The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-15

Warmest friends-a man who has sup
ported him through thick and thin-said
to mo the other day that if the president
were nominated he would work and vote
against him.
Mr.. Matthews speaks very modestly of
his own candidacy. 81 do not know that
1t has attracted any attention outside the
state" he said "but it is gratifying to me
to know that the people of my state feel
like this toward me, and especially to
know that there is no division in my party.
The cordial unanimity, free from fractional
feeling, is gratifying. 1 have not fixed my
thoughts on the matter with great or SAN
guine expectations. so there will be no
bitterness, no heartburnings, if nothing
comes of it. I am human, and I could
not fail to appreciate this great honor if it
came to me. But I have not set my heart
on it as an active aspirant. One thing,
however, KNOW would not take the
second place on a national ticket oven if
were sure of election. would not care
to be standing around barefoot for foul
years, waiting for some ones official shoes,
and that is about the occupation of one in
that position"
Discussing the coming campaign with
Governor Matthews, asked him if he was
likely under any conditions to be candi-
date for the senate. He answered in the
negative.
'Mr. Voorhees,, - he said, will in all
probability succeed himself if the Demo
Gratis control the legislature. This de-
ponds largely on the decision of the SUI
preme court on the redistricting of the
state by the last legislature. vetoed that
bill as unconstitutional, but they passed
it over my veto. Now the courts are to
pass on it. If it should be upheld, we
would have to carry the state by 80, 900 to
control the legislature
His Trouble With the Legislature.
Governor Matthews had hard time
with his vetoes last winter. All of them,
with one exception, were reversed by the
legislature. The one was bill depriving
tho governor of the power to appoint po-
lice boards in IA towns, and this he
thinks, was tho poorest veto in the lot.
''There were some people in the legisla-
ture,'' he said, ''who were nominated
without any thought that they would be
elected, and when they got here the Re
publican leaders could not control them at
ALL They even called General Harrison
in to reason with them, but it was of no
use. These people saw in everything did
an attempt to gain political advantage.
They even passed over my veto bill au-
thorizing the establishment of a new su-
perior court, thus giving me the power to
appoint judge when the advantage was
altogether in making the appointment.
Fortunately Governor Matthews has no
legislature on his hands this winter, but
lie finds his time very fully occupied with
the business of his Office. Fl gets to his
desk in the statehouse at 8 to $50 each
morning and is occupied by official duties
until or in the evening. He gives an
hour or more to the opening of his mail,
all of which passes under his own eye.
Important letters he answers Immediately.
Whom he has disposed of the urgent mail,
he dispcses OF people in the anteroom, most
e
tanning to the various state institutions
and about pardon cases. There is a class
of lawyers who live on pardon cases and
who make the governors life a burden.
These attorneys persuade the friends of
prisoners in the penitentiary that they
may obtain pardOns for them, and they
prepare briefs and petitions to present to
the governor in cases which they know to
be utterly hopeless. To stop this practice
the governor notified the prisoners that
their cases would receive as much atten-
ton when fortified with the facts as if
presented by the best attorneys in the
state.
He Suffers From Stage Fright.
Iasked Governor Matthews how he liked
campaigning.
81 could tell YOU he said s'of tho time
when 1 made nay first speech, when my
knees knocked together and would have
given $500 to be somewhere else. Well, I
have never recovered from that feeling en-
tirely. I always suffer from embarrass-
nent when am about to make a public
speech. If it is a short speech, hardly
finish it before have recovered from my
fright. I suppose my embarrassment is
due to the fact that have spent my whole
life on farm. Life on farm, owing to
its isolated nature, is not conducive to
public speaking or to ease of expression.
One comes in contact with fewer people
there. The life is quiet, rather more medi-
tatiye, and it is constant contact with
other men which brightens the wits and
sharpens the tongue and gives easier,
reader expression. I entered public life
very unexpectedly. Only three weeks be-
fore the nominating convention of 1892 a
conference of leading Democrats-Gray,
Mcdonald and others-telegraphe me at
my farm near Terre Haute to come to In
dianapolis.
''There they proposed that I head the
ticket that year as a candidate for Secro-
tary of state. The proposition was wholly
unexpected. I had never been in office
before, with the exception of one term I
served in the legislature, and with this
one term was satisfied 1 told them I
would like to consult my wife before ac-
cepting, as it meant great change in our
life. 1 consulted her and found she was not
only willing but anxious to have me take
the nomination. I accepted it and was
elected. Two years later I was a candi-
date for nomination as secretary of state.
The second term is usually conceded, but
three weeks before the convention 1 was
induced to announce my name as a candi-
date for governor. Yes; have liked the
experience. The campaigning has been
the most disagreeable part Of it. am not
a candidate for e-eleotion. Our constitu-
ton forbids reelection within four years.
If am to retire to my farm at the close
of my present term of Office, no one will
return more cheerfully and contentedly
and more grateful to his party for the
honors which it conferred
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.