The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-20
HOLD UP OF BILLS.
State officers Work With Re-
porters In Legislature.
Reporters Sent Out to "Exam-
inc" Insurance Companies.

1t is rather a peculiar coincidence
that on the same day that the payroll
padding of State Treasurer T. T. Kelly
was exposed by the State Journal. the
Emporia Gazette William Allen
Whites paper published the charge.
editorially, that certain newspaper men
at Topeka are on the payroll of a
group Of politicians and that the rail-
roads were furnishing the money to
''underwrite' the plans of those poll
ticians.
This charge is made by Mr.. White on
the authority of W. y Morgan, editor
of the Hutchinson News, and man
thoroughly familiar with Topeka polit-
icai and newspaper conditions.
There are some very fantastic stories
going around about the ''prohts' of
newspaper job during the session of
the legislature, and at ether times, in
the state political work. Some of these
stories are no doubt founded on fact.
Others are gre2 y exaggerated Some
of the stories date back for ten years
or more. some are concerning the
graft at the recent session of the
legislature. There is one piece of Cos
sip to the effect that a certain state
officer. working i'm connection with
certain newspaper man took down
S2.70O during the session of the legis-
laturc from people who had bills to
pass. and wanted the support Of the
newspaper represented by the specified
newspaper reporter. Another story is
that the graft secured by one news
paper man often amounted to $4,000
year in addition to his salary.
There is no doubt a very close alli-
ance between certain newspaper men
and certain politicians, but it might be
difficult to prove that any Illicit reason
for such intimacy exists.
Many interesting stories might be
written Of the ways in which news
paper reporters are taken care Of by
friendly politicians. Very often the
interest Of the politician is manifested
not BY an actual passing of money The
common method is to make the state
foot the BILL and give the newspaper
man certain lucrative Outside work"
which does not in any way interfere
with the newspaper mans regular
duties. This work is then paid for by
the state. on vouchers certified by the
job holding politician.
Hundreds OF dollars have been paid
out by the state to newspaper men for
making examinations of insurance
companies for the state insurance de-
partment. Such examinations pay a
fat examination fee. and take very little
time A newspaper man can take a
day of and earn $50 or 500 without
interfering much with his regular
work Although such transactions
SAVIOR of graft. they are strictly legal.
Like a pass. they are not supposed to
influence or bride, but they are an OBJ
1ect of suspicion
A few years ago, the law required
cial statement once each year in a num-
Der OF Kansas papers A fee of several
dollars was collected from each COM
pany for this advertisement. which
was placed through the state insurance
department lit was customary to
farm out" this job to some newspaper
man friendly to the department. The
newspaper man would contract for
page space in the requisite number of
newspapers. print the sta tements of all
the companies on the one page. and paw
for the page ads at contract rates
Then he would collect the legal fee
from each insurance company for each
advertisement and the rake off, was
worth about $500
Some newspaper men who have
"done" state politics at Topeka have
made q reputation as borrowers"
They do not 'graft'-they only Dor
row" State officers who are in posi-
ton where they need newspaper help
are delighted to lend money to
friendly neWspap per man. and they are
not very particular about when the
loans are repaid
However in spite Of all the schemes
adopted by politicians for the purpose
Of winning the support of newspaper
reporters. it is likely that conditions at
the state house in Topeka are no
worse than at most state capitols
What William Allen White Says.
The editorial OF VIII White on the
subject Of the Topeka newspaper re-
porters and other matters affecting
legislation. IS as follows;
THE esteemed Hutchinson News
and the usually correct Leavenworth
Times incline to believe that there is
no need for a peoples lobby at To-
peka. The Hutchinson News con
lends that the newspaper reporters
form a sufficiently alert lobby for the
people, and the Times maintains there