The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-02
WHY THERE IS A ROW.
BecauseRepublican State Chair
men Are Selected Wrong.
Many Influential Republicans
Want the Plan Changed.
Let the State Convention Select the
Chairman and Give the Party
More of Voice in Its
Own Affairs.


jects which is receiving the attention of
the Republicans of this state. The
former custom has been for the nomi-
nees for the state offices to select a
chairman, the governor having former
", as a rule, been conceded the power
and the privilege of naming the chair
man.
Some of the party members have sug-
gested that the chairman be selected
by the state convention before the can
dldaLeS for state officers are chosen.
This suggestion is meeting with the APP
probation of nearly all of the RepubI-
cans who have discussed it, but few
refraining from an unequivocal en-
dOrSement of the idea.
The change is advocated by men who
are not strictly speaking, offensive
partisans, but men who are conserva-
tive and support the idea, believing that
a change would be beneficial.
EX-Governors Thomas a. Osborn and
Lyman L. Humphrey and in favor of
the change.
Mr. Osborn said: There is but one
way to give the people of the state a
voice in the election of a chairman
who is chosen to represent, not one
man or set OF men, but the entire party
"A representative of a particular faction
might neglect interests belonging to
other candidates and of as great i'm
portance as the head of the ticket. The
experiment of eIecting a chairman by
the convention has been tried in many
of the eastern states and it has given
eminent satisfaction. Undoubtedly
that is the only way to deal with the
problem. The convention unquestiOn-
ably has the right to take such action
but custom has made it otherwise in
Kansas. Custom, it is said, often makes
law, but in this particular instance it
is my opinion that it would be ex-
ceuent display of wisdom for the Re
pubicanS of Kansas to change the Gus
TOM
Ex-Governor Humphrey said: THE
practice OF leaving the selection of a
chairman of the state committee to the
successful candidate nearly always
produces unsatisfactory results. The
defeated factions believe that they are
campaign faVors. This produces dis
satisfaction which causes detection and
later develops into q serious quarrel
among the various elements. The new
method would remove all of these OBJ
stacles and 1 believe bring US the best
results"
IT. F. Doran of Topeka does not ap-
prove of the plan. He says: 1T Oc-
ours to me- at first thought. that a
man who had proven himself an active
champion of the successful candidates
for nominations in state conventions
should be selected to manage their in
terests in campaigns following their
nomination. 1 am of the opinion that
the present method is a good one and
that being true see no necessity for a
change"
Mr.. Doran stated that after further
investigation of the subject, he might
change his opinion. but at present he is
Introduction of new ideas.
What We want now he said, lis
harmony and work. With these essen
tiaI elements of a campaign, we can
win
Ex-Lieut Gov James A Troutman
approves of the plan to have the chair
man of the state committee elected by
the convention. He said:
The idea is new one in Kansas,
but in some of the eastern states I am
informed that it has proven satisfactO-
~ under all circumstances. [ should
be in favor of it's adoption in Kansas.
Under the present method of electing
a chairman, the successful candidates
are likely to subordinate other inter-a
ests in favor of their own, which would
mean that party interests would be
compelled to submit before the inter
ests of individuals This propagates a
wrong idea which would be overcome
were we to elect a chairman elected in
the convention.
"A chairman selected by a candidate
for governor, nominated in a conven-
ton filled with close and long fought
contests, would be very likely to devote
his time, talents and influence to the
advancement of the gubernatorial as
pirant, which would, Of course, react
against the remaining candidates. 1t
might also be responsible for overlook
ing the legislative interests which are
certainly as important as those of the
state officers. The legislature is an eS-
sential part of government and we
should look after it as carefully as we
would oversee the interests of candi-
dates for other Offices We should look
after everything else connected with a
campaign just as much as we should
look after the minor details of a cam
paign of one man for governor or any
other state Office
A. c. Sherman of Rossville. one of
shawnee cOunty's representatives in
the legislature of 1895, said;
tha nTG Of he inn ~
state convention before the candidates
for state offices are chosen, is the on
~ correct method of handling this ques-
ton. The record of the Republican
velOpment in Kansas shows beyond
peradVenture. the fact that the selec-
ton of chairman of the state COM
mittee by the state officers, who uSu-
ally take a back seat and give the nom
inee for governor that privilege, has,
during each two years, built up sort
of one man power which has, without
exception, proven disastrous to the
best interests of the party. Permit the
delegates in a convention to select the
chairman, and we will then give the
people an opportunity to be heard. The
delegates come fresh from the people
and are in a position to know the senti-
ments of their constituents, and to
them should unquestionably be accord
ed the privilege of naming chairman
of the state committee. 1t is the only
correct way to do and viii relieve the
Republican party OF embarrassmentS
which have surrounded it in several
campaigns in which I could name"
Representative Ed McKeever thinks
the present method could not be i'm
proved upon. He thinks the delegates
in a convention might trade the office
of chairman for a candidate for gov
ernor or something of that kind and
opposes any change being made in the
selection of a chairman of the state
committee.
ONE MORE STALE SCANDAL.