The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-13
A GOVERNORS GOOD RECORD

I
Probably no governor ever retired
from the executive chair of the state
of Kansas with the consciousness of
having made a success in a Quiet, I'M
demonstrative manner in so great a de-
gree as Governor Stanley will be able
to do within few weeks. His admin
istration has been a surprise even to his
friends.
At the time Governor Stanley came to
the gubernatorial chair of Kansas the
state was recovering from a nightmare
of hard times. Politically it had alter
mated for eight years between Repub
licanism and Populism. They had been
years when many country newspapers
had been kept alive largely through the
tees and those of foreclosure proceed
ings; years of hardship and crop failures:
years when the state was burdened with
debt and plastered with mortgages.
When Stanley was nominated for gov
ernor at the Hutchinson convention of
1898 he was comparatively unkinwn
Few people outside of Sedgwick and
surrounding counties had ever heard of
him. But he was an optimist and en-
thusiastic and his breezy manner
caught the convention and it nominated
him. After the dark days of the mid
die nineties Stanley saw brighter skies
ahead. In his campaign he began to
preach the gospel of better things. He
encouraged the people to have faith in
their state, faith in one another and
faith in the future The people liked
the idea and elected him governor.
After he was inaugurated Stanley did
not undertake revolution. but he had
some ideas which he quietly began to
put into force. He not only preached
economy in state affairs but he prac-
ticed it. and set an example for other
officials by cutting down his Office force
from five to two persons, and aboiishing
the board of pardons. taking its entire
work upon himself. He inaugurated the
parole system in the state penitentiary
and the plan proved a great success
To be sure, there were some people
who were disappointed. They did not get
what they wanted. Stanley had his
own way of doing things and he was
sometimes abrupt about it. 1t began to
be whispered around that Stanley liked
to play to the grand stand; that he was
mo politician" because he picked out
the men he wanted for appointment re-
CARELESS of others. and that there was
no depth" to him. At the end of the
first year of his administration theirs
was a good deal of that kind of talk,
but it made no difference with him. He
kept right on doing things in his own
way whether it pleased other people or
not
Then the public began to wake up to
the fact that the state machinery was
running along more smoothly than it
had ever done before. There was no
friction anywhere, and the state institu-
tons as a rule were exceptionally well
conducted, where there had been fire.
quent scandals before. In the recent
campaign there was no criticism OF
Stanley's administra tion-it was not
even condemned in the platform of the
opposition party, a happening never
heard Of before.
Now Governor Stanley has made a
careful and comprehensive campaign
for a higher office. He has gone over
the state and found many who believe
he is not only pursuing an ambition
for an office to which he is worthy,
but has gathered in numerous votes and
expectancies Of far more. He has pitted
against him two strong men.
To be sure Mr. Curtis is subjected
to some criticism because of his action
ItkdIQlllS lllt I1OIlOil dStCCDtllt, anu
some of the partisans of Burton ano
Curtis do not like Mr.. Long, but the
people of the state as whole doubtless
feel very friendly toward both these
congressman. Both have made splendid
records in the lower house Of congress-
Both have received fine endorsements
from the people of their respective dis
tricts by being reelected by greatly in
creased majorities Congressman Cur
tbs has no opposition for the nomination
in his district this year. and the district
is Overwhelmingly Republican.
Both Long and Curtis have GAINED
eminence in the house and if they
should be defeated in their race for tbs
senatorship each has the advantage over
Stanley in being secure in high places ir
the house of representatives. Longs
district no longer requires the hare
party fight of former years. Both Cur
It's and Long have gained such prestige
in the congress that better committee
ships, still more important influence ant
power await them in any event and
they can confidently rest assured theil
districts and state will profit by ther
standing and experience and their ser
vice as congressman be greater than
could be for many years given by newer
men.
WAITE OE EQ NrHTCEC