The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-19
THE GovERNORSHIP.
An Interview With Hon. Frank
L. Martin,

| Hon. Frank L. Martin. judge of this
ern Kansas as one of the clearest-headed
and ablest Republicans in the state, and
in Reno county it is doubtful If any
man ever had a better place in the re-
gard of the Republican masses.
A News representative sought out
Judge Martin and asked him to state his
views upon the governorship canvass.
The Judge at first declined to be inter-
viewed; but after earnest solicitation ex-
pressed himself IL answer to certain
questions as follows:
1.-The whole matter is serious, both
| from business and a party standpoint.
! Tie election of All Alliance state adj
ministration would be disaster to the
business interests Of Kansas and the loss
of our electoral ticket might mean
| Democratic president. Our first duty,
| therefore, is to nominate candidate for
| governor whom we can elect. When
we had g., 900 plurality and nomma-
ton was equivalent 10 election 1t was
well enough for Republicans TO give free
rein to their personal likes and dislikes.
| But today the situation absolutely de-
mands that all personal feelings and
prejudces be sunk out of sight and that
| a candidate be nominated who can get
! the most votes for himself and the whole
| ticket
"Who do you say that is?'
! "Colonel Murdoch. beyond any ques-
ton. Either of the other distinguished
| gentlemen named can poll the ordinary
party vote; but the situation demands
the nomination of a man who can poll
not only the ordinary party vote, but
who can poll the fifteen or twenty thou
sand other votes which have from vari-
Gus causes become detached from our
party organization without having yet
effected permanent Judgment in either
the Democratic or Alliance party. That
| there is such vote this year nobody
can deny. 1t is largely in the cities and
| towns, but to some extent 1t Is
| found in the country also. large
per cent. of this vote Is in the Seventh
congressional district and in Southern
| Kansas. That vote will be most pow
erful factor in the election this fall; and
| for some reason Colonel Murdock has a
| hold upon that vote which even the most
| ardent admirers of other candidates do
not claim for any of them. Murdoch
has always been a straghtout party
man; | am told he never bolted or
scratched a Republican ticket in his life,
but his general fearlsssness and indie
pendence have given him wonderful
hold upon large classes Of people"
Would Colonel Murdoch lose any of
the extreme prohibition votes?"
There is no reason why he should
lose single republican vote, and
where he would lose one he would
gain twenty. Murdoch is man of un-
Improbable character He says if he is
elected governor he will faithfully and
vigorously enforce every clause of the
constitution and every law upon the
statute book; and | believe him, as |
would believe any other honest man.
The Republicans of Reno county are very
largely ProhibitionistS, but they don't
propose to let past and buried differences
upon this or any other question prevent
them from doing the very best thing for
the Republican party, upon the success
of which we believe the moral and bust
ness welfare of the state so largely de-
ponds. Hence l think the Reno
county delegation will be for
Colonel Murdoch from first
10 last, and look for the well nigh solid
support of him by the whole Seventh
district. His nomination is the one
thing that can absolutely assure the
election of our candidate for congress,
and every man in this district who wants
to see Chester Long elected ought to take
off his coat and work for the nomina-
ton of Murdoch"
"Why did Jerry Simpson go into the
Alliance state convention and demand
dwellings nomination for governor
"For somewhat of the same reasons, |
suppose, that Longs friends in the
Seventh district ought to demand MUIR
docks nomination. If we have half the
Judgment that Simpson displayed, it will
solidify the southwest for Murdoch"
"What do you regard as some of the
other elements of Colonel Murdock's |
strength
His attitude for years upon the rail-
road question alone gives him an ex-
ceptional hold upon the western half of
the state, and his long championship of |
Kansas, her people and her interests, |
against all the world make him strong
in every corner of the state. Besides |
this he is known as the mortal enemy of !
rings and boodlers of every description |
and his paper has long been power for |
the honest administration of all public |
affairs"
But do you think he has made the
requisite canvass TO insure his nomina. |
tion?"
HE has not gone around from |
county to county engaging in |
hand to hand tussle with |
other candidates 20 secure dele |
gates; but believe he is stronger with |
the people for having refused to do so. |
l understand also that he has not prom
ised directly or otherwise single Office |
or position to further his chances; so |
that. if nominated and elected, he would /
be absolutely free to do justice to all |
interests and every locality. This fact |
also, regard an element of strength. / |
think the people would like to see Just
that kind of man elected governor of
Kansas"
what strength has Murdoch in the
convention
"As things are, believe he will be
the first choice of 200 delegates, and up
on full understanding of the situation
he should be the second choice of
enough TO nominate him very early in
the fight.