The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-31


to vote, western Kansas would give
Bristow a. big majority.
The fight for speaker seems to me
! to be between Simmons and Leland
! Simmons has a little the best show,
but you can't always tell about Cy- He
| knows the ropes so thOroug--y and has
so many friends all over the state thar
he may be a whole lot stronger than
anybody thinks ne is"
John A. Edwards. the newly elected
representative from Greenwood
county. sprung a surprise on the Cur
It's people in his county by publishing
that he viii not be for Curtis for
United States senator Some claim
that Edwards pledged himself to Cur
| tbs prior to his election, but he an
nounces in his statement that the evil
dence against Curtis is so strong that
he will probably vote Tor some or the
field" candidates.
The following Is a part of Edwards
statement:
Il cheerfully acknowledge that am
pledged to no candidate and am sub
iect to convictions I feel that I am
that each person in the county should
have his inclinations considered
equally with my own; that I should
only record my sentiments in the same
manner as other citizens. If each
voter will mail me a postal or letter
setting forth his first and second
choice for senator or even a noncom-
initial reply, my vote in the legislature
can be governed accordingly"
Mr.. Edwards then makes some gen.
erai observations on the subject Of
electing senator, and gives a list OF
the eight candidates, mentioning Cur
It's last. Then he says:
Considering that I am asking for
confession from the public it would
seem fitting that I first confess my
own sentiments before expecting
reciprocation of sentiment The Sc
lection Of any of the first seven names
on the list would meet with my apprO-
baton The eighth name causes ihesi-
fancy
'First-Because those who are I'M
friendly to. his candidacy maintain
that he is undeniably the railroad can
didate for this position.
'Second-That his election to con-
gress has always been favored and
aided by the railroad companies.
"Third-They assert that Mr.. Curtis
favored the Five Tribes Bill of which
he at one thine claimed authorship,
that he was chairman of the commit
tee that conducted it through con-
gress- This was the measure disposing
of practically all the mineral and oil
and coal and lumber lands in the ter
ritory and in such large amounts that
only enormous syndicaUes and cOrpor-
atoms could either handle. or own
these lands. Mr. LaFollette violently
L
was reclothed, rejuvenated and prac-
ucally passed again without ceremony.
President Roosevelt disposed of 1t
without recourse. A rebuke to many
that would have been more severe
than punishment This intended land
as one of the greatest premediated
land steals that has ever been present
ed to congress. It treated the Indian
fully as unfairly as the un-incorporat-
ed white man.
"FCurth-It is charged that Mr.. Cur
tbs secretly and covert1y opposed the
Hepburn bill This statement is main
tanned by the newspapers and remains
undenied by the accredited authorized
representative of the allied shippers in
terestS Of the United States. It seems
prsposterous but necessary to believe
these unrefuted statements. 1t is stated
that Mr.. Curtis is interested largely in
many banks in the Territory The char
tiers for these banks, it is charged were
secured by Mr.. Curtis influence as a
member of congress. His friends rate
his wealth in thousands; few report ii
TO be million. / am offering these
statements and hoping IN SO doing to
give no offense either to Mr. Curtis his
friends or his supporters. 1 am innocent
OF any malicious Intentions am mere
~ presenting these apparent facts be-
cause they are being continually sub
mitted to my attention and always ap-
pended with the request that I should
not vote for him under any circun-
stances I believe that every voter is
entitled to this information as much as
myself. Personally I think that Mr.
Curtis is a very magnanimous gentle
man, an entertaining speaker one who
is always courteous to his constituents
and that he is an inveterate worker. I
mention his name particularly because
IL IS contended that he is pitted against
all other candidates and IS predominant
~ the favorite in this count
There are innumerable other topics
OF legislation that are of more vital
concern to the residents of this county
than the election of United States sena-
tor Many of these important questions
however were adjudicated by the verdict
rendered at the polls in November.
Many other issues yet remain unsolved
and are of more actual concern to the
county at the present moment and will
have a more lasting effect upon. the
community in the future than that of
electing senator. Therefore any sug-
gestions regarding the solution of these
and other open subjects will be greatly
appreciated Very truly yours,
JON. A. EDWARDS