The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-17
Kansas Wild Over Funston.

Funston for governorl Funston for
United States senatorl Funston for Sec
rotary of warl All Kansas is Funston
wild. The news of his promotion to
be brigadier general, the news of his
wound while CALAMITY leading the flow
er of Kansas youth, the Twentieth
Kansas volunteers; the news of his
name for every high place in the gift
of the state recently reached lola.
Kan, the place of his birth, boyhood
and youth. Funston can have n.y.
thing the people of the state can give
him.
Lovemaking and fighting are all one
to the brave General Funston. He
wooed and won his pretty wife with
the same vim he showed in battle. He
met Miss Edna Blankard of Oakland,
CAL, while at camp in San Francisco
and married her in three weeks time.
The N Their of this youthful gen raj
and his father, too, live in lola. From
the windows of their pretty home they
can see hundred flags floating in hon
or of the new brigadier. Every time
they 60 in the streets they are beset by
hundred townspeople, all eager to
congratulate the parents of this new
war hero-"Kansas' Roosevelt" the
people of the Sunfower State like 10
call him.
The home of the Funstons is on a
farm just on the outskirts of the town.
There his father lives, Edward H. Fun
ston -"Foghorn" Funston - is his
name, and tills the ground for his sim.
Pile living. The New York World cor
respondent found him at work in the
field when he brought the news of the
sons promotion for gallantry in action.
The young brigadier's father has him.
self represented the district in Congress
for ten years.
"My son." said the father when he
had heard the news, "should ask for no
less office than that of United States
Senator. l do not think he will want
to 60 intopolitics when he comes home,
but if he does it will be as candidate
for the Senate. Let him ask for some
thing worth having"
But something more to the present
was agitating the old gentlemen's mind.
Here was news-his boy was briga-
der.
II must 60 tell his mother" said
Mr.. Funston.
~ hope they speak we'll of my boy"
whispered the mother. "He was al
ways good boy. If people knew him
as we'll as do know they would feel
he deserves this. But wish he were
back home again. If Fred comes
home alive"-
The correspondent mentioned the
fact that General Funston was spoken
of for high political place.
Eyes" put in the father, "the peo-
pie of Kansas are proud of Fred. l
don't know what the people of other
states think, but his own people will
run him for anything. He should seek
an office worthy of him."
Fred Funston is Republican. Kan
sas has leaning toward Populism.
The Republican managers in this state
are already looking toward the young
soldier as the one man who can be
safely counted on to sweep the state
for their party. He is without an en-
envy. He has never taken any part in
politics. He is free from all entang-
ing alliances politically. His name is
known in every hamlet in the state.
Kansas has an election for governor
next year. Governor Stanley is Re-
publican, and according to all prece-
dent, he should have a denomination.
But he has said he doesn't want it.
That clears the way for Funston if he
wants to step in. In case Governor
Stanley changes his mind Funston can
get the Republican nomination in 1902.
Next year, too, the Republican legis-
lature elects United States senator.
There are three candidates, aud it
looks like a deadlock. People are al
ready pointing out that Funston could
break the deadlock and win hands
down. Then there is talk of getting
him the nomination as vice president
on the Republican ticket in 1904.