The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-05
Rumor That Tom McNeal VIII
Be Hoch's Secretary.
Topeka Editor Says He Hasn't
Been Approached.
SCOTT is TIRED OF 1T.
Wants State Redistricted by the
Legislature.
Doesn't Matter Whose Toes Are
Tread Upon.

A rumor comes from Marion that
T. A McNeal, editor of the Mail and
Breeze, may be selected for secretary
to the governor by Governor-elect
Hoch, if he will take the place. Mr..
McNeal says the rumor is news to him
and that the place has not been Of
fered to him.
1t is by no means beyond the range
of possibilities that Mr.. Hoch is con-
sidering the Mail and Breeze editor,
however. 1t is known that Hoch
wanted McNeaI for chairman of the
state committee until Stubbs consent
ed to take the place. McNeal and
Hoch are warm friends. Then the
Mail and Breeze editor is a great
"jollier," which is one of the essentials
in a good private secretary.
81 don't know anything about such
a proposition" said Mr.. McNeal today
when asked about the rumor- "I
hadn't heard of it before and I can't
imagine how it got started
''The place hasn't been offered to
you then?"
mo, it has not
Charles F. Scott, congressman-at-
large, wants the coming legislature to
carry out the pledge of the Republican
state platform to redistrict the state
into eight congressional districts, no
matter whom it hurts. He says if he
happens to get left out in the shuttle
it is all right, although he would pre-
fer to remain in the deal of course.
Here is what Mr.. Scott wrote for his
own paper shortly before he left for
Washington a few days ago:
speaking for one congressman the
editor of this paper wishes to say that
he has consistently favored and urged
the redistricting of the state from the
beginning of his first term, and he ex-
poets and desires that the incoming
legislature will carry into effect the
pledge in the Republican platform. He
likes some of the proposed plans, of
course, better than others. But he
recognizes the difficulty of the task
which the legislature will have, and is
entirely willing to take his chances.
be squeezed out, why, it is nothing
worse than has happened to a great
many better men. That the Repub-
Hcan party should keep faith with the
people is vastly more important than
that any particular man should be
kept in congress-
George E. Cole might have had the
appointment of bank commissioner to
fill out the term of Morton Albaugh had
he desired it, but he thought the time
too short to pay, inasmuch as Governor
elect Hoch will probably give the place
Charles w. Barnes is mentioned for
superintendent of insurance in two
years. Mr.. Barnes looks after the Of
flee largely under Mr.. Luling's adminis-
tration, carrying out the detail work,
and he has made many friends among
Kansas people who have business with
the insurance department.
James NJ. Nation. assistant state aud
itor. is being urged by his friends to
run for state auditor in two years. He
is regarded as one of the most capable
men in the state house and would make
a strong candidate.
Judge Clark A. Smith has appointed
his son as his stenographer. Stenog-
raphers to the supreme court justices
receive $1,000 a year and the places are
regarded as especially desirable, as
there is comparatively little work in
connection with them, with three
months vacation each summer. State
Auditor Wells has recommended that
the salary be cut down to $500 year.
The presidential electors elected last
month will meet in Topeka on the sec
ond Tuesday in January and cast their
ballots for president and vice president.
This is the same day the legislature
meets. Three certificates of their vote
will be made out. One will be trans
mitted to the secretary of state at
Washington by mail. another will be
sent by special messenger, and the third
will be filed in the United States dis
trict court here. The special messenger
is selected by the electors from among
their number, and 1t is considered an
honor to be chosen for this duty, as 1t
gives the messenger a. chance to meet
the president, with whom he usually
dimes. The messenger also gets 35 cents
a mile mileage from the government
for the work. The electors also get
three dollars a day and fifteen cents
a mile mileage for coming to Topeka to
cast their ballots. The electors are:
John N. Johnson, Oskaloosa; AlpheuS
Lare, Paola; D. w. Pierce, Winfield; j.
r. Henderson, Alma; c. F. Little, Man
haitian; A. B. Peters, Mankato; George
H. Hunter, Wellington; John G. Crider.
Fort Scott; T. E. Upton. Emporia, and
4 20 City (ara