The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-09

Mr.. Sapp was born in Grand Rapids
Mich. August 80. 1856. He acquired
a common school education and was
admitted to the bar. He walked into
Kansas in 1877 with only a few dollars
in his pocket, and few days after
lead and zinc were discovered here
He came to Galena and engaged in the
practice of law, also engaging in min
ing. His mining venture made him
fortune and he became widely known
as an attorney.
In 1898 Governor John Leedy ap-
pointed Mr.. Sapp as recruiting Of
ficer and he acquired the title of
Colonel" by which he afterwards
was Familiarity known. At a national
convention several years ago, during a
heated debate, he was referred to as
silk Hat Bill and thruout the coun-
try the term was used wherever he
went.
Mr. Sapp is survived by a widow,
two sons and two daughters. One of
the sons, Ferry Sapp. is an attorney in
Kansas City
Backbone of Bourbons.
Col W F. (BhD sapp was for
years the backbone ora discoura ged,
disgruntled, disorganized Kansas
Democracy. But for a quarter of
century Sapp fought the battle of his
party in the state and when success
came to the Bourbons. none of the
fruits went to the war horse of the
sorrow days.
In the days when Kansas Demo-
crazy was unterrihed, but hopelessly
in the minority, Sapp always arrang-
ed for a full party ticket and often he
financed the game and kept together
the party organization Zinc inter-
ests in the Galena district brought to
Sapp a comfortable fortune-suffi-
GENTLY comfortable to enable him to
play the game and not worry about
clients in his law office. He loved
the political game and was never out
of the limelight altho he marched
often at the head of a forlorn hope
and seldom rode in the band wagon
Sapp never forgot his convictions
and never lacked fear of expression
He opposed many of the new ideas,
fought the prohibitory plank in his
party platform in the state in 1914 and
stood strong in the faith of his faith
ers. Sapp might have landed the late
Col W. a. Harris in the governors
chair in 1906 had he not lost heart
and expressed disgust when Colonel
Harris made his Leavenworth speech
in which he declared he would en-
force all laws. To that time Sapp had
directed a resUbmission fight
No office or reward went to Sapp
for his fights in Kansas politics. He
served as state chairman in 1904 and
in 1912 was elected national commit
teeman. winning a reelection in 1916.
In 1914 he was candidate for the
senator. In national politics, Colonel
Sapp carried a greater following and
commanded more consideration than
almost any Democrat in the state. No
Kansas Democrat was more widely
known than Colonel Sapp and in spite
of his many bitter political fights, he
was admired and respected by men of
al factions in his party.
NJ. H. Gardner. foreman of the
State Journal composing room, was in
GaIena at the time Colonel Sapp
walked into town and saw him arrive
at the place he was to make his for
tune and spend his life
Even tho he had little money. Col
onel Sapp made his debut at Cfalena
as a dressy gentleman" Mr.. Gardner
said today. His clothes were above
the average and he made quite an
impression. I do not know whether
or not he wore a silk hat when he
came into town. but cannot remem-
Der ever having seen him without it
Colonel Sapp set up a law office
in a little fra me building not more
than u by II feet, opposite the livery
stable Of Ed Weilep, a character who
afterwards became well known in
Kansas politics." Mr. Gardner said
He got off on the right foot at the
start and was soon on the road to