The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-12-17
Major J. K. HudSOn'S Address
III TO Kansas Republicans.

of the campaign OF 1898 is most nat
ural. The party went into the con-
test of 1896 well equipped for vic
tory. Governor Morrill,, while a
disappointment as strong, courag'
eous leader, offered the state good,
clean, business administration, His
denomination, with Mckinley, on a
good republican platform, as a ma,
tional leader, seemed to leave little
doubt of the party's success in this
state. In literature, in able cam
paign speakers, in thorough country
organization, with the arguments and
patriotic sentiments of the Campaign
largely in favor of the republican
cause, the defeat of our party was
overwhelming and humiliating. The
opposition combined regardless of
their party principles on the one
proposition of party principles on
the one proposition of free and I'M
limited coinage of silver While it
is true that many republicans friend
ly to the recognition of silver at the
old ratio, regardless of its CONNER
cial value, voted with the opposition
there were other and deeper causes
underlying republican defeat. Gov
ernor Morrill,, around whom the
temperance republicans had rallied
in his first election, were hoplessly
entangled by scheming politicians,
and adopted vascillating, do-noth-
ing policy regarding prohibition,
which disguised and angered the
temperance sentiment of the state
and resulted in loss of thousands
of votes. Another cause of weak
ness among thinking republicans
was the belief that party organiza-
ton was merely a machine to secure
party spoils for a gang Of midnight
schemers who meet in hotels in Kan
sas City and Topeka to decide who
shall be nominated and appointed for
lucrative political Offices. Governor
Morrills administration had been no
rebuke to the little bosses, and many
very many, republicans took occas-
sion to condemn the party manage
ment that seemed to be in the hands
of the manipulators and without a
leader. 1t was, therefore, the loss
of confidence among republicans and
not the strength of the enemy that
defeated the republican party at the
election of 1896. The result of the
election of 1897 is neither definite
nor significant.
We approach the campaign of 1898
for the election of state officers with
the party sloshing around without a
leader Of recognized ability to unite
it and beat the schemes of the bosses.
Old and tried republicans say: eff
Recublicanism In Kansas means
building up a controlling political
machine for some little Quay or
Platt to use for his personal follow
ing, reserve the right to condemn
the schemers at the ballot box. "
Republicans have hoped that Sena-
tor Baker, elected independent of
all party factions, would develop
into a leader whose personality and
ambitions would be secondary to the
welfare and success of his party. He
is at this time passing through the
crucial tests of leadership, with the
gang and its little scheming boss, Le-
land, hot upon his track. 1t remains
to be seen whether he has the courage
the diplomacy and the statesman
ship to unite his party and maintain
the confidence of the people in his
own political integrity, or become
in part or altogether the servant of
the boss and his gang. To fail
means political oblivion for Senator
Baker. AS between the Senator and
Boss Leland an overwhelming ma
iority is with Senator Baker. 1t
is an absurdity in politics that there
should be any question at the White
House as TO how the republicans OF
Kansas stand.
At no time in the history of ouI
politics as state has there been such
a striking lesson in favor of civil ser,
vice reform as we have been witness
ing in the disposal of federal patron
age. Appointments for Kansas
seem to be dictated by way of bacI
door and not through the front en-
trance of the White House. TIL,
most corrupt and demoralizing ele
ment in national politics having it
ramihcations in every state cam
paign, is federal patronage, the dis
pensing of Offices for political pur
poses. Every man who takes an &C
tive part in politics for the spoil
there is in it is a menace to the re
public. Civil service reform, cor
corning which every machine polit
clan sneers, is the hope of clea
and honest and competent admir-
Al.