The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-15
Stubs Secretary Contributed
to Capper's Candidacy.
NAILS poor GIRLS STORY
EldoradO Editor Remembers
When Levy by ]. C. Gafford.
A Few s<Inside" Stories Brought
Out by This Campaign.

David D. Leahy, private secretary
to Governor Stubs. has received let
ter from Arthur capper stating that
the campaign assessment plan is sin
and abOmination. Now Leahy recalls
that he was assessed two and half
per cent of his annual wage in 1912 to
help conduct Capper's campaign He
timidly suggests that if Mr.. Capper has
real deep rooted convictions against
the assessment plan. he might send
him check for the contribution of
two years ago.
Recently several lady stenographers
in the state house made voluntary con-
tributions to the Democratic cam
paign fund. This fact, it seems, has
occasioned Arthur Capper to send to
the voters his convictions against the
immoral practice of receiving cam
paign contributions from the stenOg-
raphers and sundry appOintees. Leahy.
who is now publishing the ElDorado
Republican, received a copy of Cap
per's letter.
IF we had not been a state en-
ployee ourselves two years ago, when
Mr.. Capper was the candidate of our
bunch for governor" remarks Leahy
in an editorial, land If we hadn't been
called upon for two and one-half per
cent of our annual salary for the cam
paign fund, this protest of Mr.. Capper
might arouse our indignation against
Mr. Hodges.
"And the funny thing about it is
this-for funny things in politics do
not exclusively belong to the Demo-
campaign manager, who was then
state accountant and the best figurer
in our crowd, was the chap who made
the levy.
Taxed Two Years Ago.
Mr.. Capper is grieved a good deal
because even the girl stenographers
are assessed by I'M. Hodges We re-
member distinctly that the girl stenog-
raphers were also taxed for the cam
paign of two years ago when Mr.. Cap
to remember it distinctly for one of
these same girl stenographers came
to our desk one day in tears and dis
tress to tell us how Earl Akers, the
present state treasurer and a candidate
for reelection on Mr.. Capper's ticket.
came to her and told her in a rather
uncivil sort of way that If she didn't
put up she ought to resign her job.
THE poor girl had been sick nearly
all summer with nervous trouble and
had to go away at great expense. She
did not refuse to pay her assessment,
nor did she consider it unfair. She
simply had no money at the time and
was in debt for doctors bills and other
Iincidentals of sickness. To be Just to
Mr.. Akers, he told us when we called
his attention to the matter, that he
| didn't intend to be rude to her at all.
ITO add to her grief, Mr.. Gafford, the
present campaign manager for Mr..
Capper, went around to her Office in a
| few days and rather CURLY, as she
said. told her that they did not want
anything from her. This she accepted
as a hint that she might look for an
other place after the election which, on
account of her health and the necessity
for employment for support, distressed
her still more.''
After relating this bit Of history OF
the campaign of two years ago when
| the assessment plan was enforced
| against all officials and employees.
Leahy concludes:
IF Mr.. Capper has any really burd-
ening scruples about the assessment OF
administration employees for campaign
/ purposes, we will welcome from him a
check to cover the amount we put up
when he was running two years ago.
The winter is coming on apace and our
Overcoat is hardly fit to wear"