The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-10
Second District Scion Names
Choice People Always.
LETTER TO THE POINT
Editor Wanted Job at Spring
Hill But Was Turned Down,
Therefore the New Era Is Now
Roasting Congressman.

gresSionaI district as his personal per-
quisites to be distributed without re-
gar to the wishes of the people On
the contrary, he endeavors to ascertain
the peoples wishes and then recon-
! mends the candidate who seems to be
the choice of the majority of the pa
irons of the office.
Because Mr.. Scott would not deviate
from this rule in the selection of post
! masters, he il being bitterly attacked
editorially in the Spring Hill New Era
by its editor, Will F. Wilkerson. The
sequel to tho trouble is that the Spring
Hill editor was a candidate for the
postmastership, and as Mr.. Scott as
serts. attempted to trade his newspaper
| support for the appointment. Mr.. Scott
declined to recommend Wilkerson be-
cause e latter could not obtain the
Endorsement of a majority of the pa
| irons of the postoffice.
1t is understood that Wilkerson had
| been a candidate once before for the
| office, but for the same reason as above
stated he failed to obtain Scott's in
dorsement. Then the editor fell out
with the congressman. Later the post
master at Spring Hill resigned, and
Editor Wilkerson addressed a letter TO
Congressman Scott upon the subject, Il
copy of which follows:
Friend Scott: 1 understand that DR..
G. A. Hartley has sent his resignation
to tho postoff1ce department as post
master here. 1 would like to make up
| and be friends with you. Do you want
to be friends with me? Yes? All right
then, huff said"
Scott Replies.
Mr.. Scott replied to Mr.. Wilkerson's
| letter as follows:
My Dear Mr. Wilkerson: Yours Of
H. l.
that DR.. Hartley expects to resign the
office of postmaster at Spring Hill at
an early date.
CAS- to your suggestion that we make
up and be friends, the only regret l
have is that 1t did not come a little
farther ahead of the vacancy and un-
coupled from the apparent condition
that 1 can give you the appointment.
So far as I am personally concerned,
having never knowingly given you any
cause Of offense. there has never any
thing stood in the way of our friend
ship except your apparent disinclina-
ton to have 1t so. Even as it has been.
1 have never had any feeling toward
you that would prevent me from rec
ommending your appointment. But IN
a matter of this kind, one must con-
slider the sentiment of his friends and
the public generally.
"If 1 should appoint you in the face
of the hostile attitude you have held
occur to you that my friends woul1
justly complain that relied upon them
when I wanted help but when 1 had
favors to bestow 1 ignored them and
rewarded my enemies
Would Look Bad for Both.
And would not the people generally
consider that 1 have simply bought
| your support with this office, and that
you had sold your support for the office
| So that they would lose all respect for
| both of us?
Il take it for granted that in case
| you were appointed you would expect
| to give me your support hereafter. both
| personally and through your paper.
| But what reason could you give for the
| change of front? If 1 am worthy of
your support, ought I not to have it
now? And If I am unworthy of it,
ought to receive Is merely because I
| appointed you to d public office?
| L am sure you will see upon ref1ec-
| ton how your appointment under the
| circumstances would embarrass both of
US. AS already stated, 1 have always
been willing to be your friend and
| right now l should be only too glad to
| have the slate wiped clean and start
| all over again. I am sure you will see
| however, that it is impossible for me
| to put myself in a position which
would make it possible for me to be
| charged with purchasing personal po-
| htical support by the use of an office
winch belongs to the puDllc.
| Postof1ces Not Personal Property.
| while 1 have expressed myself very
| frankly, I think I ought to add that I
| have never regarded the postoff1ces Gf
| the Second congressional district as my
| personal perquisite to be distributed
| without regard to the wishes of the
| people. On the contrary, I have en-
| deavored always to ascertain the peo-
pies wishes and 1 have invariably ap-
| pointed the man who seemed to be the
| choice of the majority of the patrons of
| the office. I have no thought Of doing
| anything else at Spring Hill, and of
you can make it clear that a majority
| of the patrons of that office desire your
| appointment I shall certainly recon-
mend that it be made.''
These letters were dated year ago
| this month, but have just been made
| public by Mr.. Scott in defense of the
New Era's attacks on him. In strict
| ly following out his policy in the selec-
| ton of postmasters in his district, Mr..
| Scott is probably having less trouble
| than any other member of the Kansas
| delegation in this respect.
| Want Teddy at Baxter Springs.
| The people of Baxter Springs, Kan,
/ are clamoring to have former President
| Roosevelt visit their city on August 80,
next, at which time the big annual re-
LIion of old soldiers of four states
| Missouri Oklahoma Arkansas and Kar-
ident accepted an invitation to be at
| Osawatomie, Kan, on August %, the
old soldiers arc confident arrange
ments can be made to have him go
Gown to Baxter Springs the next day
and address what is said to be the larg-
est annual reuEion held in the cOun-
try. Congressman Phil Pitt Campbell
has been requested to extend the invi-
| tation to Colonel Roosevelt. Mr.. Camp
bell has written him at London, and
will probably receive an answer by ca
BILE shortly.
Asks kS5, 900 for Widow.
| Senator Curtis submitted an amend
ment to the civil sundry bill proposing
| that the sum of ST, 900 be voted for the
| relief of Mrs. Elizabeth G. Martin ir
| connection with the death of her hus-
| Rand. James P. Martin, at Paradise