The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-07
Skies Gathering Over Appoints
ment UpIinger to Committee.
Lobby Failed In an Attempt To
"Ride" Him.
WAS TOLD JUST WHAT TO DO
Sand Wen Split State Wide
Open ii You Don't Do It."
Then Cheyenne Member Told
Lobbyist Where To Go. d

The house labor committee is in an
excellent position to kick up a grand
and glorious row in Kansas. The
labor leaders are not particularly en-
thusiastic over the recent appoint-
ment of Ullinger of Cheyenne county
and they haven't neglected to mem
ton it. In fact they have spoken to
the state administration. leaders. to
Speaker Lambertson and even to Up.
linger about their feelings. All Of
which has profited nothing minus.
When Uphnger was appointed to
mittee, it created something of sem
sation. Speaker Lambertson seems TO
have been about the only person who
really thought of such thing. up--
linger himself wasn't a candidate. and
the whole proceeding was considerable
of surprise.
UpIinger hasn't talked about his
new job CT his plans. The state ad-
ministration leaders have said noth-
ing-at least not out 1oud-and Speak
gossip in legislative corridors is to the
effect that things have been happens
ing. To begin with, the labor lobby
is reported to have tried to ride" Up-
linger. That is a NOR or less PERIL
Gus undertaking. Probably no one
spoken, inoffensive looking gentleman
from Cheyenne would voluntarily
tackle such a job. Uplinger is
Democrat-which is the more wonder
for his appointment. He is Irish thru
and thru-which should in itself be &
warning. And last-and far from
least-he is possessed of that positive
quality so inelegantly referred to as
"intestines.''
He Can't Be Bluffed.
"Riding' Uplinger is not likely TO
| become favorite pastime for any
1nI.
| lature this inter. In the first place.
| Uplinger is the oldest house member
on the minority side. He is now serv-s
| ing his fifth session. He. knows his
of being bluffed. The red haired
member from st. Francis speaks the
| Kansas language with the distinct.
Cheyenne county accent. And out In
Cheyenne county it requires something
| more than m, re words to make a bluff
go.
One of the favorite stories around
ithe legislature just now is about a Ia
| Dor lobbyist who volunteered to ex-
! plain to Uplinger just what he would
| be expected to do. Non-committal. but
attentive, Uplinger listened to the
] lobbyists story. .And if you don't
make these concessions" quoth the.
labor leader. I'VE will split Cheyennei
county and the state OF Kansas wide
open" j
Told Lobbyist Where to Go.
| No family publication should invade.
| the sanctity of the home with ver-.
batim report of Mr.. Uplinger's reply.
! 1t Is asserted that the gentleman from
| Cheyenne offered his support in secur-=
ing the lobbyist free transportation to
an often highly recommended winter
resort And then he added some per-
sonal expressions which out in Chey-
enne county often cause people to buy
much arnica and stay indoors until
| the following week. But Mr.. Uplinger
hasn't missed a meeting of his COM
mittee.
| UpIinger is not allied with labor er
| corporation lobbies. He is merely
Iendowed with a considerable stock OF
good judgment and a tendency to let
both sides testify. He has record
! for never having explained a vote and
| rarely participates in debate. He
was sent to Topeka to succeed the vet
eran Josiah Crosby and has succeeded
| so well that running in opposition Is
Ian unpleasant and unsuccessful task
for any Cheyenne county Republics n.
He has refused repeatedly to be gag
y. ruled by party caucuses and whips
1t isn't so much the things the la-
Dor organizations want that attracts
attention around the legislative halls
these days. 1t is the result of the at
tempt to ride" the little man VINO
lives so far from Topeka that it Is nec-
essary for him to ride thru two other
.%, IN NJ