The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-29

in the legal profession and leader
in politics.
1t is doubtful if the death of any
Kansan. has occasioned more general
sorrow and sadness in a community
than the death of Waggener. HIS
death meant something more than
Gaping hole in the legal leadership
of the state and the councils OF state
Democracy. 1t brought heart panss
and tears to thousands of children in
Atchison and adjoining counties. For,
thru his annual birthday picnics, Wag-
gener became the friend of tens of
thousands of youngsters big, KIND,
loyal, loving, sympathetic friend VINO
felt and understood every childish
sorrow and heartache and was never
too busy to listen.
Remarkable Record.
The remarkable professional record
of Bale Waggener was perhaps I'M
equaled in the history of the state
bar. He was engaged in law partner
ship with three chief justices of the
supreme court-Albert Fl. Horton,
David Martin and Frank Doster. Wag-
gener's big, yearning ambition was to
go to the top in his profession-and
he did it. Incidentally, he was
political power and retained d conf
dence and friendship which comes to
few men.
Limited school advantages came to
Waggener. At fourteen he was APP
pointed a toll gate keeper in his home
town, Platte City, Mo. From those
savings he studied law-days, nights,
and before he attained his majority
read law in the office of the late Gov
ernor George w. Click.
Waggener became a law partner
with Albert H. Horton while Horton
was United States district attorney.
tice of the supreme court in 1876. The
partnership of Waggener, Martin &
Orr was formed in 1887, eleven years
after Judge Horton went to the SUI
preme bench. David Martin. a MEM
Der of the firm, succeeded Judge Hor-
ton on the supreme bench and the re-
firing chief justice returned to practice
with Waggener. Judge Horton died
in 1902, and his place in the firm was
filled by Judge Flank Doster, the
third chief justice associated with
Waggener. James w. Orr, prominent
lawyer and Democrat, remained with
the firm until 1910, when it was re-
organized as Waggener & Challis, and
in 1915 became the firm of Waggener,
Challis. DeLacy & Brown.
With Missouri Pacific So Years.
For nearly thirty-five years-from
1876 to 1910-Waggener was general
attorney for the Missouri Pacific in
=
gener, succeeded him as general at
torney. and the veteran Bale P. Wag
gener was made general solicitor for
Kansas. Colorado and Nebraska. In
the last ten years Waggener had ap-
peared but little in the active trial of
cases, altho he seldom knew an idle
moment During the forty years of
his aggressive service at the bar, he
had matched wits and legal knowledge
with some of the most able lawyers of
the country. He was entrusted in the
trial of some of the most spectacular
and important legal battles in the mid
die west and his success was almost
phenomenal. He was a thoro student
of law, and when not engaged in active
court work spent much of his time in
his law library. His law library was
regarded as one of the most complete
in the United States. 1t contained
more than 5000 volumes.
Had Many Diversions.
Outside his professional life, Wag-
gener found many opportunities for
diversion. Politics was his one big
diversion and in public life Waggener
gained power possessed by few men
of a minority party. A consistent.
fighting, fearless Democrat, a strong
believer in party organization, Wag-
gener stood in the front ranks of his
party's leadership in the state. With
Click, Doster. Harris. Overmyer, Far
Kelley and other strong men of his
party, Waggener fought thru the many
lean years for Democracy against the
smooth running organizations of Le-
land and Albaugh and the Republi-
can crowds which ran affairs nearly
a generation ago.
Always, tho. Waggener's personal
popularity and influence carried over
troubled political streams which his
party as an organization was unable to
bridge. Perhaps the greatest honor
and recognition of ability to be accord
ed Waggener was in 1908. when Re
publican house of representatives gave
him the craftsmanship of the all i'm
portant judiciary committee.
In 1904 Waggener's personal follow
ing was most thoroly demonstrated.
That was the year Kansas went
crazy for Teddy" But it didn't dis
courage Waggener in the least He
ran for the state senate in the Atchi-
son-Jackson county district and was
elected with a majority of /, 500, while