The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-28
Kansas Not Well Favored in
Federal Service.
Thomas Ryan Only One Holding
Important Place.
MAY ASK FOR MORE.
Expected That Demands Will
Be Made.
Chance Is Understood to Be
Small Indeed.

A1A4a-AA AAANCAs
Washington, Nov. 2S.-some criticism
has been made on the fact that barring
Thomas Ryan of Topeka, Kansas has
no good places under the government.
Attention is called to the good old
days when the Sunflower state had for
eign ministers, important consulatess
bureau chiefships, etc.
Such times were for the most part
back under the Hayes, Garfield and
Arthur administrations, although under
Harrison Kansas had a few good places
to its credit.
But the fact remains that, barring
Mr.. Ryan. the state has nothing that is
particularly good at the present time.
Mr. Ryan is, and has been for the
past eight years, under Presidents Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt, assistant secre-
tary of the interior. His long service
in congress and his aptitude for the
public service, led him to be appointed
to this important assistant secretaryship
by President Mckinley, whose service IN
congress has been practically identical
with that of Mr.. Ryan. Mr.. Ryan will
continue in this position so President
Roosevelt has assured Kansans, during
the remainder of the present admins
tratiou.
i
ton today with regard to important po-
sitions filed by its citizens under the
government, time was but only recent
when there were many such positions
creditably held by the state.
When the Mckinley administration
succeeded that of Mr.. Cleveland in 1887,
Joseph L. BristOw was one of the hrst
appointees as fourth assistant postmas-
ter general. He held the Office nearly
eight years, retiring in January last,
and was Immediately given an i'm
portant and confidential mission to the
Isthmus Of Panama and elsewhere TO
investigate Panama railroad rates
which latter duties he completed in
August.
Mr. Ryan was appointed to his posi-
ton as assistant secretary OF the in
terror at about the same time as Mr..
Bristow.
Eugene r. Ware became commission
er of pensions in May, 1902 and retained
the place until January 1, 1908, or near
~ three years. This was much-coV-
eted Office and equal in its Importance
to some of the departments.
In February. 1903, W. T. Stanley,
shortly after his retirement as gov
ernor of Kansas, and following his
defeat as q candidate for united
States senator, was appointed a mem
Der of the commission to the rive
Civilized Tribes, popularity known as
the Dawes commission. Governor
Stanley held this until the summer OF
1904 when he resigned. The position
of Dawes commissioner was an i'm
portant one, and carried with it the
great responsibility of administering
the affairs of the Creeks, CherOkees,
SeminoIes. Choctaws and Chickasa VS.,
in the Indian Territory.
So late as the summer OF 1905
Kansas had four important places in
the government, which showed up
creditably for the state.
In times past the state has been
nearly equally fortunate. Under
President Harrison, George Chandler
of independence. Kas., filed the place
now held by Thomas Ryan. Mr.. Ryan
himself was under that administra-
ton. the first ambassador this coun-
try had to the republic of Mexico.
John A. Anderson, E. c. Little, and
R w Turner had important consul
Back under the Hayes administrs-
ton. when Kansas was not an old
state in years. though in Repub-
Iicanism. former Governor Thomas A.
Osborn was minister to Chile. and
Presidents Garfield and Arthur con-
tinued him at the Brazilian post.
President Grant in 1867 rendered
the position of commissioner of pen
sions to Judge David P Lowe, of Fort
Scott. who was a member of congress
several terms. and a distinguished
citizen of Kansas
Under the Lincoln administration.
John P Usher. Of Lawrence. under
whom n. H. LOOMS. of the Union Pa
cifie. studied law, was secretary of the
interior.
Judge Noah c. Mcfarland. of To-
peka, was commissioner of the gen
eral land office under Garfield and
Arthur.
So It will be seen that from the
admission of the state, Kansas has
furnished men for important positions.
Yet now it has but one, Mr.. Ryan.
It has been intimated that the Kan
sas delegation will seek this winter to
improve to some extent the situation
as to Kansas by obtaining a good
bureau chiefship. or something of the
sort. to even up the average. In the
middle of an administration. or after
it has been under way a year or so. it
is slim picking for delegations but
Kansas has hopes.