with the exception of Sen
ator Long, confidently expected to at
tend the annual banquet of the Kansas
Day club, this week practically every
member suddenly discovered that the
state of the public business would not
admit of his absence, even for a few
days, and most of them decided to re-
main in Washington. Only Victor Muir
dock, president of the Kansas Day
club, and Representative Scott, have
definitely announced their intention of
going to Kansas. It was thE quickest
and most unanimous action that has
characterized the Kansas delegation
IN a long while
The fact is, no member of the dele
cation is looking for trouble, and
each thinks the best way to avoid it
IS to stay away from Kansas just at
this time. Most of them are assured of
e. denomination, and they have no wish
10 jeOpardize their political fortunes
by getting into the thick of a bitter
fractional fight At this safe distance
they can view the political pyrOtech-
MICS in Kansas with some degree of
complacency but if they were on the
=
different. The delegation has been
watching the contest with the most
acute concern, and its members doubt
less have been able to arrive at some
very interesting conclusions, but they
have also been very careful to conceal
them Not one of them can magine
any combination of circumstances
which would provoke him to an inter
view ON the subject of the present fac
Ational row in Kansas.
The vote on the Hepburn amendment
to the civil service appropriation bill
this week showed the line up of the
members of the Kansas delegation on
this interesting question. The Hepburn
amendment proposed to strike out the
provision for salaries for the commits
sion, and in committee of the whole, he
amendment was adopted with a. whoOp.
There is no means of knowing just how
the Kansas members voted in the COM
nittee, but later when the bill came up
Tor final passage, and the amendment
was defeated on a roll call, the position
of the Sunfower statesmen was made
clear. The vote developed the fact that
Representatives Murdoch Campbell and
Calderhead are against civil service,
each recording his vote in favor of the
adoption of the Hepburn amendment.
Representatives Curtis, Miller, Scott and
Reeder voted against the amendment,
or for civil service REPRESENTATIVE
the entire proposition, by failing to vote
at all.
Milton Brown, the Topeka attorney
who spent several days in Washington
last week, brought with him to the cap
ttal definite news of new railroad which
he is promoting for the short grass couu-
try He says the road is practically
financed and that it will be built within a
year. The road as planned will start at
Iuka, in Pratt county and terminate at
Scott, in Scott county, traversing Ed
wards and Hodgeman counties. 1t is
claimed that it will open up rich and
prosperous part of the short grass coun-
try and create a short haul for the cat
tie and grain men to and from the larger
cities Of south central Kansas. The pro-
posed line will be one hundred and fifty
miles long and Mr.. Brown says it will be