The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-02

but must tell it to you tenderly in
view of your sensibility to party trea-
son. In his preliminary campaign Ior
the presidency his managers, strangely
enough, inportuned me to become their
confidential adviser in Kansas and l
consented to accept only on the one
condition that there be no compensa-
ton attached to the ofice-a condition
that, at that time, seemed startling 10
politicians who had access, apparently
to the very fat purse OF the president
brother. 1 made reports on the depeho-
ability Of such eminent Republicans as
Mr. Morton Albaugh. Charles +. Scott,
Dumont Smith and a great many otEer
machine leaders, including yourself ana
Mr. Long. who are now weeping SO
many bitter tears over the decadence
OF Carty loyalty in this state; and that
my advice and counsel received Iair
credit was fully attested by the tribute
OF a nice compliment from the presi-
dents brother and afterwards in more
substantial form by the suggestion that
q handsome Job existed in the internal
revenue division OF the treasury depart
ment taat would fit me very snugly.
Il hope and trust that you Will not
become offended at Mr.. Taft for suffer
ing his friends to commit the Dlunder
of trusting an 'unwashed' Democrat
with any service in his interests. but
suppose they had heard of some we'll
had helped in and hence regarded me
as one of the elect. Besides it became
fairly wen known at that time that
myself, as we'll as great many other
followers and admirers of the pure and
beautiful character Of Mr.. Bryan, did
not relish the idea Of following the re-
dictionary standards of Alton Parker
We found that practical idealist Mr..
Roosevelt to be better representative
of those political and civic virtues
TnI
quently and it is because some humble
party workers like myself followed the
immortal T r. that he received the
biggest ma ority ever given to a politi-
cal candidate of any sort in Kansas.
Admirer of Roosevelt.
81 have been an admirer and be-
liever in Roosevelt since that day 20
years ago when he stood up in the ma
tionaI Republican convention in Chi
eago and precasted his coming national
and international greatness by the in
dependence of his political actions and
the daring Of his boyish protest against
the commercialism of the so-calle1
party patriotism that then prevailed
And so 1t was that I had great respect
for his judgment when, in the flower OF
his unimDeac enable administration, he
recommended William H Taft to the
country as the dependable successor
who would be loyal and faithful to his
definite and almost universally ACCEPT
ed policies. In accepting Mr. Taft did
not bind myself to accept and follow
Mr.. Cannon or Mr.. Aldrich or Mr. Lori
mer or Mr.. Ballinger; or the Harvester
trust or the Standard Oil company Or
the breweries of St. Louis or the jug
Houses of Kansas City, as you, much
to my regret, seen. to be doing. And il
this be treason 1 wish you would make
the most of it. Tell it to that Standard
Oil company's banker who is managing
Mr.. Wagstaf's campaign and also to
his press agent that it may go to the
people Of this state for their final YER
dict Tell them that 1 am for Victor
Murdoch and for Governor Stubs and
for representative in the legislature
that viii be for a public utilities COM
mission that will protect the rights of
the ISL. 900 rural and independent tele-
phone users of the state, and that I am
for township. county and district com
who will compose a party
council that will make a platform
which Will be an honest pledge to the
people and an honest and decent pro-
state to follow.
lions constitute Democracy then you
can put me down as an -unwashed' and
an unwashable Bourbon.
Not forgetting the eloquence with
which you congratulated your young
Republican friend. Victor Murdoch,
when he appointed me his private sec
rotary seven years ago, when he was
elected to congress by a majority OF
II GOO. 1 have the honor to remain,
Your very humble servant,
DAVID D. LEAHY."