FIRM DENIES STEELMAN TO JOIN

A Cape Girardeau law firm denies a published report that a prominent player in state Republican politics is considering an offer to join the firm.

A story in Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that David Steelman, a lawyer with a practice in Rolla, is being courted by the law firm of Thomasson, Gilbert, Cook, Remly and Maguire of Cape Girardeau.

Steelman, a former state representative, was defeated last month by John C. Cozad of Kansas City for the chairmanship of the Missouri Republican Committee. Steelman narrowly lost to Democrat Jay Nixon in the 1992 race for Missouri attorney general.

John Cook, a senior partner with the Cape Girardeau firm, said the there have been no discussions with Steelman about joining and he has no idea about the origin of the report.

"Only God and the Post-Dispatch know why they do the things they do," Cook said of the story.

A representative with Steelman's Rolla practice said they are unaware of any plans by Steelman to leave his practice. Steelman is in court this week and was unavailable to comment.