The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-19
AS RYAN SAW 1T.
Amusing Story of Senatorial
Contest by a State Officer.
New Railroad Commissioner
Gives His Experiences.
MILLING IN TOPEK A.
Copeland County Situation Be-
Wildering to a Novice.
Has Difficulty to Tell What 1t
Is All About.
MILLING IN TOPEKA.

Frank ]. Ryan, one of the new rail-
road commissioners, has had a varied
number of experiences. As a tramp
telegraph operator, he Travelled over
the country from ocean TO ocean. That
was while he was very young. He af-
terward became an operator for the
Associated Press, and has been elected
clerk of the district court of Leaven-
worth county He often takes his pen
in hand" and writes, and he has a style
that is unique and original. He has
written his impressions of the late SEN
atorial contest for the State Journal
under the heading Milling 1t Out in
Topeka and it is given herewith:
Well, the big fight is over, and
Curtis won. 1t was a beautiful con-
test. while it lasted, and to my notion,
anybody's fight right up to the tap of
the gong. People who read the big
daily papers of the doings at Topeka
don't get half the idea of the great fun
1T is, to engage in the milling, subse-
quent to the naming of a United States
senator. 1 had the pleasure of being
in evidence, and l might say, much in
evidence, for the last two or three
months, and I am going to tell, in my
way, and from my standpoint, just how
the thing goes, and just how much
they all know.
You arrive in Topeka, either by
freight or passenger, although most OF
the faithful are still riding on the pas
senger, thanks to Bill Smith and n.
H LOOMS. Immediately upon arrival
you engage hack. that is, if you are
one of the big guys; if you are one of
the small guys. you just take a car.
and ''al1 paths lead from every depot,
to Copeland County" Arriving at the
Copeland, you Immediately see that
something is doing: that is, there are
quite few of the Kansas people there,
and the first thing you must get i'm
pressed on your mind, that in that
crowd of several hundred men there
are all either candidates for political
positions. or they have got the posi-
ton. 1 heard a man say once, that if
you tossed a rock in the air in the
Copeland hotel lobby, it would surely
hit a politician right on the head if
the rock came down, and I believe it,
The first man you see is Doc New
man; Doc is Curtis right hand man;
pretty shrewd geiser, too. Doc spies
YOU. just as quick you spy him, and
he greetS you warmly of course and
with the remark. How does it look -
you must say. if you know the pass
word, Same thing-its cinch,'' then
Doc buys you a cigar. and Tom Kelly
gets you Tom looks wise, and he
surely knows the game: Tom will saw.
ANY change" if you belong to his
lodge" just look wise. and Tom 81
lently, like the Arab in the night. goes
away. Then w. Roscoe Stubs of Law
renee hoves in sight; w. Roscoe makes
a hit with me. because my bow has the
same top piece" Ross has Nv boy
can't smile like Ross can, and neither
can Victor Murdoch; Ross has 'em all
beat seven days from the Jack when
1t comes to smiling; but smiling don't
always take down the candy; / don't
know whether Ross will agree with me
on this or not.
After Roscoe melts away. YOU are
sure to shake hands with Rristow. and
when you do. you will feel just like a
man recovering from typhoid fever
Bristow is pretty smart guy. thew tell
me, and j am willing to admit that an