The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-06
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Things Look Bright for Hoch
for State Printer.
Appears to Have Support OF
Both Factions.
NOT SENATORIAL LINES
His Contest Is Taking a Differ
ent Course.
Action at Wichita Convention
Only Weakening Factor.

legislature approaches, it is becoming
more and more apparent that E. w
Hoch. editor of the Marion Record. ls
extremely liable to be the next state
printer. It Will require pretty good
combination to beat him.
Mr. Hoch will not only receive the
almost solid support of the Curtis ele-
ment in the Legislature, but he will also
receive a good support from the Stanley
and Long elements. In fact, it is not
likely that the vote on state printer IN
the Republican caucus will be divided
along senatorial lines. c. o. Hugos, OF
Republic county, is an enthusiastic
Stanley man. and is instructed for him.
but he is also instructed for Hoch Tor
state printer. This is in a county ad-
joining the one where George A. Clark
who will perhaps be Mr. Hoch's prln-
cipal opponent, owns newspaper the
COncordia Blade.
It is even said that Charles n. PECK,
the member from Cloud county may
vote for Hoch instead of Clark. There IS
more sentiment in HOchS favor IN
Cloud county than there is in favor OF
Clark. notwithstanding Clarks 5 news
paper there.
Hoch's friends aIlege that he will be-
nominated on the first ballot, and IL Will
be no great surprise if this proves true
If Arthur Capper remains in the race
he will get some votes at the start, but
they viii eventually go to Hoch. Capper
is unfortunate in that he cannot make
an active fight for the place because OF
Curtis candidacy for United States SEN
atOr. AS long as Curtis makes an
aggressive fight, Capper cannot do SO
because both are in the same county
The Curtis element demands that Capper
sacrifice his personal interests to those
of MI. Curtis and as they are able to
pull the string he has been compelled to
do
Hoch is more entitled to the place
from a personal and party standpoint
than any Of the Others He has been
fighting the battles of the Republican
party in Marion county for quarter or
a century. He is recognized as one Of
the best campaign speakers in the state
and has travelled all over the state iii
every campaign for years The only re
ward he has ever received a t the hands
of the Republican party has been
term or two in the legislature. which
cost him more from a financial stand
point than it brought him. He was once
candidate for the Republican nomlna
tion for governor, but came long way
from getting it.
There is just one thing whicn will
operate against Mr.. Hoch from politi-
cal standpoint. At the Wichita conVer-
tion last spring he refused to tote
fair" and divide the vote of Marion
county on temporary organization as did
most other candidates who were not
mixed up in the guberna torial fight
At the Wichita convention Cyrus 1.e-
land and George A. Clark occupied the
same room in the Hotel Carey on ac-
count of it's crowded condition. In al
adjoining room was State Chairman AL
baugh. Most of the night preceding the
opening of the convention Leland and
Albaugh spent in hustling votes for Geo.
E Cole for temporary chairman of the
convention. About 4 o'clock in the
morning it was determined that an eff
fort must be made to get Hoch to di-
vide Marion countys votes. Clark WAS
in bed asleep but Leland hustled him out
and into Albaugh's bed, Nvhile AlbauSh
sent for Hoch and brought him to La-
lands room. That was why Clark was
turned out 1t was already pretty we'll
settled that Leland was TO be the nex5
representa- tive from DOniDhan county.
and he offered Hoch his vote for state
printer if Hoch would divide the Marion
county vote on temporary organization
but HOch was so tied uD with the ANTI
Bailey elements that he could not make
of Bailey and Cole do not feel under the
same obligations to him that they do to
Clark and Henry Allen. who helped
them, and they may decide to make an
attempt to defeat him.
Personally Hoch is a clean, good man
and a great credit to the Republican
party. The same thing, though, can be
said of the ether candidates. There is a
feeling, however. that HOch is more de-
serving than the others because he has
done fully as much for the party and
has received far less than any of the
other candidates. Clark was on the
state board OF charities for several years
and has had two terms as secretary OF
state. Allen was Stanley's private sec
retary during the latter's first term as
govern4t, and for the past two years
has been chairman of the state boar6
Of charities. a place which he can prob
ably keep under Governor Bailey if h,
so desires Besides there seems to be {
good prospect that the Second distric
VIII send Allen to congress in the no
Instant future. Capper has had the of.
acial state paper during the past foui
years
If Allen should make an active figh
for the state printership he might be
come formidable candidate, but it i,
not likely that he will do so, inssmucl
as he is for Stanley for senator frs
and himself for state printer second.
Clark insists that he will secure tn
prize but It will require some fine DO
iiticaI work for him to land it
The Office is by far the best politica
Mum in the state. 1t is probably wortl
not far from $4,000 a year.
Michael Sweeny has served the notice
of contest for the Pawnee county seal
in the legislature on DR. A. Sharp al
I.arned. The contest petition covers six
typewritten pages, and alleges whole
sale corruption and Illegal practices or
the part of Sharp and his supporters
during the campaign and on electior
day. 1t is charged that Illegal votes
were counted for Sharp and legal ones
rejected for Sweeny in every precinct il
the county except two In the Thirc
ward of Larned city the fusion member
of the election board. Captain H c
RuclSles was arrested on L charg,
frumped up by Nelson Adams. a promi
nept attorney. who was strong sup
rorter of sharp. for the sole and onl,
purpose of removing him from the place
Of election. so that Illegal votes Nigh
Frss tI4ar fn
With giving money. whisky. cigars an