The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-04
GEO. R. PECKFOR GOVERNOR
Kansas Man Suggested as Available
Candidate In Illinois

The Chicago people are booming Geo.
r. Peck for governor of Illinois.
The Times-HeraId covers the matter
as follows:
George r. Peck, general counsel for
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railroad, can have gubernatOrial
boom if he wants one. A chief engineer
of the local Republican organization
put his name yesterday among the two
or three upon whom the leaders here
might be able to unite.
Mr. Pecks name is admittedly used
without his authority or knowledge 1t
cannot be discovered that he has ever
been approached The man who men
toned him seemed to be handing out a
"feeler" Personal testimony from Mr..
Peck could not be secured last night.
According to the signs of the times,
the Republican organization viii not
actually present a gUbernatOrial candt-
date to the next state convention It
may talk of it much: action is another
thing. The prediction Is warranted by
the frank statements of some leaders
with don't quote me" prOvisOs added
and by the trend of talk among others
Inability TO unite the organization
managers on anybody who viii strive
for the nomination is one stumbling
block. Politicians do not like candi-
dates who viii not get out and hus
tie" for delegates.
John NJ. Smyth proba bly, could have
the Cook county delegation solid if he
would merely nod mis- head He has re
fused to consider it. Unity might be
achieved around George r. Peck. but
talk of him has not gone nearly far
enough to be determinate. Prejudice of
machine" politicians against possible
candidates who have not conspicuOusly
run with the machine weighs against
his chances at the outset.
The Chronicle says of the Peck boom:
George R Peck. general counsel of the
Chicago. Milwaukee & St Paul railway,
is being considered by several import
IL IL > -T,Ts
can machine as probable candidate
for governor. Mr.. Peck has not been
consulted to find out whether he would
accept his party'S favor. but the bosses
appear to take it for granted that he
would not refuse the nomination if they
We're prepared to deliver it to him with
out terms.
The use of Mr.. Peck's name, however
may be taken simply as an evidence of
a new deal that is a direct and natural
outcome of last weeks love feast at
Springfield. All reports of what hap
pened at that function, with the excep-
ton of few emanating from very
close friends of the governor, agree TIA :
Governor Tanner is not to be seriously
considered as a candidate for renOmina-
tiOn. The Cook county men who spent
the week at the state capital brought
back word that the country politicians
to whom they talked We're not at all
averse to the idea of having a Cook
county Republican for governor
The county politicians were disposed
to admit that the solid support of
Cooks delegation in the next state con-
vention would be sufficient to assure
the nomination of the man who was
lucky enough to obtain it, whether he
hailed from this country or elsewhere
in the state
This sort of talk has awakened a de-
sire among many Of the bosses to nom
mate a Cook county man, and as con-
sequence of their chats with Heuten-
ants since Saturday the prospects of at
least half a dozen prominent Chicag go
Republicans are being earnestly can
vassed- Mr.. Peck's name was mention
ed first by a North side boss. and II
was widely discussed at several down
town resorts where the machine men
meet for q daily exchange of views and
current gossip.