The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-05
HE'S a HAPPY Man.
CONTINUED from Paee u

some work for the state board CT aBrl-
culture, which had been attracted by
some of Mr.. Coburn's literary work.
/ Shortly after he was elected seeresaf ~
I to succeed J. K Hudson But MS OIL
cla1 life was short He devoted his en-
erg1es to serving the farmers instead OF
the politicians, and the politicians mere
upon cut off his head. 1t was twelve
years before he returned to Topeka.
Meantime he worked on his farm, and
for six years was editor. OF the Live
Stock Indicator. at Kansas City lie
also worked as representative for big
investment company. Governor Che (
appointed him in 1882 as a regen1 OF
the State Agricultural college, and he
was elected president of the board OF
regents.
In 1894, Mr.. Coburn was elected sec
rotary of the state board of agriculture
to succeed Martin Mohler. He has been
unanimously reelected every two years
since that time. The board is so unanl-
nous in his support that the chairman
never thinks of putting the negative
vote when Coburn is nominated.
Mr.. Coburn has been doomed Tor
numerous Offices during the years ne
has been the hardest working man
in the state house" He is not a poll
tician and he insists that he IS not a
statesman. He has had several chances
to run for governor. but has steadTast-
ly refused and time and again he mas
been offered the presidency Of the state
refused. Mr.. Coburn was the first judge
of the live stock at the show which he
suggested and organized, the nrst IN
the Louisiana Purchase territory. He
served as the expert judge of live stock
at the Columbian exposition at Chicago
and without solicitation he was made
chief of the bureau of live stock at
the Louisiana Purchase exposition and
the board of agriculture gave him two
years leave of absence in order that
he might bring about the largest and
best exhibition of stock In the country.
Mr.. Coburn was Endorsed with practical
unanimity by Kansas for the secretary
of agriculture under President McKin-
ley, although he was not an applicant
for thu Office.
Mr.. Coburn has always been strict
temperance worker His one motto Is
Never drink, smoke or chew, hunt or
go fishing, and If in need of a little
recreation, work a little harder. He
has always taken an active interest in
the temperance affairs Of the state and
for three years ending February 1900
he was president of the state temper
ance union and was known as one of
its most able and industrious officials
In 1894 Kansas had a good wheat
crop, but the corn crop was very light.
Live stock men were at a loss to know
what to do with their stock. They did
not consider wheat an available food
for stock. Mr.. Coburn wrote a quarter
" report entitled Feeding Wheat to
ly distributed among the farmers Of
Kansas. It contained advice founded
upon actual experiments and the farm
ers of Kansas saved much money as
result of 1t.
After the publication of Feeding
Wheat to Farm Animals Mr.. Co
burns reports became popular among
the farmers and their painstaking con-
ciseness commended them to the agri-
culturists the world over. Kansas
dc ~ Of
better class through the medium of
Mr.. Coburn's reports. Among his best
known reports are the following: 1.-The
Helpful Hen. 1.-The Beef Steer and
Culture 1.-THE Pillow, Cow and Steer,
Alfalfa. Irrigation and Subsoiling,"
The Modern Sheep" 1.-THE Horse
Useful Corn and the Sorghums. -
Pork Production Forage and Fod-
ders.' "Shorthorn Cattle" Hereford
Wheat Growing" Modern Dairying,"
Railroads and Agriculture tAgri-
culture and HON emaking,' and "Po-
tato Production"
In several agricultural colleges. in
Guiding those of New York, Illinois.
Indiana Pennsylvania, Ohia. and
Iowa, Mr. Coburn's reports are used
wholly or in part as textbooks, and
his plans are followed out. A Ten
nesseean once asked Secretary Wilson
for plans for originating a state. board
of agriculture and Mr.. Wilson re-
ferred him at once to Mr.. Coburn.
Curtis Sends Congratulations.
Governor Hoch has been receiving
a good many kilograms OF congratula-
ton this morning. but one of the most
important and significant was from
Congressman Charles Curtis. It is as
4 congratulate you upon your hap
py solution of the senatorial question
Charles Curtis"
The governor is evidently greatly
pleased with the solution which he
found for the problem. He said this
morning.
II wonder what people will say when
they read that the governor of state
called q private citizen with out any
political connections. to his residence.
and offered him the Office of United
States senator. without his solicitation?
And what they will think when that
citizen was so astonished by the offer
that he almost fell out Of his chair?
Doesn't that look a 5 though 1t were
possible to name 2 United States SEN !
ator without regard for the various in |
fuences which are supposed to sur
round the apnointment of a United
States senat tor -
Talk of COburn's Successor.
There has already been some gossip |
a bout who will succeed Coburn as sec |
retarv of the state board of agricul- |
ture in case he becomes senator. or |
course the inclination of many of the I
members will be to leave the place va
cant, at least until after the senatorial
election, with view to taking Mr. Co |
burn back in case he fails to get the
six year term. There are some, how
ever. who want to elect a successor to /
Mr.. Coburn at once. H. A Heath of
the Kansas Farmer. is mentioned for |
the place. and also Edwin Taylor Of |
What People say About 1t.
Cyrus Leland, who is hostile to Mr.. /
Coburn. refused to say anything much /
about the Coburn appointment, but in
dicated his dissatisfaction.
VIII Coburn accept the Office % was /
'Of course he will" said Leland. I
tartly. He will take anything he can
get his hands on"
h sol q IL con sideI II l