The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-08
THOU TOO, BRUTUS
John DawsOn's Old Friends Stab
Him in Back.
Square Dealers to Run Higgins
for Attorney General.
MATCHED AT EMPORIA
Stubs, White and Bristow in
Role of COnspiratOrs.
DawsOn's Record May Carry Him
Through Anyway.

Word comes from Emporia that the
square deal leaders, Governor Stubbs
William Allen White and Senator Bris-
tow, have decided to cast aside John
Dawson and bring out William L. Hug
gins for attorney general. Higgins is
the lawyer who was nominated by
Senator Bristow for district attorney
and endorsed by Governor Stubs and
William Allen White. Higgins did not
get the job and now he has been de-
cided upon az the square deal candi-
date for attorney general. The matter
was practically decided, according to
some pretty well defined reports, at
the Jackson congressional rally last
week at Reading.
1t has been known for some time
that relations between John Dawson
and Governor Stubbs have been some
what strained. Dawson tried hard to
keep Jackson out of the congressional
race and in this opposed the dearest
wishes of Stubs. Dolley ct al. Several
conferences were held in regard to the
matter. but John persisted in his way
ward conduct.
When Jackson finally decided to en-
ter the congressional race in the face
of the overwhelming arguments of
Dawson. the mutterings of the APP
preaching storm died away but there
was still plenty of electricity in the
atmosphere John was accused of be-
ing too thick with certain machine
men. lit Was CcnSuIeQ Tor not STEP
ping into the breach on Kansas Day
when Jackson, Dolley and J. T. White
tried in vain TO stem the tide of de-
feat Then last, but more important
stu comes George Neeley of Hutchin-
son, Democratic candidate for con-
gress in the Seventh district, and
brother-in-law to Governor Stubs, and
starts vicious and bitter fight on
Dawson on the occasion of the Demo-
cratic banquet here February p.
Neeley accused Dawson of about every
thing under the sun except robbing a
bank. Neeley went further than that
He carried the fight from the Democ-
racy's festive board into the private
office of Governor Stubs and the lat
ter instead of laughing the preposter-
Gus charges to scorn, took them seri-
ously ana called John in to explain.
John did EXPLAIN He explained so
well that Neeley went out of the gov
ernor'S office a self confessed attorney
for the lumber trust, according to
Dawson Now John had been trying
for some time to get whack at this
lumber trust, hence the animus of the
Neeley attack, say his friends.
Governor Stubs, however took no
the Medley charges. Rather he kept
silent in regard to the passing of the
lie between his railroad board attorney
and his brother-in-la Vie was the
he declined 10 clear the water with a
statement as to who had lied, Friend
John or Brother George.
The Dawson-Neeley controversy still
continues. Medley alleges that Friend
John is incompetent. loquacio a Dre-
yaricator and a barnacIe to the admin
1stration. Dawson replied by calling
Brother George a blatherskite Neeley
returned to the attack reinforced with
the history of Dawson's past life from
the tooth-cutting stage down to the
present time. There is something he
hind this Neeley attack on John Daw-
SON Medley is acting eats paw
for somebody. Now comes the story Of
the plan to run Higgins against Daw-
son for attorney general and this
clears the situation to some extent
If 1t is true that the administration
has thrown Dawson down for William
Allen Whites. prOtege at Emporia then
a big mistake has been made by the
men who have been regarded as shrewd
and successful politicians. Dawson is
worth a dozen HugginseS to the admin
istration in its fight against the ma
chine and its fight two years hence
against Senator Curtis.
Dawson came out of the west to To-
peka some ten years ago. Before COM
ing here he had been regarded as the
pride of Graham county where he had
taught school and Won fame in local
politics. John served many years in
the attorney generals Office as assist
ant. He left that place over a year
ago to act as Governor Stubbs' private
secretary. Last fall he was appointed
attorney for the railroad board by
Governor Stubcs- Dawson has made
good in all he has undertaken for the
state. He has made hundreds of cam
paign speeches for the party in every
section of Kansas in the past dozen
years And John makes a rafting good
speech, too. He has won many friends
by his sincerity, his honesty and his
energy. He is a good fighter and a
good friend, this Highlander Scotchman,
and he will not be apt to quietly sub
NIT to such a throw-down as is con-
templated by the powers that be.
If Dawson is thrown over and Hug
gins placed in the field for attorney
general it will be patent to the most
loyal square deal private that the lead