The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-30
THE GOVERNOR QUESTION.

| dice upon the part of the Eagle against
| Governor Morrill,. We believe thai
weakness and vacillation, due, prob
| ably, old age and to too many years OF
unremitting public service, are his
principal faults. But the opposition
to him, which has sprung from these
supposed failings, is formidable. The
trouble or danger of this opposition
arises from the fact that it will not
manifest itself in convention. The
elements Of which the opposition to
Morrill, is made up will not evince it
self in the state convention, but it will
be found solid at the polls. No argu-
ment or contingency, that we can
think of will ever induce this oppo-
sition to vote for Morrill,. 1t is COM
posed of the two extreme elements of
the Republican party, the Prohibition
lists and the "Reminiscences. Had
he in the administering of the affairs
of the state, ignored both Of these ele-
ments, the enthusiasm and partisan
d
have carried him through. He would
have had his entire party vote. In
trying to serve both he lost the conf
dence and good will of both. The
Prohibitionists have less use for him
than even the liberal elements. such as
the ResubmissioniSts and the .. Nj.
BIS. The ProhibitioniSts cannot be
convinced that he did his whole duty
in the enforcement of the prohib1tion
law. They hold him responsible for
foolishness in ever giving utterance
tn the belief that no law can be en-
forced against public sentiment. Upon
the other hand the "Reminiscences
and the liberal Republicans hold that
he not only violated ante-election
pledges. but went to extremes III
burthening and annoying several COM
munities with unwarTanted, vexatious
and costly prosecutions. Upon the
other hand a large majority of the
strictly rural counties of the state,
whose inhabitants have been affected
neither one way nor the other by his
prohibition policy, are for him on the
general principles that second term
is his due, and that upon the whole
that his administration has been an
honest one, economically and finan-
cially considered There is but three
exceptions among the big counties of
the state to this fact. The trouble as
the unaffected counties have a major
ity of the delegates, while the dis
gruntled counties, having big popula-
tons, are strongest at the polls.
If it is true. as we believe it TO be,
that in order to carry Kansas the Re-
publican party must present a solid
and unbroken front this fall. then it
becomes the duty of the delegates to
the state convention to honestly, with
out fear or favor, TO not only ascertain
whether there is any foundation to
these objections to Governor Morrill,,
but if there is. then to act according
". without reference to the wishes of
this ring or the demands of that boss.
We want a candindate for governor
who can as certainly poll the solid
Republican strength of Shawnee as
Of Leavenworth; as surely carry Wy
andotte as Stevens or Rawlins.
Among the four candidates there is
but one who would command the solid
Republican strength of the state, and
that man is Judge Peters. Bourbon
and Atchison counties would be just
as sure for him as would Sedgwick.
There would be found no objections
or antagonisms to him anywhere. 1t
may be declared that, in the coming
campaign, that it is measures not
men, but the fact remains that in Kan
sas. with the Republican party, it is
both measures and men, and the fewer
the objections to either the Surer will
be the success. We want not only
such candidates as will carry the Nc
Kinley strength but also the disaffect-
ed, from whatever cause. No risks of
the state again falling into the hands
of the Pops should be taken on the
account of the desires or claims of
any man or set of men. In the case of
any candidate where disaffection and
opposition would be certain, such can
didate ought TO be abandoned. Shaw
nee. Atchison and Wyandotte might
prove solid for Troutman, Leaven-
worth. Cowley and Douglas solid for
Morrill,. Butler, Lyon and Marion solid
for Potter. but ali of these counties
will not be solid for either as the NOM
inee. So long as it is possible to name
any man who would prove acceptable
to all of these and to the other great
counties, the plain duty, especially I'M
der the present conditions, would be
to name that man, without reference
to personal claims or local ambitions.
A MUDDLED SITUATION.
Tom Watson, the Georgian. does not