The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-20
A Sudden Agitation for Charlie
Curtis for Governor.
Many Republicans Think He
Would Be Strong.
OTHERS THINK NOT.
Frank Herald Says He Could
Beat Leedy.
hr. Curtis Says That HeDOesn't
Want 1t.

The Standard invites guesses. Who
will be the next governor of Kansas?
Frank E. Smith opens the ball by nam
ing that brilliant young congressman,
Charles Curtis of Topeka He adds:
If the Republicans nominate him, he
will win by 10000 majority It would
settle and defeat a PoD11Iisf- scheme TO
get two excellent congressional candi-
dates, to kill the chance of Republican
success on the state ticlSet.-Rush Cen
ter Standard.
This suggestion comes in the nature
OF a surprise to most people in Topeka
Even the politicians have not consider
ed Mr.. Curtis even a gubernatOrial pos
slbility because they think he -Will be
nominated for congress in the First dis
trict.
A Journal reporter who interviewed
local politicians met with the following
results:
Charles E. Gault-I do not believe
Mr.. Curtis would consent to run but he
would be the strongest man I know OF
II ne were to enter the race. He has
many elements of strength that no one
else possesses, for he gets out among
the people and mingles with them. He
is one of the best politicians in the
country. I want it understood, how
ever, that I think Mr.. Curtis viii be
nominated and elected to congress in
the new First district.
Charles S. Elliott-That is a good
idea. If he would be nominated he
would be elected without trouble.
Representative II. G. Larimer-I do
not believe Republican will be elected
governor next year.
]. G. SlOnecker-I do not believe in
this thing of the people running around
after man to put him into another
once as soon as he gets out of one. L
do not believe Mr.. Curtis is big enough
for governor. He has been in congress
a long time but has not brOadened out.
z. F. Doran-I don't believe Mr.. Cur
tbs would consent to run He would
make a strong candidate but he is run
ming for congress in the First district.
Senator w. E Sterne-That suits me
first rate. Mr. Curtis would be an ex-
cellent candidate for governor and
would be elected.
A, B. Quinton-I do not believe that
q Shawnee county man can ever be
elected governor. People out over the
state have it in for Topeka and they
would not allow a Shawnee county man
to be nominated. If Mr.. Curtis could
be nominated he would certainly be a
strong candidate.
David OVermyer, DemOcrat-They
might go further and do much worse
Robert Stone-I have heard of this
rumor. I believe Mr.. Curtis would
make a good governor. But it looks to
me as If this is a scheme to get rid of
him in the congressional fight
G. P. Bolmar-You may rest easy on
that point. Mr.. Curtis will be nomina-
ted and elected to congress in the First
district. I do not believe he will be a
candidate for governor.
Representative E. D. Keever-Cur-
tbs would make a good race for COVER
nor and would be elected but he is in
the race for congress.
Frank Herald, Populist-If Charlie
Curtis is nominated he will defeat
Leedy [ do not believe that Leedy viii
be reelected if a good man is nomina-
ted by the opposition.
Congressman Curtis was seen at his
office and asked about the rumor He
was busy working on pension papers
but he stopped long enough to say: t
have heard more about making me a
candidate for congressman-at-1a but
a friend wrote to me the other day and
requested me to allow him to boom me
for governor. I told him that I am u
candidate for congress in the First dis
trict and that under no circumstances
would I be a candidate for governor or
ANYTHING elSe''