The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-02
CEN. FUNSTON
TO THE FRONT.
Movement Has Been Started to
Make Him Governor.
People Are Wildly Enthusiastic
Over His Achievements.
NO HELP FOR 1T.
IF the Little General Will
Submit
And Will Accept Political Pre-
ferment in Kansas
M P0wnr on Earfh IN Can Thwart
NO HELP FOR 1T.
No Power on Earth Can ThWart
Him.
Fred Funston for governor!

That is the idea that is coming up in
the mind of the politicians Of Kansas
just now, and is being suggested by pa
pers in all parts of the nation from
New York to California.
1t is not at all unlikely that the
achievements of the little colonel of the
Twentieth Kansas in the past month
may give a turn to Kansas politics
which was not dreamed of three
months ago. There is a well-dehned
opinion in the minds of the people OF
the state that if Colonel FunSton-Gen-
eral Funston he is now-wants anything
at the hands of the people of Kansas
when he gets home, he can have it by
asking for it. The principal question
is, will he want anything?
General Funston is the Roosevelt OF
the Philippine campaign. An eastern
paper recently made the assertion that
he is the most conspicuous figure of
the entire with the exception OF
Admiral Dewey. The people of Kansas
think more of Funston than the people
of New York thought of Roosevelt
Why, it is asked, shall not Funston do
the Same in Kansas that Roosevelt did
in his state?
Already plans are on foot to make
Funston the Republican nominee for
governor in 1902, if not next year.
Fred Funston may either be brig
adler or governor, or both. He owns
the earth,'' says the Salina Republican,
Journal, and the same sentiment is
echoed in many others of the RepubH-
can papers of the state. He has already
been made a brigadier, and 1t remains
with the people of the state and Fun
ston himself whether he will be made
governor.
Funston's name is also suggested i'm
connection with the United States sem
atorship, and in case of deadlock in
the three-cornered fight which is sure to
develop, it is said that wires will be laid
to bring out Funston as a dark horse
With Burton, Baker, and either Bristow,
Albaugh or Lambert as Leland's can
0idatP if is figured that a COmDlna-
tion a dark horse would be quite
probable, and it would be only natural
that the choice of the combination
should fall on General Funston, pro-
vided he would accept it.
And that is not ali. General Funston'S
name is coupled with the vice presi-
dency in 1904. 1t is a recognized fact
that Roosevelt is in line to succeed Nc
Kinley at the expiration of the latter'S
second term, and it would be extremely
popular to make another war hero his
running mate. This idea is proposed by
State Treasurer Grimes.
Il am for Roosevelt and Funston as
the standard bearers of the Republican
party in 1904" said Mr.. Grimes. Il
don't know what Funstons inclination
will be towards politics, but 1 would
like to see that ticket nominated by the
Republicans four years hence. I don't
know but what 1 would like to see
Funston nominated with Mckinley next
year.
LAS to state politics next year, one can
not tell what will take place, and / could
not express an opinion. When Funston
gets back, though, he will be given the
greatest ovation that the state of KAN
sas can get up, regardless of politics.
The news that flashed over the wires
today that President Mckinley had
promoted the little Kansas colonel to a
brigadier generalship will increase the
enthusiasm with which the people of the
entire nation regard him. The papers
of the east will all place him alongside
of Roosevelt, and many of them will
put him in advance of the leader of the
rough riders.
There are just two things that keep
the politicians from booming Funston
for governor next year. One of these is
that they don't know how Funston
himself might regard it. They
are afraid that he has
taste for political career,
and that he might spoil all their work
when he comes home by declaring that
he is not a candidate and thus leave
them in the lurch. The other difficulty
in the way is that according to a long
established custom Governor Stanley
ought to be renominated. If it were not
for these two things the most of the
politicians of the state would be get
ting behind the Funston boom with all
the alacrity of which they are capa BILE o.
They will probably find, like New York
politicians found, that the people are
greater than the politicians
In view of the fact that Governor.
Stanley has expressed great disgust
with his job and declared that if ne was
back at his business he would be MAX
Funston's friends figure that possibly
Governor Stanley may not be candi-
date for denomination, in which case the
field would be open for Funston next
year, but such a contingency is not at
all probable governor refusing a re-
nomination for a second term would be
unprecedented in the history of Kansas
Eastern papers have suggested the
probability that Funston might be nom
mated for governor or some other good
place upon his return from the Philip
pines, and Monday Chicago paper
wired Governor Stanley, asking his
views on the matter. To this Governor
Stanley wired the following cautious
reply:
I'm answer to the inquiry of the
Times Herald as to What's the matter
with Kansas and whether L think
Colonel Funston worthy of a senator
ship, the governorship or a brigadier
generals commission, I have only to
say that there is nothing the matter
with Kansas; that the Kansas soldiers
in the Philippines are making good the
claim of the state that it has people
unsurpassed in courage and intelli-
gence. I have already recommended
and urged the promotion of Colonel
Funston His conspicuous bravery and
leadership entitle him to an early pro-