Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-09
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE AT THE EDI-
TORIAL CONVENTION.
The Secretary Says His Tastes. Hab-
its and IncIinations Lead Him
Away From, Rather han
Toward, Politics and
Political Turmoil.

be governor.
The announcement came as the conclu
sion of a brief address made on invitation
of the association. Mr.. Coburn said:
Many Of you. with others. have been friendl
enough 10 suggest my name in connection with tn
SoNernorshtp. or the compliment and confidence
implies. no one could be more heartily appreciative
convictions. Possessing the courage of those convic
tons. has vast potency for good. But it is a polItica
away from. rather than toward, politics and politica
turmoil: am in every fiber q Republican,: the sor
riGidly and impartially. of every law found In tn
statute BOOKS In my present position l represent. ii
e en ynt the great nSh, cemman or n0 %nlS ndeai. way wa x,e eS9e
belong-the producers-aId am satisfied. Hence.
take occasion in this presence to declare to you. ono
and for all. my very partial friends. my kind neigh
boTs. my honored and honorable fellow citizens. tina
l am not a candidate for governor. 1 do not intent
to be a candidate; l do not wish to be governor"
In thus declining to be a candidate, Mr.
Coburn stands very nearly in the posi-
ton of having rejected the governorshir
OF Kansas. He might not lave been nom.
mated, even if he had made the race, but
his candidacy was being received with g
favor in every county in the state, from
DoEiphan to Stanton and from Cherokee
to Cheyenne. that betokened an easy vic.
tory for him in the state conventions; and
nomination would have been equivalent to
election. The wonderful popularity which
has come to Mr.. Coburn through his eff
cient and helpful administration of the ag-
ricultural department was never more evil
dent than when it appeared that the men
for whom he has been working NIGH
have an opportunity to vote for him for
governor. His BOOM" which began with
a random suggestion In the Clay Center
Times that Secretary Coburn would be a
good mar for governor, spread like a prai-
rie fire driven by a March wind, and In
a few days was as broad and as long as
the state-and with as glorious a pros
pect. There is no man in Kansas in whose
ability and integrity the people have
greater confidence, and to tens of thou
sands it will be a sore disappointment that
Mr.. Coburn has not thought best to acqui-
esce in the plans of his friends to make
him governor. But they will not be with
out compensation-his refusal to stand for
the governorship leaves him in the posi-
ton in which he has accomplished SO much
for Kansas and Kansans in the past four
years, and where he may be of no less
real service to the state thar he would
as governor.
Topeka. Kas., Feb. s.-(Special.) The
news of the withdrawal of F, D.. Coburn
from the race for the Republican guberna-
torial nomination created a political sersa-
ton here tonight. While the politicians
did not admit it before. they admit now
that Mr.. Coburn's boom had reached dan
gerous'' proportions. 1t is difficult to pre-
dict the effect of his withdrawal and the
Republican leaders generally refuse to dis
cuss that phase of the matter. The gen.
eral feeling seems to be, however, that the
political atmosphere had been considerably
cleared, and that the race is now between
Hessin, Hood and. Seaton. 1t is probable
that Charley Scott, of lola, may be brought
out as a candidate now, although there is
not much talk along that line here tonight.
There is one thing which has been sug-
gested as a result of Mr.. Coburn's with
drawal. Wyandotte county will now be
free to put up another candidate. which
it Is thought here she will probably do in
the person Of Charley. Lobdell. for attorney
general. and form a combination with Atch-
ison county on John Seaton for governor.
At the meeting of the Kansas day banquet.
IoDuei was uTStu ny several ftepuDlCdH
leaders to become a candidate, but he did
not say definitely that he would do so.
The only gubernatorial candidate here to-
night is John Seaton. In speaking Of Mr..
Coburn's withdrawal. he said: 'It will
clear up the political situation and help
the field generally. 1 do not believe any
one candidate will be benefited much more
than another. Coburn was developing re-
markable strength. especially among the
farmers. and had he remained in the race
he might have swept us all off the political
checkerboard."
Cy Leland absolutely refused to discuss the
situation. Il do not want to mix up in it
at all. at this time. at least" he said.
S. 7. Howe said: 1T is a very great
surprise to me. Mr.. Coburn's resignation
removes one of the strongest. as we'll as one
of the most available. men for the nominal
ton in the Republican party in Kansas. I
not prepared to say what candidate will
be strengthened by Mr.. Coburn'S resigna-
tion."
Judge A. H. Horton said: MI Coburn,
in my opinion. had probably the best
chance Of nomination of any man in the
be any doubt about his election. l do not
care to discuss the question as to who will
be benefited by his withdrawal"
p. i. Bonebrake said: Il never considered
Mr.. Coburn as a candidate. and never
thought he would be ar available man. OF
course, there was a sort of spontaneous
feeling which went up for him. on account
of the good work he has done in his pres
eGt position. but l do not believe 1t would
not believe any candidate will be benfted
by Mr.. Coburn's declination any more
ton, on account Of the close proximity OF
and Atchison counties:
=, The capita! will say editorialls in the
fusing to become a candidate for governor
is like a breath of pure ozone In the murky
a%tmosphere. 1t is STA e manly and
directions Of the people Of Kansas. for
as any man in the state has done in
the last thirty years.
While the CAPITAL believes that secreta-
would be equivalent to ar election.
and that his services to the state more
entitle him to such recognition. we
that he is in precisely the position that he
ought to continue to fill as long as he can
be induced to hold it. and that he can be
as well as to himself. as secretary of the
state board of agriculture than he could be
as governor. All things considered, his
present position Is one of more Importance
and value than that of governor. If not of
more honor. And it is hardly necessary to
paid to Secretary Coburn in his present
office and because of his signal ability, for
his work than any governor has received
There are abundant candidates for gov
ernor. and will be more. and the party will
have to choose from an embarrassment OF
II the present secretary Of the
board of agriculture should join the lists
and become the nominee the filling OF his
present office would be a more difficult
Altogether. Kansas can be con-