The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-15
MR.. BoYLE's VIEWS.
Makes a Scientific Study of the EIec-
tion Results in Kansas.


Attorney General Boyle has returned
from a visit to his former home in Fort
Scott where he has been on legal busi-
ness since the election. Mr.. Boyle thus
explains his ideas of the causes of the
defeat of the POpulist state ticket.
Certain incidental and minor infiu-
ences in a measure contributed to this
result he said. THE principal inf1u-
organization the Republicans had
throughout the state. The men in
charge of the Republican campaign had
peculiar genius for organization, and
the results of the election exemplify
their talent. I have in mind one coun-
try precinct in Bourbon county in which
it is positively known that every Re-
publican went to the polls, whereas over
35 fusion voters stayed at home. The
Republican voters were under better
party discipline by reason of superior
organization. This one precinct is il
Illustrative of the entire state vote.
I do not wish to be understood as
casting any reflection upon the work
done by the fusion state committees.
1 believe the men in charge of our cam
palgn were loyal, earnest and Jealous,
and did everything possible with the
means at their disposal 1t must be
conceded, however, that the Republican
campaign managers not only had a per-
feet system throughout the entire state
to get their voters to the polls, but they
also had the money and the workers
back of them to carry out the most
careful details.
independent, however, of organiza-
ton, 1 believe there were far deeper
and more fundamental causes respOn-
sible for the results. 1t will be noticed
that the fuSiOniStS made gains in the
cities, and lost in the country districts.
I attribute this result to the fact that
the business men in the larger towns
and cities were in closer touch with
the business propositions involved in
our state campaign, whereas the coun-
try voters were only vaguely and in
directly in touch with these questions
LAS a general proposition, farmers are
more affected with national impressions
than they are with state issues. Our Re
publican opponents kept constantly before
the farmers attention the fact that he
was getting good prices for his farm pro-
ducts, and was, in general, prosperous,
national administration.
The Republican pamphleteers and
speakers did not undertake to demonstrate
just what influence Republican national
legislation had exerted to bring about
the trouble to analyZe the claims made by
he was better off than he had been for
many years. He reached the conclusion
that possibly there was something in the
claim of the Republicans. and if he went
to the polls at all he voted the Republi-
can ticket. Thousands of farmers, how
Influenced by the considerations above sug-
Another very potent factor in this cam
paign was the war sentiment. The Ameri-
can is nothing if not patriotic, and with
Republican campaign m AlagerS, by means
of their newspapers and speakers, have
11read The Dron0sition thai fTa co7IntrID
should stand back of Mr.. Mckinley his
war policy, and, although this PROPOSE
with the issues joined in this campaign,
yet it nevertheless Influenced thousands of
''The campaign is over. Time for Will
and l believe that the ultimate Judgment
of the people of Kansas will be that this
administration has given the state good