The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-05

TAKES UP CUDCEL
Representative Edwards Replies
to Mr.. Curtis.
Tells in Detail Why He Opposes
Him.
SIDE OF RAILROADS.
All the Companies Are Support
ing Him.
Will Stand by the Wishes of His
Constituents.
SIDE OF RAILROADS.

John Edwards, the representative
| from Greenwood county who stirred
up the Curtis camp a few days ago
by his declaration against Curtis, ar
rived in Topeka this morning, and
was willing to make a further state
ment of his reasons for opposing Cur
tbs in the senatorial race. When asked
why he was attacking Curtis, Mr.. Ed
wards said:
Il am in no wise attacking him. He
has placed himself conspicuously be-
fore the public and invited an investi-
cation of his record and an inspection
of his character. 1 have only COM
piled with the request and accepted
the invitation. The results have been
little more than the invitation inti-
mated, both in information and con-
sequence. Owing to the conditions
which prevailed at the time of cleo
ton which were to the effect that the
voters of the county were to express
their wish for senator and were to act
in the nature of a jury on the subject
to assist in my decision, / deem that it
is my duty to inform them fully re-
garding Curtis as I would have done
the same about any other candidate
who might enter into the controversy.
L believe that it is the intention of the
voters that 1 cast my ballot for the
most able, honest and conscientious
candidate for senator, and in order to
secure such man they would willing
ly suppress any personal sentiment
they may have in the matter as cheer
fully as they would expect me to fore
go my own personal feelings Tor the
good of the state and the county
Not only myself but fair proportion
of the county would be in favor OF
Mr.. Curtis If the original claims made
by his champions could be sustained.
They were to the effect that he was a
I'd r
eous, incessant in toll, ambitious,
honest of moderate means, of un-
sullied congressional reputation and
one who had rendered the state and
district unquestioned service. II these
contentious were true / would have
no hesitancy to vote for Mr.. Curtis
and 1 believe that my action would
receive general commentator. How
ever doubts as to his sincerity of
heart have been raised; faithlessness
with the Indian has been charged;
personal riches have been proclaimed;
intimate relationship with corpora
tions and railroads have been main
tanned, until it has been necessary for
me to harken to the voices or the
turmoil. 1t seems that Mr.. Curtis
possesses some characteristics that
might dim his brightness as senator.
attempted to give this information
to the public through the columns OF
the Eureka Herald sufficiently in adj
vance to allow every one 10 cnoose
other leadership provided Mr.. Curtis
is unable to convincingly prove these
charges false ~
WHAT do you think of the defense
Mr. Curtis makes with Secretary
Hitchcock's letter." was asked.
''I think that 1t has about as much
bearing on the discussion as when one
says, How do you do? 1t is nice day.
before asking a man for the ten he
owes him. This telegram has been In
commission so long and so frequently
u xx-O1a hn xpn
out by this time and that the charges
preferred against Mr.. Curtis In this
case and which have been of such long
standing that he would have brought
new evidence from a few OF his col
leagues in congress in further reDuttal.
One in ordinary civil affairs dtslikes
very much to leave a case in the hands
of a Judge without a jury, ana espec-
tally if the judge is interested In the
case as Mr.. Hitchcock was II seems
that an ordinary jury of congressman
could have been impannelled since June
that would render a verdict in favor OF
Mr. Curtis and forever nDerate MIN
from the charge of being an accessory
to this land steal sale. Such evidence
would cause the Star and Emporia
Gazette to abandon this part OF their
daily campaign against Mr.. curtis.
Either paper would accept good evil
dence 1t seems strange that Mr.. La
Toilette who possibly never saw an In
III.
and to pur e a bill entrusted to Mr..
Curtis and then after 1t had been purf-
fed and again entrusted to the custody
of Mr. Curtis committee that the pres
ident should stalk forth In righteous
and dismiss the entire affair
from the consideration of congress. Sec
retary Hitchcock in his reply, entirely
overlooks any reference to the import
ance of the question which is whether
or not Mr. Curtis was guilty of graft |
ing in Indian affairs before the depart
ment as charged by the newspa pers.
1t seems that when the unlucky clause |
was inserted in the bill after Mr.. La
Toilette had become exhausted, that
Mr. Curtis would have protested and |
not voted for the bill with this clause
included as. the papers state he did.
at seems that Mr.. Lacey of Iowa |
was defeated by the Republicans of
Iowa for reelection. That during the
a statement signed by Mr.. |
Curtis stating that Mr.. Lacey offered |
this obnoxious amendment in Ques- |
ton was what defeated him. 1t hard |
y seems exactly right to promote the |
chief of the conference committee for
an act for which the people of Iowa
defeated their congressman.
'It is evident that Mr.. Curtis has an
stenographer or a linotype
and also a rapid letter folder who |
mails countless manuscripts to every
one in this county that Mr.. Curtis |
has ever met or whose address he can |
ind in the directory People are per-
suaded by this writing bureau to be-
ieve that he has worked necessarily !
and conscientiously for their inter- |
ssts and for the good of the state |
that he expects their support; that he |
has accomplished a great deal for
hem individually and that If they will |
boiler. he will win, SO they do, but 1 |
ind on going over the county, that the |
,horus Is never greater and with each |
of a new candidate |
hat some of the sopranos or few |
IF the bassos are singing different |
also sent out armfuIs of government |
reports or pamphlets on bacteriologi- |