The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-03
VOICE FROM TOMB
Boss Busters Want A. w. Smith
For Governor.
RumOred That Burton Machine
May Be For Him.
AFRAID OF RICHTER.
His Candidacy Not Received With
Anticipated Enthusiasm.
Burtonites Have Been on Look
out For New Man.
Smith is Not Exactly That but
Might Be Satisfactory.

! Are the Burton forces preparing to
desert Harry Richter's boom for guber-
material honors?
Some of the politicians believe that
A w. Smith is to fall heir to Richter's
/ boom and that the Burton forces and
| the boss busters among whom Far
mer'' Smith is a past master, will line
up behind him
! Feelers are now being thrown out in
which Smith is suggested as a candi-
date, and those behind the movement
| are waiting to how it will be re-
ceived- A communication appeared in
a boss busters" organ this week in
| which boom was sprung for Smith as
a logical candidate" and his strong
points were brought out, especially his
record as an old soldier. 1t is claimed
that this is only sample of corre-
! spondence that is going on between
| members of the G. A. r.
| When the Burton people brought out
Harry Richter as a candidate for gov
ernor several months ago it was report
| ed that they did so with the intention
of side tracking him in case his candi-
dacy did not go with the whoop and
hurrah which was hoped for it. 1t fail
ed to arouse the enthusiasm expected
and the Burton managers began to look
for another candidate They centered
upon G. F. Scott, Of lola, but some of
ScOttS friends sprung his boom too
soon and he refused to run Then H 3.
Miller, from RichteriS own congression-
al district, got into the race in earnest
and Richter's chances became less than
ever. Still the Burton people have
hoped that Miller would get out of
Richter'S way and have announced that
1t would be fixed up" but the an
nouncement has always come from Mr..
Richter's friends, while Mr. Miller says
he is in the race to stay and will not go
into any compromise.
1t is claimed by those who are in a
position to know that Miller will get
most of the support of the Fourth dis
trict, and that what support Richter
gets will nearly all have to come from
outside his home congressional district.
Realizing that there is little chance for
nominating Richter, it is suspected that
the Burton forces are preparing to
drop him and get behind Farmer A.
w. Smith.
This would serve the Burton forces a
double purpose. 1t would get them the
united support of the 'tboSS busters,''
and they could use it to heal the breach
which has been made by Senator Bur-
ton recommending a man who did not
serve in the civil war for pension agent.
There is no use trying to disguise the
fact that the old soldiers resented Sem
ator Burton's action and they are now
ready to knife him at the first oppor-
tunity. Farmer" Smith has been
prominent in G. A. r. circles for years
and it is figured that if the Burton
people should bring him out and sup
port him for governor the old soldiers
could not consistently make a fight on
Burton.
Richter is also an old soldier, but he
has not been prominent in G. A. r. circles
Smith has. Smith. has been attending
encampments and reunions and making
campfire speeches for the last 20 years
and he has always been recognized as a
leader in the old soldier element.
Then Smith is a boss buster" He is
one of the originals. He is sworn enemy
of Cyrus Leland and in that he and Bur-
ton have common cause. Smith wanted
to be pension agent, but Senator Burton
knew that there was little use in recon-
mending him for the place, even if he
wanted to-
Then again it is figured that Smith
ought to get the support of the Big
Seventh but that is not so sure The
Seventh district has had the governor for
the past four years, besides state treas
urer and superintendent of public in
struction. 1t now has two candidates for
places the supreme bench to at least
one of whom a nomination is conceded
attorney general and several other aspi-
rants. Mcpherson county, which is
Smiths home has warm affection for
Frank Nelson, and Mcpherson people say
county delegation for another term as
state superintendent he can have it. Mr..
Burton has also recently appointed J. NJ.
Simpson, also from Mcpherson county, to
one of the best federal offices in his gift.
These are the thing+some of them
candidacy
Farmer Smith has been a candidate
for something in Kansas politics so long
that some of the other politicians are
the Republican nomination in 1892, but
was defeated by Gov. LeWelling.