Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-22
A POLITICAL ENDLESS CHAIN.

average IleDuUIICdH pOlIOICI1u III
Kansas, but the spectacle of
politicians running for two Of
fees at once has been reserved
for the campaign in the year of
our Lord, 1902.
At the HoltOn convention
which n ominated Charles Curtis
for Congressman in the first dis
trict Judge Albert III. Horton,
in a speech, sprang Curtis boom
for United States Senator. Cur
tbs now is working like beaver,
saying to the people, "Keep me
in Office, or l perish. First, elect
me to Congress. Then elect me
to the Senate. If [ capture the
you can go to the
expense of another election in
the First district and choose
somebody else for my seat in the
House. What / want is to stay
in, and [ have got to run for
both jobs to keep in line for pro-
motion next winter, or two years
later"
Chester I. Long began his cam
paign for Senator six months
before he was nominated for
Congressman in the Seventh dis
trict. There are several men in
the Seventh district who believe
they could represent the District
in Congress with credit to the
Republican party, but Mr.. Long
said, 'NOt SO. l am next to
the president. [ am the man the
president sends for when he wants
to know something. | am IT in
Washington. l really am too
big for my job, and would go
higher. But if l can't go higher,
I'll hold fast to that which [
have"
So the party bowed to MIR.
Longs will. While Long is push
ing two campaigns with great
vigor, he hasn't the cinch that
Curtis has. Curtis will be elect
ed Congressman, but Long has
a fight on his hands. If Long
wins the Congressional fight, he
then will demand the Senator
ship. If he gets that, then the
'.Small Fry Republicans of the
Seventh district may scramble
for his place in the House,
The fad of Congressman for
running for two Offices at once
spread. Up in the Fifth district,
W. A. Calderhead, after receiv-
ing the nomination for Congress-
man, jumped into the senatorial
fight. Now comes report from
Lawrence that j. ID. BOwersock
is about to announce himself as
candidate for Senator. Charles
f. Scott is nursing a boom, but
has not yet declared himself.
Reeder and Miller have not been
heard from. Henry Allen, hold
ing a fat job, wants a fatter one,
the state partnership. George
Clarke, after two years as State
Secretary, wants the same job.
Governor Stanley is not run
ming for two Offices at once, but
he is doing the next thing to it.
He began to skirmish for Sena-
tor before he had finished the
second year of his first. term.
He seldom goes to his Office now.
He has even quit signing official
documents in blank. His pri-
vate secretary does it all, with
the assistance of the Governors
son, who has been placed on the
payroll.
How different from this un-
seemly grab for pie is the candi-
dacy of William A. Harris. Last
spring leading Democrats and
Populists urged Senator Harris
to accept the nomination for
Governor, and run for Senator
later, in case the anti-Republican
forces carried the Legislature.
Senator Harris did not consider
the proposition a minute. He
made a statement to the effect
that were he to follow the sug-
gestion, he not only would be
grasping and selfish, but would
be untrue to his party and un-
fair to those who might aspire
to the nomination for Governor
The position taken by Senator
Harris was applauded by the
whole people, regardless of poll
tics.
The rank and file ofthe Repub
lican party are not in sympathy
with the new scheme of running
for two offices at once, and ar,
waiting only for an opportunity
to register a protest against it