The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-03
4 BIC SHAKE Up,
E. L. Williams to Be Governors
Secretary.
Fred Knapp Secretary Board of
Control.
|COLEMAN'S PARTNER.
New Confidential Man Ia Also
Governors Friend.
Expected That Changes viii Be
+ Made Soon.

l. La w clay 16nC6Cs private
secretary to the governor.
John Smith, chief clerk to the COVER
nor.
Fred Knapp, secretary of the board
of control.
Edward Baker, assistant secretary of
the board of control
The foregoing important changes are
being negotiated in state offices Gov
ernoT Hoch will probably make their
formal and official announcement on
Friday upon his return from Dodge
City, where today he made an address
before the G.. A. r. reunion of the Sew
enth district
| The governor it is understood is fond
of Mr.. Williams, who is by the way
Attorney General Coleman's law part
ner, both as an advisor and as a per-
sonal friend. He has on several oc-
casions called in Mr. Williams for con-
ferences in the Kelly matter. The plan
to make Mr.. Knapp secretary of the
board of control has been in contempla-
ton for some time. John Smiths posi-
ton as private secretary was made
temporarily after Tom McNeal was
made state printer, and it has been
known for some time that the governor
was casting about for man to fill Nc
Neals place.
The work in the board of control
office is accommodating rapidly and no
secretary has been had at all since the
new law took effect. The place has
/ been offered to two other persons, but
| both refused to take it. All the time.
| however, the board has had it's eyes on
Knapp and on Wednesday night they
formally rendered him the place. 1t is
understood that the arrangement has
all been made with the governor. A
+ little d0l1hf Rf ms 9rppnf2nPa still
| however exists, and the board did not
formally appoint him this morning. An
arrangement will probably be perfected
however by tonight, at which time the
members will adjourn. The stumbling
block is due to the fact that Knapp is
now getting $500 per year as chief
/ clerk to the governor, while his new
place would probably give him about
81, 200. The last legislature only appro-
priated $1,000 per year for help in the
| board of control offices. The work is
too much for one man, so an assistant
secretary will have to be named This
| will be Edward Baker of this city who
is now employed in the Santa Fe offices.
The office also has stenogfa pher. So
| after division of the $1,000 is made
it will probably read this way: Knapp,
s., 200; Baker, $1,000; stenographer. 500.
The appropriations for this office were
considerably ''balled" up. No provision
was made at all for the lady members
| and it is understood that Mrs. w. E.
Stanley of Wichita and Mrs. J. M.
Lewis of Kinsley are both out consider
able expense money The legislature
| will probably have to make this up.
The sum of 81, goo per year is not
enough for the secretary and additional
help in the office. The work there is
exceptionally heavy and is worth a
good deal more pay. 1t is expected that
the next legislature will fix up the mat
ter in some way. This is a very i'm
portant office, and some of the state
IL
it will be as important as some of the
other minor departments in the state
house. So there is a future to the
place and upon this Mr.. Knapp is being
urged to accept it.
Mr.. Williams is a well known lawyer
and personal friend of the governor.
It is said that Hoch is very much
pleased that he will accept the place
of priva te secretary and anticipates
much from him in an advisory way.
John Smith, who is at present acting
in the position, comes from Governor
Hoch's town, Marion, and is a bright
young man. He took his present
position with the understanding that
it was only temporary, SO it is not a
back-set for him.
The board of control is in executive
session today trying to arrange matters
: with Knapp. There are two other
candidates for the place, Col. w. w
Smith, Burton's private secretary, and
: A. P. Zinn of Paola. Smith is making
. a hard fight for, the place. E. B,
Schermerhorn, member of the board
stated this morning that nothing
definite had been agreed upon and
! that it might be necessary to wait un-
til Governor HocI's return from Dodge
City on Friday. But it is well under
stood that the arrangement is made
At least that is the way that gossip has
it about the state house and the way
the current of the talk ran last night
about the Copeland hotel.
'fI cannot give out a statement yel
about who will be the secretary fur.
ther than that Knapp, Smith and Zinr
are being considered" said Mr.. Scher-
merhorn. 'It may, according to tht
way which matters are turning, bt
necessary to wait until Hoch comes
back Whether there will be any re
I organization over in his Office or not
1 do not know, further than gossip
: which I have heard and about which
+ 1 will say nothing"