The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-16

ton. Albaugh was directing the Long
senatorial fight against Charles Cur
tbs and working for an amalgamation
of the Long Stanley forces For three
fight while he lay in bed with a
heavy weight on his leg Under his
direction the Long and Stanley forces
united and Chester L. Long went to
the senate.
Frank Ryan was a candidate for
secretary of state before the state
convention of 1906. Over his door
in the Copeland hotel was a sign
which said: Frank ]. Ryan, candi-
before the convention, A1baugh and
Dan Anthony and Billy Biddle of
Leavenworth changed the sign to
read: Frank ]. Ryan, candidate for
railroad commissioner" While Ryan
slept the delegates were corralled for
the following day and Ryan was
placed on the old railroad board
In the old county seat fight in Pratt
county, Albaugh and Del Travis
fought for Saratoga. They moved the
county treasurer's safe to the main
street of Saratoga and surrounded it
with an armed guard. The sheriff
came to get the safe one night. He
was advised he might have two min
utes in which to get off the townslte.
The sheriff looked over the armed,
determined guard, turned his horse
ami informed the guard he could beat
the allowance by a minute and a frac-
ton. He did.
Albaugh's ability to forecast po-
Iitical results was almost uncanny.
For years his predictions were accept
ed authority by political writers. In
1912 he forecast the result of the Re-
publican smash up as affecting results
with almost superhuman accuracy.
The night before the vote on the stone
resolution N the party council OF 1917,
Albaugn gave a State Journal reporter
a forecast of the vote of the state
committee. He missed his guess just
one vote.
Two years ago Albaugh was with
Chralcs H. Sessions, state chairman, IN
almost every hour of the campaign
He slipped on his forecast when he
confidently predicted Hughes Woulo
carry the state. During the tense
hours of election night. the bad news
gradually came to state headquarters
thru an absence OF the customary
flood of kilograms. Finally, just be-
fore midnight. a messenger boy came
to headquarters thru the ram feac
IL =" said Sessions as he handed Al
haugh the telegram. Alhaugn reao
RuiIer county committee. I'VE have
elected both members of the leslsla-
ture." said the telegram. That was
enough. Further news was not neccs-
saryL
70 A1baugh ever started in a fight
a,6 o,,it. no one has been able &c re-
call it. After his break with " Le-
land. the Doniphan sage ana Aloaugh
diG not speak for several years. ~,
csndidalos for speaker. Leland ana
hi. friends sought to force Albaugh' s
eunnort thu Judge Pollock Albaugh
| heard Of the move He lald ms res
| :gnatioa on Judge Poiiock oesh. 7
would rather quit my job than quit the
! Eight sad Albaugh. IF my position
| embarrasses you, there is my resigna-
! ten, Judge Pollock refused to ac-
cept the resignation. Albaugh stayed
| in he sight and Simmons won.
| In 1914 and 1916 Albaugh made a
hard fight for the election of Sim
mons to congress in the Seventh DIS
| naugh's death. Simmons was in To-
I.eka. That day Simmons made
! great mistake. He questioned Al
] baugh's sincerity in supporting Henry
7. Aller for governor That day sim
mons heard a discourse in loyalty that
| will probably burn in his soul many
| months.
Every political writer in Topeka in
| thirty years came to know Albaugh
| more or less intimately and to appre-
cIate hi, unerring judgment of men
and coalitions. He never sought the
spot light. Reporters quickly learned to
| bury the source of their information.
and to the vast majority of writer's
| who came to know and appreciate
| true confidence. Albaugh was an I'M
| failing fountain of news. He pos
sessed the rare ability to outline stories
| which carried the desired kick" but
thru Albaugh's keen foresight never
! came back"