The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-18
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Calderhead's Opponents in Fifth
District Not Confident.
Trying to Scare Smith Off the
Track.
LELAND HEARD FROM
Makes a Pertinent Reply to
Stubs Threats.
How Auditor Nations StenOg-
rapher Was Employed.
LELAND HEARD FROM

rapher Was Employed.
Some of the Fifth district politi-
clans who are opposed to the renomi-
nation OF Congressman w. A. Calder
mead are getting considerably excited
at the failure of Rees and Smith to
get together, and think that IL they
both stay in the fight, it means anoth-
er victory for Calderhead. Some Of
them predict that before the day of
the primary. only one candidate will
head.
Some think that possibly the only
way to reach compromise will he
for both Smith and Rees to Withdraw
and throw their united support to a
dark horse candidate.
one OF the prominent Republicans
OF the Fifth district said to STATE
journal reporter, few days ago: II
nave some things I would like to saw.
put 1t would never do to have If
known that I said them. In the first
pace. am supporting Smith, and will
continue to support him as long as
ne stays IN the race. But it would be
a great relief to me il he would with
oraW. There are some things about
Smiths candidacy that 1 don't like I
neneve that Smith himself is sincere
race,
sincere in the belief that he has a
chance to win. But I am very much
inclined to doubt the sincerity of some
or Smiths supporters right there in
his home county. The people who
tell Smith they are for him are cal
derhead men-always have been cal
derhead men, and are tied I'D to
Caiderhead In SO many ways that I do
not believe that they are sincere in
their support of Smith. I believe that
they are keeping Smith in the race for
the sole purpose Of helping Calder
head, by dividing up the vote which
might otherwise go solidly against
him. Smith is being played up as a re-
form candidate, but the men there at
Abilene who are. backing him are not
reformers; they are friends of Long
and Calderhead.-
80 I would be much pleased if
Smith would realize this to be the
SITUATION, and pull out of the race, in
stead of staying in simply to be used
IN this way by lCa1derhead's friends.
l believe Smith is being deceived as to
his strength, and while I am under
such personals obligations to Smith
that I must support him, I think it
would be better for the opposition if
Smith would withdraw, and give Rees
fair show to beat Calderhead.
"At the present time there is not
bit of doubt, inethe minds Of fair
minded people, that Rees has more
positive elements Of strength than has
Smith. If all three men stay in the
race, Calderhead will probably be
high man, Rees4 second and Smith
trailing along in third place. With
Smith out of it, Rees can in my opin-
ion, win hands down. And it Is also
true that with Rees out of it, Smith
might win, but I am afraid that if
Rees should drop out, the people who
are professed to be backing Smith,
Co16 nr1, Il
would get scared, and turn against
him, either openly or secretly, and de-
liver their votes to Calderhead.'
Cyrus Leland has also taken up the
cudgels In defense of the state house
stenographers who it is claimed, have
been assisting him in sending out his
campaign literature. He says:
Mr.. Dolley charges that machinery
in the office of the state auditor is
being used to further the interest of
Cyrus Leland. To say the least, Mr.
and taken dictation from me on a few
woman. She has called at my office
and taken distation from me on a few
occasions. She had plenty of time
outside Of office hours to do the work
that l gave her. During the campaign
of 1896 she was employed at Republi-
can headquarters; shortly after that
she was married; in the year or SO her
husband died leaving her to support
lent stenographer, is a daughter of an
old soldier, she held a position at the
Grand Army headquarters at Topeka
for four years. Again in 1902 she was
employed at Republican headquarters
during the campaign. After the cleo
ton in 1902 she was recommended very
| highly by prominent Republicans in
| the Third congressional district and
Mr.. Wells gave her a position in the
| auditors office.
l do nf Irr, q hi inc oh
Nation having any knowledge of her
doing any work for me. 1 think Mr.
Dolley has made a mistake and over
stepped the bonds of propriety. He re-
fers to the Stubs faction and to our
crowd The fact is that Mr.. Dolley
seemed to be a trile warm under the
collar and gives his gang the proper
name He says, that it will either be
stopped and stopped Immediately or
there will be another candidate for
kind of talk for the last three months.
They may have few fellows in cold
storage, but from the few that are
hanging around the Stubs factional
headquarters, I think it would be
good idea for some of them to get into
| kind of a gang they have.
"Mr. Dolley also says that l never
! spent any money in politics. 1 nave
! put in more time and spent more
this state than Dolley was ever
worth If Mr.. Dolley as manager OF
/ the Stubs faction is going to take
| charge of all sides of this campaign
/ and be censor, referee and dictator
i of the conduct of all candidates for
/ Office, it will indeed be new era in
| politics.
| MIR Dolley also refers to Mr.
i Royce and says that as the Office OF
bank commissioner is an appolntNt