The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-10
Mr.. WHITE'SR REPLY
Explains His Position on Com
gresham Curtis.
Admits He Has Done Well in
Lower House.
RAILROADS FOR HIM.
Thinks They Are Ready to Boost
Him Into Senate.
Text of the Editorial That Of
Tended Mr.. Curtis.
RAILROADS FOR HIM.

William Allen White has written an
extended reply to Mr.. Curtis letter in
which he says:
Two months ago the Gazette stood
for Mr.. Curtis honesty. emphaticaIly,
while decrying his ability as a pros
pective senator. In his fight for re-
nomination in 1902 the railroads were
for him, and al railroad points in his
district the brass collars of railroads
used all their influence for him; at
Atchison. in one of Curtis recent fights,
1 am reliably informed that not only
Bale Waggener, but the other local
officials, worked for him ike a wreck
ing crew at a disaster on the main line.
1t was the only appearance of some of
those officials in polities-as they or.
dinarily take no interest in politics
and every one remembers it. An Off
cial of the mechanical department of
the railroad hauled employees to the
polls in a carriage even getting train
men out of bed for that purpose.
The sudden interest of those rail-
road officials in Curtis does not indi-
cate to me that Curtis was crooked.
AS my red headed friend up the Kaw
says, he was merely the errand boy
of the railroads, and they were helping
him hold his job.
Curtis is all right as a congress-
any IedSOudDAy honest man WIN
two good legs who can write his name
without wriggling his toes can make a
good congressman; it's a messenger
boys job. The railroads don't need
their congressman. The lower house
is ometimes used as a nursery where
they set out sprouts and keep them
growing straight and fine until they
are needed to transplant in the senate
It is a curious thing, but you will re-
member that when the famous Horton
agreement was made the only man
who was admitted to have any control
of Curtis was not This close political
friends@but NJ. A. Low. the railroad
attorney. Low was looking after that
sprig in the nursery and was the only
man who had a right to touch it. But
for all that. Curtis has made a fairly
good congressman He does his err
rands well. and until some one really
wants to go to congress from his dis
trict and not merely to beat him, Cur
tbs should be reelected to congress
if his present alibis in the five tribes
bill holds good"
How about the senate? ?" Mr.. White
was asked.
Wen. that's different. It is said in
Kansas that Curtis is the railroad can
didate for the senate. Every railroa d
attorney or lobbyist oftsa any conse-
Quence at Topeka rs said to- be for him
Perhaps they are getting ready to
transplant him. and if they are the
people should take hand in the
game There is no desire to down the
railroads in Kansas. The Kansas epeo-
pie are fair and wish to do the right
thing There would be no railroad is
sue in Kansas politics If the railroad
attorneys would quit trying to run the
politics of the state. But so long as
the railroads run politics they must
not blame Kansas if the people try to
run the railroads. It is said that they
are ribbing up the state convention to
nominate a lieutenant governor who
Will pack the committees in the state
senate in the interests of the railroads.
and that no man in the senate organ
ization can hope for anything who is
not for the railroad candidate for SEN
ator. 1t will be easy enough for the
people to prevent this And Mr.. Cur
it's attitude at the state convention
viii reveal much
Representative Curtis intimates
that you are not the author of What's
the Matter With Kansas?' He talks
as if Eugene Ware was its author"
well. what do you think of that?
I've heard a good many mean things