The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-18
ONLY TWO PLUMS'
Kansas Not Earring Very Well
s at Harding's Hands.
Lawrence Mans Appointment
Earned as Promotion.
MARTINS CLAIMS ARE PUSHED
Curtis and Whole State Delega-
ton Back of N. G. Head.
Clyde Reed Still Has Chance in
POstOffice Department.
MARTINS CLAIMS ARE PUSHED

& Washington, March 1S.-Appoint-
sment Of Ira K. Wells, Seneca. Kan, as
United States judge for Porto Rico,
was recommended to President Hard
ing today by Senator Curtis of Kan
sas.
Washington, March 1S.-With the
appointment of Edward C. Finney of
Lawrence. Kan, as first assistant sec
rotary of the interior, Kansas drew its
first good-sized appointment under
the Harding administration. Finney
was Endorsed by practically all the
Kansas delegation but as he has been
in the department here twenty years,
the appointment was more on merit
than of a political character.
In fact, he has taken little or no
part in Kansas politics for two decades.
Since the Roosevelt administration.
.Finney has advanced from post to post
- the interior department until he
fecame the right hand adviser of sec
rotary after secretary, whether Re-
publican or Democratic. He is looked
upon as knowing more of the inside
workings of the big interior depart
nent,. which handles public lands, In
dian affairs, national parks, the forest
service and educational matters than
any other man in Washington.
Kansas Gets But Two Plums.
The Finney appointment and the re-
naming of w. S. Culberson of EN-
poria, Kan, to the tariff commission,
make the only two appointments Kan
sans have scored as yet, but good
many are pending. Gen. c. /. Martin
of Kansas, was taken to the war de-
partment yesterday and introduced to
Secretary Weeks by Senator Curtis.
The Kansas delegation has united in
asking the war department to reopen
the selection of a head for the militia
bureau which carries with it a gen.
eralship in the army.
4 Secretary Baker turned down Gen
eral Martin and named Colonel Rich
ards of Pennsylvania, but as confirma-
ton of the latter failed last session,
appointment is still open. Secretary
Weeks would not indicate whether he
would appoint the Kansas general or
not. He said he would read the record
fof Endorsements and qualifications of
all the men submitted to Baker be-
fore making a decision. As General
Martin has been Endorsed by the gov
ernors of more than two-thirds of the
states. Kansans here feel he has an
outside chance at the post still. despite
the previous reflections of his claims.
Curtis Visits President Harding.
! Today Senator Curtis has an en-
gaGement with President Harding to
gubn1it the names and Endorsements CT
other Kansans for federal positions.
Special emphasis will be laid on the
application of Judge Ira X Wells of
Seneca, Ka&., for the judgeship of
Porto Rico. Some other names will
be submitted at this conference.
So far. no Kansan has been in the
running for one of the assistant post
master generalships. w. c. Woods of
Kansas. now in the postal service, re-
ceived the Endorsement of the Kansas
delesation. but it has been indicated
at the postoffice department that he
would not be named,
It was stated at the postoffice de-
partment that clyde M. Reed of To-
peka had at no time sought or been
an applicant for an assistant post
splendid record he had made in the
postoffice department before return
ing to Kansas, and his familiarity
with the needs of the service, a large
humber of the postal employees. par
ticularly in the railway mail service,
had suggested Reeds name to be post
Jnaster general, as the type of man
they believed the department needed.
Reed Not After job.
a They did it without Reeds consent,
and with the distinct understanding
that he was in no sense a candidate
POSTMASTER generalships, the most i'm
portant places, have not yet been an
nounced by Mr.. Hays, but sit is under
stood that tenders are out and only
waiting acceptanceS before appoint
ments are officially made. James j.
McGraw Of Oklahoma turned down
the first assistantship, which handles
all postoffice appointments. He said
he could not give up his private bust
mess for the work.
1t is expected that an early an
nouncement will be made of the policy
of the Harding administration regard
ing civil service in the postmaster
ships. Members of congress from
nrNri fN1 IaI,
applications already for nearly every
postoffice. But the "faithfuI'' will re-
ceive disappointment, it is expected
out of the recommendations Hays will