The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-16
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Senator Vinton Stillings Calls
on the Governor.
Talk Over Situation i'm First
Congressional District.
CONGRESS FIGHTWARM
Says Anthony Will Get Big
Majority in LeavenwOrth.
John T. White to Retire as
Grain Inspector Jan. 1.

State Senator vinton Stillings of
this week while here in attendance at
the national good roads meeting. The
senator is an old timer in First district
politics and it was expected that he
would announce the candidacy of some
First district patriot for state office, but
it was not so. The senator could think
of no one from his section of the First
who thought of entering the state pri-
mary. So far Charles Sessions of To-
peka is the only First district applicant
for state office. The Sessions boom for
secretary of state has assumed goodly
proportions and it looks like fair sail
ing ahead.
Senator Stillings declared that the
First district is pretty well worked up
already over the fight for congressional
honors between Anthony and McNeal.
Leavenworth county is loyal to the tall
congressman and will roll up big ma
Stillings, even if tariff revision is the
issue. 1t is conceded however, that
McNeal is a formidable candidate.
1t had been announced some time ago
that John T. White, state grain in
spector, intended to. resign his office as
soon as possible and return to his home
in Ottawa county, where he has wide
business interests. Mr.. White has now
stated that he will give up his office
Immediately after the first Of the year.
White represented Ottawa county in
the last legislature. He Strengthened
out the tangled affairs of the grain in
spector's office during the short time
he was in control at Kansas City and
the governor was so pleased with his
work that he tried hard to have him
serve out his term.
The governor was proud of his selec-
ton for grain inspector and also that
of live stock commissioner. Joe Mercer
of Chase county, also a member Of the
last house, holds the latter place. Both
men made fine records this year and
helped carry out the governors idea of
a business administration.
The last news from Washington is to
the effect that the matter of the Kan
sas appointments to federal offices has
been postponed to next week. Harry
Bones name has been presented by
Senator Curtis for district attorney,
and the senior senator is backed in his
choice by large majority of the dele
cation in the lower house Senator
Bristow still clings to Higgins, the En-
poria lawyer, for the place and will in
sist that Whites pfetege be given the
office. The president has not yet COM
mitted himself on the Kansas appoint
ments but he has recently refused to
recognize Senator LaFollette's recon-
mendations and this will probably mean
that Senator Bristow is in the same
boat and will not be consulted about
the Kansas appointments.
Assistant Secretary. of State Tom
Botkin, who has gone to Arkansas for
ing trip, is quoted as follows in the
Galena Times. his home paper in an
swer to the question of his candidacy
for secretary of state:
II have been too busy for the past
two months to give much thought TO
that subject. I am on my way to the
hills of North Arkansas for a two
weeks rest and recreation and have
rothing to say. I think the people of
Kansas are well satisfied with present
conditions and that President Taft and
his policies will be endorsed"
John c. Nicholson. state claim agent.
who collected nearly a quarter of a
million in old war claims for the state
from the national government last year,
will this winter try to collect the claim
of $50, 900 for the state university. This
claim originated in the burning of the
cid Free State hotel in Lawrence by
border rutfians before the war. The
hotel was owned by. the New England
Immigrant company who transferred
the claim to the state university. The
claim has been allowed by the claims
department and all that Is necessary
is to get it through congress.
Superintendent Barnes. of the state
department of insurance, has discover
ed that the insurance companies doing
business in the state have been lodging
the order he issued September 1, maxi
ing a reduction of IL per cent in rates.
The companies, it is alleged, got around
the order by assuming that it applied
only to old rates already in effect at
| that time, and they filed new rates
withou. regard to the reduction. The
superintendent has issued circular let
| ter notifying the companies that no
more rates will be filed in his office
unless the IL per cent reduction order
| is complied with.