The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-30
Internal Revenue COIIectOr
ArOuseS G. o. p. Leaders.
Endangered r. E. Birds
Chances in Eighth District.
PEDDLE WICHITA POSTOFFICE
Said Appropriations To Be
Based on Political Choice.
Now Republicans Are Trying to
Stop Leaks in Boat.
BY A. L. SHULTZ.


palgn are written there is little ques-
ton that Harvey Motter, internal
revenue collector and retiring state
chairman, will be awarded the grand
prize for pulling the biggest political
80 boner of the year While Motter has
seemingly nailed the bone premium to
a post, it may require outside assis-
lance to take the wild and rather
desperate Eighth district Republican
leaders off his neck. Motter, who
joyously and impetuously quoted a
cabinet officer a few days ago, per-
formed the double feat of winning dis
favor of official Washington and en-
dangering the recollection of a Repub-
ucan congressman.
Just now the Republican workers in
the Eighth district are devoting their
attention to reelection of Congress
man Richard E. Bird. But their mind
isn't entirely on that task. There is a
little post-election matter which will
enroll some very ardent workers. This
after November job is to secure the
prompt transfer of Motter from the
federal post in Wichita to private life
or at least d place in Siam or an
equally distant point.
This week Senator Arthur Capper
will hear a lot about the doipgs of
Motter and the possible undoing of the
party organization in the district.
Senator Capper is to spend three days
in the district speaking for Bird. 1t
is estimated that with reasonable sue
cess the entire time may well be de-
voted toward mending the holes which
Motter kicked in the Bird kite in
ten minute gossip with one of Gov
ernor Aliens newspaper reporters.
Senator Capper is credited with the
appointment of Motter.
Wichita Wants PostOfficc.
Bird has been based a good deal on
home pride. Bird, a Republican, is
fighting for a big federal building
appropriation. With an appropria-
lions committee of thirteen Republi-
cans and seven Democrats any gar
den variety of arithmetic makes clear
that a Republican is preferable to
Democrat in securing federal funds.
Hence with all the effort which Birds
Democrat opponent might put forth
he would doubtless take a place at the
foot of the class. Things seemed to
be going along swimmingly until Mot
Ter came home from washington a
few days ago.
After presenting the governors re-
porter with a dandy two-for-a-quarter
cigar the revenue collector told of
his trip. He said he dropped around
10 call on DR.. Hubert Work. postmas-
ter general Then Motter put quota
tion marks all around the cabinet Of
f1cer. He was made to give Wichita
the solemn. cruel alternative of elect
ing Bird and getting a new building
or electng a Democrat and catching
n bad cold. The statement was so
strong that even the Republican lead
ers chilled.
That night there was a big Demo-
.erat meeting in Wichit-, and Sam
Amidon. national committeeman, read
telegram which he was sending to
DR.. Work. In his message the COM
1nunity arose to inquire if federal
buildings were bartered and traded as
Motter had indicated in his quota
ton of the cabinet member.
Work Branded 1t As Untrue.
The telegram which came from
Washington said that the building of
postoffices wasn't a matter of poll
tics, but public necessity. Then Doc
tor Work branded Motter's quotation
as false and unauthorized. That and
the additional fact that congress and
not the postoffice department makes
appropriations. didn't leave Motter
very firm cake of ice to stand on. So
lac did the human thing. He said the
reporter had misquoted him. While
Governor Aliens paper is seeking
earnestly to find a nice soft place for
Motter to lie down, it hasn't repudi-
sted the interview. In the meantime
Bird headquarters is not a pleasant
resort where the internal revenue COL
AtGNoI may tobI Ills leNeTlSn brow OF
gain sympathy and comfort.
Amidons smart play caught Motter
off his feet. But it did more than
that. Temporarily, at least, 1t stopped
the trend to Bird. Until Motter came
home to quote a cabinet officer re-
garding the new postoffice plan it
looked as tho Bird had a positive
edge. He was forcing the fighting in
Sedgwick county, which is the battle
ground of the campaign. Two years
ago W. A. Ayres, Democrat. beat Bird
in the county by $500 votes.
Hard Work All Over Again.
Now it seems as tho there is a lot
Of hard work to be done all over again.
And it is only a week until the cam
paign closes
At Bird headquarters and among
Republican leaders in the Eighth the
interview of the revenue collector Is
referred to in terms that are horribly
shocking in a Christian community.
Motter's interview has upset the whole