The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-28


Gently Became Democzat.
The Topeka Capital has printed two |
r three absurd articles about this
,aper in connection with an editor |
lamed Sticher, the present publisher |
# the Usage City Free Press. An ar |
icHe printed this morning quoted from |
hat paper - hbelous in the extreme |
md the publisher of the Capital
r this paper desired to retaliate.
which It does not. 1t could print SINH |
ar articles from many exchanges de-
Mr.. Capper. who ID a candt- |
late for governor. The articles are 30
vicious that they would make Mr..
articles to be malicious and untrue.
We are not printing them Hero is a
in this morning paper
quoted from the Free Press:
1T has been reported that the editor
was a candidate for the Usage City post
office. and that certain deals had been
made with state and congressional OFF,
cials. The Topeka State journal has
reports for political effect. the paper not
caring anything about the truth in the
matter. The Journal keeps two or three
paid political character assassins, whose
business 1t 10 TO defame and discredit
every man Of any prominence in state
politics. These human vultures would
-
meaGer facts and then weave q sensation
u story for the newspaper who pays for
their services
After twenty-eiEht years of contin-
uous service as editor of this paper
1t is hardly necessary to dignity such
q false statement by denying 1t, and
we are certainly not seeking from any
ono q testimonial OF character to un-
dertake to Offset such a paragraph.
being entirely content to let the repu-
n NJ IN ocf fs.-
merits and established character.
The articles in this paper about the
Osage City situation were purely news
articles which were OF sufficient po-
litical importance to warrant presen-
tation and were wholly and fully
warranted by the facts The two
statements we made were first that
II. C. Sticher had announced that he
had become a Democrat. The Sec
ond article, which the State journal
had withheld for several days in or
der to fully confirm 1t, recited the un-
disputed fact that the business men
and citizens were opposed to Stichers
appointment as postmaster and were
circulating remonstrance petitions to
that effect.
Remonstrances were in circulation
at Usage City before this paper print
ed the news that Sticher was seeking
the appointment from q Democratic
congressman. The State Journal did
not assert that there was a deal in
the matter between Mr.. Sticher and
Governor Hodges and others. but
printed the fact that it was freely
| charged in Usage City that there was
| such a deal on and Mr.. E. F. Nc
Closkey of Usage City was quoted to
| that effect.
Unquestioned records show that
Sticher has been, within q compara-
lively short period Republican. a Bull
Mooser and a Democrat. boxed the po-
litical compass and conducted his vari-
Gus paper in line with the three re-
| spective parties. He was present at
the Democratic gathering In Emporia
two weeks ago as q Democrat. sat with
Governor Hodges and other Democrats
at the speakers table and told re-
porter Of this paper in Emporia that
he had become Democrat. He also
announced in an editorial in his paper
on January % his Democracy in these
words:
The editor Of this paper knows he
is a Progressive Democrat at heart and
has been for some time and the polit-
ical events of the past month simply
prove that the greatest good to the
greatest number is now being worked
out by the Democratic party and that
the other parties are in chaos"
He also said IN this same article that
he would be Independent enough
to print the news Of the other parties.
give the reader the idea that he was
not a candidate for the postoffice he
does not really deny this but uses the
ambiguous phrase by saying that he
has sent no application to Congress
man DOolittle for the Usage postofffce
1t may be true that he has made nc
formal application for the office but
he was a candidate for the place and
was given assurance that he would be
named. There can be no question
about this.
Otherwise he would not have per-
mitted the petition to be circulated in
Usage City protesting against his ap-
! pOintment had he not been expecting
the office. Four-fifths of the business
men in Usage City signed these re-
monstrances- The feeling was bitter
! against the appointment of a man fol
! postmaster who had lived in Usage
City only for a short period and who
had announced his conversion to de-
ally bitter protestatfons were made to
Congressman Doolittle and others. A
delegation came to Topeka at the
! Democratic gathering here last week
and made vigorous protests to Con-
gresham Doolittle on this score. Gov
ernor Hodges promptly denied a story
that he was In any deal In the mat
: ter. So did Congressman Doolittle
deny any deal. but the facts still re-
main that Sticher became Demo-
sition Of postmaster: but he will hard
/ " get it now, the situation il too raw.
Newspapers that did not print the
facts failed to give the news OF the
day. We are absolutely giving no ad-
vice to CONGRESSMAN Doolitt1e on any
/ postmasterships and only hope that
Usage City will get the man it wants
POLICE COURT News.