The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-07
Just Before Leaving for Hunt
ing Trip in Texas.
SEATON confidential CLERK
OIathe Newspaper Man First
AppOintee Announced.
But Hodges Mind Made Up on
Important Appointments.
Has 5000 Applications, He
Tells State Journal Reporter.

Before leaving for a three weeks
hunting trip in Texas, Governor-elect
George H. Hodges stated that he had
already determined on his appointees
for bank commissioner, state oil in
spector, warden of the state peniten-
tiary at Lansing, and his own conf
{ ntial and pardon clerk. The ap-
pointment of S. T. Seaton as confiden-
tial and pardon clerk is the only ap-
pointment to be officially announced
at this time, although there are sew
eral places to which the appointments
seem obviously certain. Seaton, who
draws the first appointment from the
new Kansas governor, is a resident OF
Olathe-Hodges' home town-and is
a lawyer and newspaper publisher.
At the Baltimore hotel in Kansas
City, Hodges last night spent an hour
discussing the candidates for appoint
ments in a conference with friends.
The governor-elect admitted to a State
Journal reporter who was present that
he had determined in his own mind
the successors of several state house
officials. However, he declined to of
fcially announce these appointments
at this time and will not give to the
public the names OF any or ms ofnclal
family until he returns from Texas
Five Thousand Want Jobs.
st guess 1 have had 5000 letters
and kilograms from people who want
jobs,' said the Olathe man, as he re-
viewed the question OF distributing the
state patronage. MANY of these peo-
pie are persons with whom | am not
acquainted and have never heard OF
until they sought position under the
new administration.
''Wiu you conhne your appointments
to applicants alone ?" Hodges was
asked.
ernor. "a few of the very best ap-
pointments are going to men who have
asked nothing. But 1 know they are
credit on themselves and on the state.
That is the kind of men am looking
for-I might say men and women
both-because expect to give the
women some pretty good places when
the lists of appointments are made
up"
Who VIII Succeed DoIIey?
Hodges in recounting the candidates
for the various offices, declared there
ere at least a dozen prominent men
who are seeking the bank commits
sioner's job. Many of these men are
known throughout the state and have
made excellent records in the banking
business. Among the more formidable
candidates for j. N. Dolley's present
position are: F. H. Cron, ElDorado;
j. d. Waters, Bonner Springs; P. E. |
Laughlin, Marysville; John E. Wag- |
ner, Larned: William E. Schmidt, !
Hope; Charles NJ. Sawyer, Norton, |
lima has been advanced for the place |
by number of Progressive Republic |
cans.
While Hodges is noncommittaI on |
the bank commissioner job, it is prob !
able that Charles N. Sawyer is one of /!
the men who will be strongly consid- !
cred for Dolley's successor. Sawyer
is banker of much prominence and |
in the banking world is affiliated with /
the Burrow-Ames interests.
1.-The appointment of a bank com
missioner has given me much worry,
geid Hodges Most of the trouble is I
isting between state and national
banks and bankers under the present |
administration. I want to name a
man who will iron out this trouble
and put more harmony and team work
into the banking industry
For Board of Control.
There are a half dozen candidates
for the two places to be filled on the
board of control under the Hodges ad-
ministration. Of the present appli
cants, Hodges declares he has made
no choice In fact the board of con-
troll may be one of the places where
the new governor will select men who
have not asked for appointment. The
applicants for places to succeed
Charles D. Shukers and Sherman d.
Elliott on the board of control include:
Mayor w. E. Brooks, Fort Scott; Ben
Gum, Girard: F. c. Carroll, Leaven-
worth; Henry 1lbach, Lawrence, and
DR.. Cushenberry, Girard.
AS for the removal of the retiring
of the board, Hodges indi-
Gated quite strongly that he would
make no effort to bring about a change
in the administration until the terms
expired by statute. Elliott's COM
expires June 1, while Shuk-
ers is holding a recess appoint ent
and might be removed at any time his
successor is confirmed by the senate
But it is quite probable that Hodges
will not seek to make a change on the
present board until next spring.
VIII BotIxin Land?
Jeremiah d. Botkin, who made more
trouble for Arthur Capper than any
other one man in the recent guberna-
torial campaign, is candidate for a
place on the utilities commission 1t
is probable that Botkin will not be
overlooked by Hodges when the good
places are distributed But there is
question as to whether Botkin can pull
down the new $4,000 job on the utili-
ties commission.
Judge A E. Helm of Wichita is
most formidable candidate and it
might be difficult TO deny the constit-
uency which is urging Helms appoint
ment. Then there is F. B. McKfnnon
of Tonganoxie; Grant Harrington,
kansas City, Kan; Grant H. Duvall,
Charles DeBuss, Parsons;
and w. H. Kemper. Topeka-an can ]
1 i