The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-13
OUT FOR GOOD.
John Breidenthal Not a Candi-
date For Governor.
Formal Notice Of That Fact Has
Been Written.
BE PUBLISHED SOON.
In a Few Days Letter VIII Be
Given Out.
'Business Reasons Assigned
as the Cause.
Withdrawal Will Strengthen
Candidacy of Maj. Harvey.

John Breidenthal is out of the race
for governor. He is now preparing q
formal announcement of that fact
which will be launched into the sea of
public opinion in few days.
Mr.. Breidenthal is a deliberate man.
He never commits himself until he
is ready, and long ago he went up onto
high mountain and wrestled with his
conscience and ambition. 1t was a
hard fight. The gubernatorial chair
doomed up before him with such daz-
zling brightness that several times he
was SO bewildered he was almost ready
to surrender. But today Mr.. Breiden-
thai stands before the people as the
man who would not be governor.
|. This announcement will have the eff
feet of revolutionizing the situation in
fusion politics for it was admitted that
nothing could have prevented Mr.
Credentials nomination. His formal
withdrawal will place a new leader in
the race and it is too early to tell who
he Will be. However, it is safe to say
that the man who will profit more from
Mr. BreidenthaPs withdrawal than any
other candidate is Major A NJ HarveY
of Topeka Both men live in the capi-
tai and the candidacy of one naturally
weakened that of the other.
1t will not do for the politicians to
ignore Major Harvey in this race.
ressiye element of his party, his sup-
port is by no means limited to the
young crowd
Senator George Hanna Of Clay Gen.
ter, one of the most influential politi-
clans in the state, is an enthusiastic
supporter oe Major Harvey. With Mr..
Breidenthal out of the race Bob Sem
pie assures the friends of the Topeka
major that he viii be for him.
Governor Leedy has not had much to
say about state politics, but he is
warm personal friendtof the man who
served with him as his next in com
mand during his term of office and it
will not be surprising If he becomes an
avowed supporter of Major Harvey
The interests of Major Harvey will
not be overlooked in the Populist state
central committee, where that active
young politician, Bert Logan, is a most
enthusiastic Harvey man.
These are some of the elements which
give the boom of Major Harvey a sub
stantial footing and which make him
candidate to be reckoned with
The ex-lieutenant governors politi-
cal standing rests upon an excellent
record as presiding officer of the senate
where he was at once recognized as d
careful executive, absolutely fair and
impartial. While Major Harvey is a
young man in comparison with some of
the other candidates he has long ago
passed the period of youth and is near
ing 35 He was one of the earliest
members of the Farmers Alliance when
that organization secured a footing in
Kansas He then lived on his fathers
farm in Shawnee county. AS major Of
the Twenty second Kansas volunteers.
Governor Harvey again proved his abil-
ity as an executive officer Like other
leaders of his party, he is opposed to
the Philippine policy of the government.
Mr. 3reidenthaI has not included in
his formal announcement the statement
of his choice among the other candi-
dates but he has told a few of his in
innate friends that he will support Con-
gresham Ridgely. AS the Third district
| congressman has not been seriously
| considered as a candidate by the poll
ticians the withdrawal of AIr. Breiden-
thai really marks the entry of Mr.
| Ridgely in the race. However if Mr..
Breidenthal endeavored to throw his
| strength to Mr.. Ridgely he would find
| himself in trouble, for it is of such
nature that it can not be bartered away
| and Major Harvey's friends feel conf
dent that he will draw more heavily
from it than any other candidate
| The reasons which have impelled Mr..
Breidenthal to write his notice of with
drawal will be ascribed to business and
| it is an open secret that he has a fin
ancial position waiting for him when
| his term as bank commissioner expires
While that may have something to
! do with his final determination other
elements enter into the matter. The
| fact is that Mr.. Breidenthal is afraid
! While he is recognized as one of the
| best political manipulators and cour-
! ageous workers in the state he falters
when it comes to submitting his own
| personality to the voters and so it Is
not far from the truth to say that "he
was afraid" He knows the uncertain
| ties of politics and does not care to take
! the chances of defeat That is the real
reason why Mr.. Breidenthal could not
/ afford tG be a candidate
|