The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Senator Porter Would Have De-
partment of Mines.
Addition to Course of State
Manual Training School.
AFTER DEL TRAVIS.
EX-EmpIOyee Makes Charges
Against Game Warden.
"Bent" Murdoch Doesn't Know
Why He Is Here.

county. comes to Topeka this time Win
three special bills in his pocket as fol-
lows: An act establishing department
of mines and mining in Connection with
the state manual training school in
Pittsburg; an act establishing a night
Ischool at the state manual training
normal for the benefit of foreign born
citizens of the state desiring to learn the
English language: and act establishing
a substatfon of the state agricultural
lcollege at Girard.
Senator Porter is one of the veterans
of the senate, as he begins his third
term tomorrow. He has been spoken of
las a candidate for president pro tenn
lof that body. The senator will not talk
about his candidacy for this place but
is willing to go on record as opposed
to the state publication of school books.
The Republicans of both houses will
hold their caucuses this evening. The
three important house positions have
been decided upon as follows: Speaker,
IL. N. Dolley Wabaunsee ciunty;
speaker pro tenn. r. J. Hopkins, Finney
county: chief clerk. w. T. Beck, Jack
son county; assistant clerk, Chas. A.
Brilliant of Elk county.
In the senate the fight for the big
places is still undecided
| Charges of Irregularities at the Kan
sas fish hatchery at Pratt have been
brought to the attention of Governor
Boch. and D. w. Travis. state fish and
game warden, has denied them. Cover
| nor Hoch has turned the charges over
| to Governor Stubs for whatever action
| the latter may desire to take in the
matter.
| The charges were brought by Alexan-
der Milne, formerly an employe of the
game warden. Milne was the superin-
tendent of the hatchery and the time
keeper. In his formal charges he says
| - I, AaI,O Nv
the state had worked on the farm of Mr..
Travis, near the hatchery, and that the
time of such employment was not taken
from the state payroll and not paid by
Travis but that the work was done by
state employees on. state time and at
state expense.
J. c. Gafford. state accountant, was
sent to the state hatchery to make an
investigation. Mr.. Gafford checked up
the accounts of the department and OBJ
tanned the affidavits substantiating the
charges.
Mr.. Travis was then informed OF the
charges, and he filed a formal denial
and some supporting affidavits, show
ing that state employees did not do any
work on his farm at state expense.
Milne was then timekeeper and Travis
says that it was his duty to see that
any work done on his own private pro-
perty was charged to his personal ac-
count and not to the state. Milne says
that he resigned several months ago,
charged.
Bent Murdoch is here today. This
is a simple-enough announcement for
Bent" comes to Topeka pretty often.
But this Ell Dorado editor came to
Topeka on the occasion of the
Inauguration of the first Kansas gov
ernor forty-eigkt years ago, and has
kind since then. He is here today
with the same young light in his old
eyes, barricaded as they are behind
two pairs of spectac1es, and the same
warm heart and genial kindliness for
friend and stranger. The red car
nation he wore on his coat was not
fresher and brighter than your
"Uncle Bent
II don't know why I am here" he
said. but here I am. I'll soon get
tired of it all and go back home. but
I'll catch the germ again and be back
here again before the legislature has
been in session very long.
81 attended Gov. Robinson's in
augural so why not the one in which
Roscoe Stubs plays the leading part?
There is nearly half century between
them
81 have never held a state job in all
those years, so they cannot class me
with the pie counter fellows. I'm a
Kansan of the old school, I guess, and
simply cannot keep away from Topeka
when there is a state meeting going
there's not so many now. They have
crossed a broader, deeper river than
the Kaw."
There is no one at the Copeland to-
day who knows more people or has
such an "alluring handshake" as w.
P. Fleeman of Coffeyville, ex-peniten-
tiary guard and ex-sergeant of the
Coffeyville police force. FIeeman is
in a class by himself. His enemies
may call him joke or a nuisance. but
this would not prevent the worthy
sergeant from extending to them
every courtesy if he succeeds in land
ing the place as doorkeeper of the
house, or any other job. Several
Cofeyville people who used to scott at
Fleeman were glad to accept his use
full services when he was doorkeeper
at the national Republican convention
a Chicago last summer. 1t is a safe
bet that Fleeman has talked to more
people today than any other one man
in Topeka.
The interview printed in last Satur-
days issue of this paper with south
ern Kansas member of the legislature
in which the latter outlined his pro-
posed bill of state guarantee for the
farmer. merchant and workingman as
well as the banker and bank
depositor, was the subject of consider
able comment in the hotel Hobbies over
Sunday. Many treated it as joke.
but there were some who saw food
for reflection in the idea of how far
the germ of the state guarantee will
spread.
OASTo7EA.
Bears the >Ihs Kind You Have Always Bought |
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