The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-20

is no need Of such an organization as
the peoples lobby because the work
of the legislature is all marked out for
Let US consider Mr. Morgans con-
tention first. Two years ago during
the boss buster fight Mr.. Morgan told
the editor of this paper that certain Of
the newspaper men at Topeka had
been put on the salary list of a group
OF politicians, and it has been known
since that the railroads were furnish
ing the money to underWrite' the
plans of those politicians. Perhaps
this was not true, but Mr.. Morgan be-
lieved it then and acted accordingly
so did the writer hereof. But he will
say all the smart newspaper men can
not be bought, which is entirely true
Indeed not one in a hundred can be
bought but here is a copy of a letter
OF one of the keenest men in Topeka,
who two years ago was employed by
Mr. Morgan and the Gazette to furnish
the absolute truth about the legisla-
ture for the News and the Gazette. He
was asked why he did not show up a
certain railroad bOodler in the senate
He replied, I knew he was crooked. I
knew that every turn OF. the road he
was playing into the hands of the rail-
roads and that he had his hands in ev-
cry other job in the senate. But he
was my friend. He was courteous to
me. and so polite and obliging that 1
simply couldn't do it,. This newspa-
per man wasn't bought and he wasn't
foOled-yet the scoundrel went I'M
branded because this newspaper man
was too much of a human being. too
kind withal, too decent to do the nee
essary branding. 1t is no pleasant job
to skin a skunk. He is such fine APP
pearing fellow, SO lovely looking. and
SO cute until You stir him up-when
he becomes a common stinker, and
many perfectly honest newspaper men
take the easy course There is absO-
lutely nothing in Mr.. MOrgan's con-
tention. The newspapers are good as
far as they go-but they often stop,
sometimes are partisan, frequently
make mistakes and do not carry the
weight with the people that they
faults
Now as to the claim of Dan Anthony, /
of the Times, that because the work Of
the legislature IS marked out for it that
it will do it. The work of the legisla- |
turc two years ego was marked out for
it. but if it had not been for the Fed !
Grafton of Commercial Interests at To- |
peka, no very important railroad legis- /
lation would have been passed. This /
year the very core Of the machine is in |
danger. Its heart is threatened by an
anti-pass law and the direct primary
law. The machine is represented at I
Topeka by David Mulyane the national I
committeeman, Morton Albaugh, clerk |
of the federal court, Tom Kelly, former |
the Santa F'e, the Rock Island. the Mis-
souri, Pacific, the Union Pacific. These /
gentlemen have lots Of time and their
usefulness If politics depends upon their !
ability to put a joker into the anti-pass /
law and the direct primary law. They !
won't try bribery, but they Will try |
strategy Many members of the legis- I
lature can be fooled. The business of I
these gentlemen above mentioned will /
be to fool them.
What harm can there be in having a
volunteer organization of business men /
go to Topeka, hire from volunteer funds /
the best lawyers in Kansas to pass upon |
the merits of each clause Of every inn /
pCrtant measure, and see that the leg
islators get the truth? That is all there I
is to the proposition to consult with the /
Legislature. Railroads SEND their men I
to the legislature. Why should not the /
and the cattler.en and the peo- /
pie generally send their men? No hon |
est man can object to it. 1t fills a long /
felt want-and it is going to be DONE |
anyway
What T. T. Kelly says.
State Treasurer T. T. Kelly has given
out the following statement concern
ing his employment OF z. G. Hopkins
in his office for the last year and a
half at a salary for that time of STATS:
The legislature appropriated certain
salaries for state employees in the state
treasurer's office. Certain individuals
have been designated by me to perform
services and draw the salaries under
the law making these appropriations
No funds have been drawn from the
by any employe except in the
fixed by law 1 made the ap-
and am responsible for
them They are all my personal and
political friends. No one is performing
service for the state either by appoint
ment or on my recommendations who
I'd not start in with me in the ward or
township primaries, go with me to the
county and state conventions and wind
up with me at the polls. After the
question of qualifications was passed
the requirements referred to were nee
essary for those seeking place at my
hands Every person holding q place on
my recommendation has been and is
performing the very best Service. no
question as to the qualifications has
been raised and as to the personnel of
those whom I have chosen for those
places at my command concerns me and
me alone"
Western Wonder