The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-09


Kansas up for the secretary. AT that
time the state was drifting towards La
Toilette and this gave Long an addi-
tional reason for helping Taft. La
in Kansas and here was a chance to
get even.
Clever Work in Oklahoma.
By some adroit work Long also got
Missouri started off after the Taft
band wagon, and it has recently turn
ed up with practically a solid delega-
ton for Taft. The work in Kansas,
states was showed along without re-
gard to the contest in Ohio. That they
had influence on the Buckeye situa-
ton. however, is admitted by Vorys
himself.
Oklahoma was the most delicate prop
osition to handle. The president had
ruthlessly trampled under foot all the
politicians there who do things in the
appointment of federal officers. In that
patronage fight last fall Long had lined
up with the other crowd. He went down
with it before the rough riders AS a
result the old-time political leaders for
got their grievance against the presi-
dent and began to whoop FER up for
Taft. They ran roughshod over the
rough riders, and will send an anti
rough rider but a Taft delegation to
Chicago. Their state convention will be
pulled off at Oklahoma City next We'd
nesday. There is no question as to what
it will do.
Some doubt existed for a time as to
how the present national committee
stood on the presidency. Senator Long
thought it wise to find out. The OPP
portunity came when the committee
met to select a date and place for hold
ing the national convention. Long
urged Taft men to support Kansas City
Vorys opposed the suggestion. Long
had his way and with two exceptions
all the Taft men voted for Kansas City.
Smoking Out Cortelyou.
That vote disclosed the hand of Sec
rotary Cortelyou. His man Friday,
Frank H. Hitchcock, then first assist
ant postmaster general was there to
whip the southern members into line
for Chicago. That was in the interest
of Cortelyou's candidacy for president.
Chicago won, but in winning, the Taft
men found out exactly how the COM
mittee stood and that was what Long
was after.
This showed that if Cortelyou could
be eliminated and Tart inherit MS
strength from the south he could DOM
mate the committee in the settlement
of contests at the preliminary organic
alton of the Chicago convention SO
Long set to work to bring about that
result.
COrtelyou was developing MS DOOM
under the cloak of a Roosevelt third
term. Long knew what Cortelyou was
doing. He found 1t out on patronage
deal. He wanted Andy Richards, of
wellington, Kan, appointed to an
authorship in the treasury department
He received information direct that the
commitment could be made providing
there were some Cortelyou delegates
elected in Kansas.
Long carried the news to the presl-
dent and was told to make no promises.
The president, inadvertently, mentioned
the matter to Cortelyou, and since that
time Diplomatic relations between the
Kansas senator and the head Of the
treasury department have been severed.
Richards didn't get the job in the treas
ury, but Roosevelt created just as GOOD
a place for him in the department OF
justice.
Situation in New York.
Senator Long told the president that
two things had to be done to help the
Taft candidacy which was then at a
standstill: One was to make another
declaration against third term talks;