The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-09
MORTON ALBAUGH

tContinued from Page One,
state printership-a sacrifice which
cost Albaugh more than 100000. In
those days the state Partnership was
the plum of state politics. When the
Partnership fight before the 1899 leg
islative session was organized, the
leaders visited Albaush and wanted
him to seek the place.
Let Morgan Have 1t.
Only short time before Wy. Nor
gan, lieutenant governor, had bought
the Hutchinson Daily News. 1t was
the only Republican daily In the als-
trict Albaugh recognized the oppor-
tunity to do effective work in the short
grass country with Morgans paper.
And AIbaugh preferred to hold his
power and let other men gather the
richer fruits of politics. So he urged
his friends to go into the legislature
and support Morgan for the printer
shin Albaugh himself was most ac-
tive in the fight which gave Morgan
the printership-an election meant
financial return of $500 900 70 Slze'-
OGO to the Hutchinson editor.
The big chance for reward as a re-
sult of the 1898 campaign had been
waived aside. Albaugh was offereo
several positions under the STANLEY
administration. He directed many OF
the appointments, but his own person
al reward was appointment in 1901 to
the office of state bank commissioner
by Governor Stanley. By the appoint
ment, Albaugh succeeded John W.
Briedenthal, of Chetopa, who had been
named for four year term by Gov
ernor Leedy. Under the wording of
the bank commissioner act, the STAN
lev administration was unable to re-
move Prudential until the end of his
term.
siorer was held by Albaugh until
1904, when he was named as clerk of
the United States district court for the
district of Kansas. Judge John c:
Pollock. then an associate justice of
the state supreme court, was named by
President Roosevelt as judge of the
Kansas federal district. Judge. Pol
lock offered the clerkship to AL
baugh. It was a life appointment
the clerk holding office at the pleasure
of the life appointed Judge. So AL
baugh left the state house and went to
the federal building. The vacancy in
the banking department was filled by
the appointment of William S. AL
bright of Leavenworth.
Named National Delegates.
Never in the thirty years Albaugh
was a figure in state politics did a
tiona1 convention that he was not ac-
tive in its selection.
In 1904 Albaugh was active in the
selection of the delegation which put
rNdiodS III the rank WIFI the
Roosevelt delegations. In 1912, when
the party split came, Albaugh was
steadfastly and firmly with William
Howard Taft. Because of the feeling
that the party owed President Taft
reelection, he made the bitter fight
of that year thru the Republican
league.
TWO years, ago, Albaugh was the
active power in the organization which
fought off the anti-Mulvane organiza-
ton when an effort was made to de-
feat d. w. Mu1vane for election as
national committeeman. Mulvane had
never announced his candidacy. The
night before the state convention it
was Albaugh who adroitly outlined a
program which gave reelection to
Fred E. Stanley, of Wichita, and
smashed the movement to give the
election to j. R. Burrow, Topeka bank
er and former secretary of state. Null
vane and Albaugh and their friends
retained control of the national organ
ization in Kansas
An Active War Work Leader.
With the declaration of war last
spring, Albaugh entered vigorously in
to a prosecution of every war endeav-
or The years of training and close
study of organization work made the
Topeka politician one of the most eff
fective men in the country in the
work He gave days and weeks of his
tlIlo " the flSQ Gross ana OIner war
activities and largely thru his endeav-
ors, Topeka and Shawnee county gave
the Red Cross, the Liberty Bond and
Y NJ. c. A campaigns a boost equalled
in few communities of this size in
the country.
Albaugh's death followed within a
few months the deaths of the late Cy-
rus Leland, jr., of Troy, and James
Simpson of Mcpherson county Hel
had been associated intimately with
both men in many bitter political bat
ties. In later years he had broken
with Leland and on several occasions
had parted ways with Simpson, but
the three men were together IN score
of famous battles in the old conven-
ton days when their smooth running
and thoroly organized machine con-
trolled the state.
He Was Respected Everywhere.
Hundreds of men in Kansas today
will drop a tear when they>read the
news of Albaugh's untime1y death
Regardless of political faith or creed
or factional belief men of all factions
and powers regarded Albaugh as one
of the strongest men of the state and
a man whose word was never known
to he broken. He was true always to
his associates, his friends and his
party and in the war crisis displayed
a patriotism and loyalty that was new
er defined o. restricted by party lines.
In the campaign now opening AL
baugh had turned his attention TO the