Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-07-17
THE GUBERNATORIAL SITUATION.


The relona Herald
The policy advocated by many Populists that
"the office should seek the man. may be al
right as theory but it is fraught with great
manv dangers. The office sometimes catches
the wrong man. For a set of delegates to as
semble in convention without having careful
lv studied the men available for nomination is
supreme folly. Still more reprehensible is the
practice of a few "heelers" in organizing and
pushing campaign for the nomination of a
favorite candidate by securing the state and
promising good appointments to few "lead-
ers" in each county, as is now being done
among Kansas Populists in the interest of a
well-known candidate for governor. The peo-
pie should take medium position between
these two extremes, thoroughly and independ-
entity canvassing the various points for and
against the candidacy of available men for the
various offices, and then select delegates who
will represent the sober judgment of the peo-
pie, and not be swayed by sentiment or by the
noise and racket of convention clackers.
Two points should be considered in selecting
each canddate 1. Is he qualified for the office?
2. Would he be popular candidate? Is he
winner? There are good vote-getters who are
not fit for public office. On the other hand,
our party has men of eminent abilities who
would make the poorest sort of candidates.
These points should be especially considered
in selecting our candidates for governor, since
he is our standard bearer and the target for all
the enemys guns. A weak candidate for gov
ernor handiCaps the entire ticket, state, con-
gressonal judicial and county. The cause we
represent as party is so sacred and the emer
eency so great that we must not be influenced
by m@re sentiment, by sympathy, or by the
"favorite- idea. Our party was not organ
lied to vindicate favorite leaders or to reward
those who have rendered eminent services. Its
mission is to perpetuate this republic and secure
to the people their rights and Liberties. No
man is worthy of any nomination in our party
who Is not as willing to fight in the ranks as at
the head OF the column.
There are three men now chiefly in the minds
of our people for the office of governor-ex-
Gov. Lewelling, Col. w. A. Harris and Senator
l.. P. King. We desire TO say few things
about these men. The Herald believes that
the party cannot afford to nominate Mr.. Level
ling. First Of all, our party owes him nothing.
He as twice been nominated for governor.
HIS Geieat in 1894 was largely caused by the
eggregious blunders of his administration,
chiefly by his unwise appointments. The most
thoroughly unfit men, among the many of that
character, he gathered about him, the who
weighed down the administration and made it
impossible for the party to elect him, are the
men who are now pushing the canvass for his
nomination.
Gov. dwellings, course has completely alien
ated the better elements of the state, without
winning from the Republican party the i'm
moral elements of the cities. And, by the
way if he were specially popular in certain
cities in Kansas, this fact should create suspic-
ion in the minds of our people. 1t is claimed