The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-03
A WOMAN'S WILL.
Why John Breidenthal Has Not
Entered Race For Governor.
His Wife Insists That He Keep
Out of Fight.
DUE TO HER RULING.
Political Friends Trying to Pur'
suade Her to Consent.
Que stion to Be Finally Decided
Upon Monday.

The Populist state committee meets
in Topeka next Tuesday. BY the time
the committee meets John W. Breiden-
thai will have determined whether he
will enter the race for the Populist
nomination for governor. If Mr. Brei-
denthaPs delay in defining his attitude
in this contest extends beyond that
meeting his friends, so one of the
closest OF them says, have determined
to never again in this campaign men
ton his name in connection with the
office of governor. In other words, Mr..
BreidenthaPs silence will be accepted
as an indication of a desire to remain
passive in the contest.
Various reasons have been assigned
for Mr. BreidenthaPs delay but the
most important is one which will ap-
peal to every man of a family, espe-
cially wherein there is a devoted wife
who is deeply interested in the welfare
of her husband.
It is said that Mrs. Breidenthal re-
fuses to give her consent to permit Mr.,
Breidenthal to again enter the active
field of political contests. The reasons
attributed by the friends of Mrs. Brei-
denthal are that she has given Mr..
Breidentlal to the public service for
many years; that he has been away
from home q majority of his time; that
an entry into the contest for governor
would necesSitate a long campaign,
from home. For her boys and girls
Mrs. Breidenthal is now thinking, and
believes that the father should not take
up new duties which will take him away
from them.
Mrs. Breidenthafs position in this
matter is a characteristic of her devo-
tion to her family.
The politicians have hocked to Mrs.
Breidenthal's home to importune her to
give consent to their plans to make the
bank commissioner governor, but she
has declined. Now all the influence
which can be brought to bear upon her
will make a. final effort. The question
will be settled by Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime the friends of the pro-
posed governor Will lay siege in the
hope of securing Mrs. Breidenthars s
consent.
There has been developed this week
another feature in the plans to make
the bank commissioner governor. It is
in the shape of an attack upon Mr..
Breidenthal and a renewal of the
charge that he has violated party
fealty.
There appeared in a Kansas City
paper last Sunday a statement purport-
ing to have been made by George NJ.
Munger concerning labor. 1t was as
follows:
..They are an unreliable commodity
and you can place no dependence in
them The only way to handle them is
on election day"
1t IS Claimed tDar TINS remuneration
of the laboring people of the state of
Kansas appears in a personal letter to
Mr.. Breidenthal who was then chair
man of the Populist state committee.
The letter is said to have been written
by George NJ. Munger now a candidate
for governor. 1t was written in 1885,
One Of BreidenthaPs oldest friends,
Chris. Hoffman of Enterprise, was
among the first to criticise the publica-
ton Of this letter. He was indignant
about it and was among the first to ex-
press an opinion that the letter was
given out by Mr.. BreidenthaL
Whatever may have been the facts
concerning the publication of this let
ter Mr.. Breidenthal is charged with
the responsibility of it, but men are
often charged with things they do not
do.
One of Mr.. BreidenthaTs friends said
to a Journal reporter today:
Mr.. Breidenthal has been charged
with violating party condolences but
am told that this will be ended today.
do not know what is proposed but I
judge from what L have heard that the
situation will be explained to him and
unless he refrains from placing himself
in an attitude which makes these
charges against him have the appear
ance of facts, his friends will decline to
support him longer for governor"