The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-25
SIZED Up.
Congressman Kirkpatrick Has
Been Out to Kansas
70 See How Things Are Going
Along Here.
ALL FOR M'KINLEY.
Finds Republican Sentiment
Solid for the Ohio Man.
How He Interprets This Phase
Of Sentiment.
Says 1t Means the People Want
a High Tariff,
so THAT THE REVENUE
Will Maintain a Gold Reserve
Without Bond Issues.
Silver Republicans Will Not
Leave Their Party.

From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Representative
kirkpatrick, who few days ago return
ed from visit from his home in Kansas,
brought back Impressions. In fact that
was probably the purpose or the main
purpose for which Mr.. Kirk patrick made
the visit. He took with him plastic,
sensitized mind, and expected after ex-
posing it to the rays of public sentiment
to obtain results of value.
Mr.. kirkpatrick appears to have OBJ
tanned very satisfactory results on the
subject of most Importance to him, the
political status in his district. He says
that he will be renominated without op-
position at the Third district congress
ional convention, which meets on March
II, and that he has no fears as to his re-
election. There are three prospective
candidates of the opposing parties, he
says, all of whom are looking for the
nomination, Ex- Congressman Hudson is
one of them, ]. d. Botkin of Neoaesha
another, and Jim" Allen of Erie Allen
ia the Populist banker. Mr.. Kirk patrick
believes there will be fusion in his dis
trict, but does not fear the combination
will be able to defeat him. He only had
a plurality when elected before, but the
opposing parties cannot carry their
whole strength to fusion candidate.
One of the other impressions which
was photographed on Mr. kirkpatrick's
Ind was in reference to the choice of
Kansas Republicans for president.
81 find" he said. 'that the state is al
most solid for Mckinley. There are
hardly enough people not for him to
make up a delegation, to put it strongly.
dal IN
from Kansas will be for Mckinley tor
president.
"Will they be instructed" was ask ed
eyes, think the entire delegation will
go instructed for him. The sentiment of
kansas Republicans is overwhelmingly
for him."
"How will the people reconcile their
support of him and his gold standard
views"
"Well, the people think that the trou-
BILE with the country is not SO much
the financial condition as the present
tariff system They believe the tariff
question overshadows other issues. What
they want is that the balance of trade
shall again be in our favor. That we
shall have fewer imports and more ex-
ports.
"The people have studied the question
and are prepared to go back to the Nc
Kinley system. When the present tariff
law was put into operation predictions
of the disasters which would result were
made and the people have seen them
fulfilled. They now believe that Re-
publican tariff will bring good times and
that is what they want
besides there is little choice in can
didates respecting their views on the
money question. Almost all of the prom
inent candidates entertain about the same
views so selection has to be made on
other grounds. The belief that the tariff
ia the ovsrshadowing question out
weighs the leaning toward the gold
standard which Mckinley has. Mr. Reed
has less strength because of his extreme
eastern location. The people are inclin-
ed to think that he is run by the east and
that the east wants to dominate every
thing. If he should be elected they
think he would favor only the cast and
look there for advice.
by having a candidate further west
they expect that the west will receive
more recognition"
"DO you not think the people of Kan
sas are ic favor of silver?" inquired the
correspondent
THE Republicans are divided on that
subject now as they always have been
A majority of them are friendly to silver
think, and favor the coinage of the
American product, but do not believe
that majority of them are in favor of
the unlimited coinage of silver"
MIR. kirkpatrick said he didn't believe
that any considerable number of people
would vote for strictly free silver presi-
dental candidate if he were put in the
field The reason, he said, was because
by voting for such candidate the free
silver men in Kansas would be able to
express their sentiments, but they would
not lave voice in electing a president.
For this reason he thought that all silver
Republicans would stand by their party.
Fusion between the Popclists and
Democrats, Dir. Kirkpatrick said. was
almost sure to be effected. He thought
it was settled between the lea'iers of
those two parties that they should com
bine. 81 do not believe, however," he
said, "that it will prevent Republican
victory. A large number of Democrats
will never vote for a Populist and lots of
Populists will not vote for Democrats. ;"
Again referring to his own district,
Mr.. Kirkpatrick said the work he had
done for the old soldiers, from what he