The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-07
Ex-senator Aliens Fight fol
District Attorneyship.
LIGHTNING CHANGES.
Mr.. Colbert and His Endorse
ment of Humphrey.
Senator Long Still Supporting
the Kansan.

have ascertafned that even Oklahoma,
with its well known affidavit stage
does not even approach anywhere
near its sister territory.
It is a very interesting territory,
this fight that has been raging here
for the past month over the appoint
ment of a United States district at
torney for the southern district of
Indian Territory. The fight is not
yet absolutely over; and even when
it is. there will be the marshalship
fight, which will take its place.
Some months ago. James L. Allen,
law clerk to the Indian inspector for
Indian Territory, at Muskogee, de-
cided to become a candidate for dis
trist attorney in the southern district.
Allen, who formerly lived at High
land, Doniphan county, and at Kan
sas City, Kas., was member of the
state senate from 1901 to 1905. He
was in the state senate when Chester
I. Long was elected United States
senator and early became a supporter
of Mr.. Long. He urged the Kansas
senator to assist him in his desire to
be district attorney in Indian Terri
tory, and Senator Long Endorsed him
and has actively supported him
throughout the contest. for the past
month or six weeks
The leading candidate against Allen
was ]. E. Humphrey, present assist
ant attorney for the southern district
of Indian Territory. Humphrey lives
at Ardmore. He formerly lived at
Wichita, where he taught school.
Other candidates have since figured
in the contest, but Allen and Hum
phrey had the fight between them for
several weeks.
Now in the Indian Territory there is
a well defined system of political pro-
cedure. Every town, big or little, has
a Republican club. Eacn judicial dis
trict has a central committee. The
territory has territorial committee,
of which Grant Victor, of Muskogee,
is chairman. Then there is a national
merly of Kansas and a nephew of
Cyrus Leland. He lives at Vinita,
and was United States district attor-
ney for eight years, resigning a few
months ago.
Allen did not seek the Endorsement
of clubs. district committee, or terri
toriaI committee. He did want the
Endorsement of Mr.. Soper He did
not get this. incidentally.
Mr.. Humphrey secured a respect
able proportion of the Endorsement of
clubs in the southern district, but by
no means majority of it. Yet he got
the Endorsement of the district COM
mittee, composed of fiNe members. On
the latter basing his support on the in
dorsement of the district committee.
The Republican committee of the
southern judicial district of Indian
Territory is an interesting body. The
head of it is B. H. Colbert, a Chicka-
saw Indian, Rough Rider, an erst-
while friend of the president, and
United States marshal for the south
ern district At present he is under
indictment for offenses charged other
members of the committee include a
deputy of Mr.. Colbert; q deputy clerk
of the court closely allied to Mr..
Colbert; and a United States commits
sioner. The significance of this is ap-
parent Mr.. Colbert practically con-
trolls the committee.
Henry NJ. Carr of Paulsvalley, a
young Texan, and a bright lawyer got
into the race He represented that he
had the Endorsement of a majority of
the clubs of the district. At Mr.. Col
bert's suggestion, AMI with his assist
ance, Carr got the Endorsement of the
Chickasaw legislature. Colbert and
Humphrey were sworn enemies. Then
things switched suddenly. Colbert
ceased to toll on Carr and hooked up
strongly with Humphrey. The execu-
tive committee of the Southern district
controlled by Colbert, as shown above,
met on very short notice It Endorsed
Humphrey, Notwithstanding Humphrey
did not have the Endorsement of the
clubs of the various towns. Soper then
Endorsed Humphrey, and the latter, in
Washington. gleefully gave it out to
newspaper men and friends any every
newspaper man and friends and every
Jim Allen went home sore at heart
Senator Long did not give up. but bided
his time
Now the significant fact is that Col
bert though three times Indicted is n
candidate for reappointment to be mar
shall His appointment will not come
until after his trial He has not yet
been tried. The new United States at
torney for the Southern district of In
dian Territory, whoever he may be, will
be charged with the prosecution of Col
bert Might not Colbert be interested in
the appointment of attorney in his own
district Might he not have controlled
his own committee. his relatives and
henchnen and indorsed Humphrey be-
cause he believed he would have fair
treatment, to say the least, from
Humphrey?
These few facts. facts shown without
a shadow of doubt, were called to the
attention of the attorney general and
the president. Mr.. Humphrey did not
last fifteen minutes after that disclos-
ure though the president had fully
made up his mind, it is quite probable,
to appoint him.
Thus was one obstacle removed from
the pathway of James l. Allen. But
there were Others Carr then became
an active and the foremost candidate.
But in Indian Territory relentless
Nemesis pursues the aspirant for pub
lie office and Carr soon found it out
Speedily he practically was eliminated
from the race. Charges We're laid at
his door; including reference to past in
discretions in connection with his form
er life.
Albert Rennie of Paulsvalley. a bright
young lawyer, next entered the field.
While it is possible that he may be ap-
pointed it is not by any means abso-
luteIy certain, and thus the situation
rests.
For a month. indian Territory men
have haunted Washington. with blood
in their eyes; oaths on their lips, and
affidavits in their inside pockets. Truly
the pathway Of the aspiring office-seek-