The Topeka state journal., 1899-05-02
GEN. FUNSTON
TO THE FRONT.
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motion. Colonel Funston has a great
regiment, and the Twentieth Kansas
has a great leader. 1 do not know
what Colonel Funston'S ambitions are
whether they are along military or po-
Htical lines. In which ever direction
they lie. they ought to, be gratihed. II
the national administration declines to
fifty recognize Colonel FunSton'S gal
liant services, the state will do so at the
first fitting opportunity. Kansas will
accord the Twentieth Kansas great
reception when they come home.
Il want to repeat and trust that the
eastern papers will emphasize it, that
there is nothing the matter with Kan
sas."
Politicians are very wary about ex-
pressing any opinion regarding Colonel
FunstOn's political future. They do not
know what turn may be taken by the
fight between Leland and Burton fac
tions of the Republican party, and they
realize that may have a great deal to
do with Kansas politics in the next
year or two. Mr. Leland himself, who
undoubtedly sees farther into the pO-
litical future than any other man, re-
fuses to express any opinion to what
influence Colonel Funston will have on
politics in Kansas, but Mr.. Leland's
habit of keeping his opinions to him
self in political matters is a well known
trait.
"Of course, Funston is very popu-
lar said Mr.. Leland. Everybody ad-
m1reS a nero, ana MS acts DOCn recenS-
ly and heretofore have made people ad-
mire him. He has pluck and nerve, and
the people of the state will give him
great ovation when he comes back. But
1 don't know that he will go in for pol
itics. He may not have any taste for
it. Politics is something you can't tell
anything about. Nobody knows what
will bob up when it comes to politics"
If it was known that General Fun
ston had any political aspirations, poll
ticians would be more open in grabbing
hold of his boom. They want to wait
till they hear from him before they go
too far. Nevertheless they are secretly
considering the adVisability of BOOM
ing him, and a single word from Fun
ston himself would be sufficient to give
his candidacy for any office he wants
great force.
The rank and file believe that Fun
ston should have anything he asks for,
but they are waiting to see if he wants
anything.
Il know nothing of Funston except
the newspaper reports" said John Cha
ney, chairman of the Shawnee county
Republican central committee but
from what I have read of him L would
not suppose he would want to enter
politics. l would think a man of his
daring would prefer a military career,
and 1 guess he can have anything in
that line he wants. He is very popu-
lar, and there is no telling what might
turn up if he should go in for politics
But Governor Stanley is entitled to
denomination by a long established Gus
tom, and it would be hard to overcome
that custom if Funston should be a can
didate for governor"
F. L. Stevens, register Of deeds, said:
Funston has been making a great rec
ord for himself over there in the Philip
pines. He will cut quite a figure in
Kansas when he gets back. IF he goes
into politics he will be a power"
1T is a little early to talk about Fun
ston's future in politics yeti said ex-
Lieutenant Governor Troutman- IF
a candidate for anything at all he would
sweep everything before him. But 1
don't believe he will be a candidate. 1
don't think he wants to have anything
to do with politics.
J. B. Larimer said: Funston can
have anything he wants when he gets
back to Kansas. The record he has
made has set people wild over him.
]. c. Postlethwaite, judge of the court
of visitation. said: IF Funston keeps
up fighting the way he has been doing
much longer, he may not get back to
Kansas to run for anything. The dis
patches say he runs up and down in
front of his men when a battle is going
on, encouraging them and telling them
that the FiIipinOs can't hit anything. I
am afraid he will do that once too often
if the war does not end soon"
eff Funston would consent to run for
anything" said Representative E. D.
McKeever, "he would sweep the state.
The people would rise up in a body and
support him. But Stanley is making a
good governor and I think he ought to
be given a denomination. In New York.
however, Black was a good governor
but the people paid no attention to him
and nominated Roosevelt. As political
move F'unStOn'S nomination would be
excellent. If Republican success is en-
dangered next year his nomination
would make the success of the party
sure thing. But from a standpoint of
merit Stanley ought to be renominated.
II do not believe 1t would be as great
an honor for Funston to be governor as
to be congressman. Politics is so petty
in Kansas that the office is vexatious,
and it is a political grave. We have
never had a governor in years who
amounted to anything politically after
his term of office expired. If Funston
wanted to be congressman it would
mean the retirement of Bowersock. On
the other hand if he should go in for
United States senator it would create
CONSERVATION in the ranks of the other
candidates.