The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-12
A Romance of Kansas Politics
BY FRED L. VANDERBILT
lin the Pittsburg (Kan., Suh.l

gress by the Republicans of the Big
Seventh district in 1892. He was
defeated by Jerry Simpson, Populist,
but the campaign had given him pres
party in 1894, this time defeating Mr..
Simpson at the November election.
/ In 1896. Simpson defeated Long, but
Long persisted, and in 1898 was
elected over Simpson. In 1900 and
1902, he was reelected, resigning in
the winter of 1903 to become a United
States senator, serving until March
4, 1909. Then came the deluge Of
state wide primaries and the strenu-
Gus. career of Joe Bristow in the United
States senate.
Comes now, crossing the path of
Francis C. Price, Billy Morgan, a
beneficiary of the old Big Seventh
machine, which rose early in Con-
gresham Longs career. This ma
chine was so closely bolted together
that it was a safe and sure bandwagon
for the ambitious men of the Seventh
| district, especially for young men
who sought to get on in politics. So
/ all hands and the cook" mounted into
| it, among them w. Y. Morgan.
Once safely enrolled under Mr.. Long
banner. Mr.. Morgan filed on the Of
flee of state printer, which at that
time was a job of munificent profits.
Grew Up in Print Shop.
/ Mr.. Morgan grew up in the print
shop of his father, who conducted a
weekly newspaper at Cottonwood
Falls, and afterward graduated with
! honor from Kansas University.
Returning to Cottonwood Falls, BILLY
soon discovered that his ambition was
/ bigger than mere wages, and so he
contrived to take over the Strong City
! Derrick on the opposite side of the
| Cottonwood river. which he converted
! into a Republican paper and so named
| it. But the Derrick was not big
enough for him, and so he schemed
around and bought the Emporia
Gazette. He did we'll in this venture
but not well enough. he thought, and
so he sold the paper to William Allen
White, a literary Teller" who liked
the simple life, and moved to the
mbltious city of Hutchinson, where
] he bought the News. Here he was
esta blished. with the prestige of sue
cess. apt and nimble, and, by gooC
manners, rare intelligence, and native
] affability, making friends right and
| left Next came Long and Long S
called on Long for the state printer
! ship and Long was strong enough to
secure it for him. He held this office
| four years, and out of it made a for
tune. Now, he wants to be governor
! Has Many Followers.
MI MoISdh mas more numerous
following of personal friends, proba-
| bly,, than any other Kansas Republi-
can. For his acquaintance is state
wide, and he never overlooks the main
chance In this he is capably assisted
J by Mrs. Morgan, who, with unerring
vision, points the way sometimes
when he fails to see. William P
| Lambertson probably has the greater
number of farmers behind him, but
Mr.. Morgan has more young men OF
! the towns than any other candidata
and they count. Likewise Charles u
Huffman, at present lieutenant gov
ernor, has large following in both
town and country, and SO the. race, fol
governor may be said to be on, altho
either Judge Price or Mr.. Morgan may
be "ironed out" in the process OF
smoothing over their differences.
! T. L. v.