The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-23
Democrats Circulating Alleged
Capper Campaign ''Note."
Claim 1t Shows Governor Flirt-
ing With Progressives.
and He DOESN'T DENY IT
Candidate Admits That He
WrOte-But Not This.
Mystery Surrounding 1t Rival
of POe's Gold Bug.

Have you seen the Capper-Chisham
mystery letter?
If you haven't and you are a Stand
pat Republican, do not be surprised
if one drops in front of you at some
unexpected time and in some strange
manner.
The Thompson Capper senatorial
campaign may be short on silver
tongued eloquence and spell-binding
speeches. 1t may be dead flu vic
tim from the standpoint of those
who judge live campaigns by the num-
Der of iron jawed' orators brought
into action. But, for those who pre-
fer mystery themes to word pictures.
Boy, h6wdy! It's a real rival for
Poe's Gold Bug!
And all of the mystery hinges
around the Capper-C hisham letter
which no one seems to want to father
and no one has yet denied. Governor
Capper, who is supposed to have writ
ten it, does not deny that he wrote
letter somewhat along the lines of
the one in circulation to ]. M. CHS
ham. of Atchison, altho he does say
that this is not the letter as he wrote
it. And Democrats who claim that
they got copies of it in a mysterious
manner. do not assert that it is an
exact copy of q letter Capper wrote,
but they do say it is an exact copy
with only the date and some of the
Yours truly" paragraph cut off.
In the letter. the governor is sup
posed to be thanking Chisham for his
aid in the primary campaign and at
the same time inparting to the Atch-
ison man that, if elected to the senate,
he expects to take a leading part in
bringing the Progressive party back to
life. And this last is the campaign
meat the Democrats are gnawing off
the bone and that is being flung at the
Standpat Republicans when they are
not looking, it is said.
''Strong for Johnson
In one part the mysterious docu-
ment says:
Now, if I get to Washington my
program will be just about what you
Lave outlined in your letter. 1 am
strong for Hiram johnson and If 1 go
to Washingt-n 1 will lay up close to
him because 1 have full confidence in
him. They will soon know that there
is another Progressive in the United
States senate if 1 go to Washington"
At Democratic headquarters there
seems to be no birth record, pedigree
or registration card to go with the let
ter. altho it is admitted such a letter
is being circulated over the state. Gov
ernor Capper, when shown a copy of
the mysterious document by Topeka
State Journal reporter. did not make q
flat denial that the contents were
deny that it was a verbatim copy Of
any letter he had ever written.
1t is said that standpat Republicans
in many parts of the state have re-
ceived copies of the epistle, and 1t is
presumed that the Democrats know
something about its circulation as E.
E. Murphy a short time ago made a
public statement in which he accused
Governor Capper of playing to both
the Standpatters and the Progressives
and trying to carry water on both
shoulders. But why the Democrats
seem averse to giving the full history
Of the document is one part of the
mystery. The other part is the appar-
ent effort Governor Capper is making
to say as little about it as possible, and
his failure to either deny that he wrote
what is being circulated or to make an
explanation that will put the letter he
actually did write in its proper light.
Here is the copy of the mysterious
document just as it was received by
the Topeka State Journal:
''Mr. J. NJ. Chisham, Atchison, Kan.
MY correspondence has been SO heavy
the last two weeks that ! have been very
much delayed in handling some of it. 1
and wsn to- kno%
very grateful to you for your help in this
campaign. I am proud Of the vote 1 re-
son county. 1t exceeded all my expecta-
tions. l believe it means that l will be
elected IN November as you say. Now, If
l get to Washington my program will be
just about what you have outlined in your
letter. l am strong for Hiram johnson
and if l go to Washington 1 will lay up
close to him because l have full confidence
in him. They will soon know there IL
another Progressive" in the Unitad States
senate IL / go to Washington.
"ARTHUR CAPPER."
Abilene Conqucring Flu.
Abilene. Kan, Oct. 23.-While there