The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-09
Republicans Worrying About
Fusionists in Legislature.
Uncertainty Is Due to the Sem
atOrial Fight.
ALL ON THE SURFACE
Feeling Among the Candidates
Is Really Bitter.
independence Reporter, Stanley
organ, Pleads for Harmony.


the fusionists may capture the lower
house of the legislature the coming win
ter They admit too that the danger
to the Republicans lies in the fight over
the election of a United States senator.
The fusionists claim that the Isepup-
ncan senatorial fight alone will give
them twenty legislative districts that
went Republican two years ago rms
is. of course, merely claim and Sucn
thingS are generally Overestimateds but
some Republicans candidly admit that
there is danger that the fusionists will
make considerable gain.
On the surface all the senatorial can
didates are advising the election of Re
publican representatives regardless of
their sena toriaI preferences. but it Is
claimed that their friends are proceed
ing along different lines, and each side
suspects the other of treachery.
The Stanley supporters as a rule are
not accused Of knitting representatives
who are for other senatorial candidates,
because the others claim that Stanley
has not many supporters. 1t looks as
though Stanley's candidates will suffer,
Governor Stanley himself does not be-
lieve that the fight will be serious
enough to defeat the election of a Re
publican United States senator, but he
deplores the bitterness which has en-
tered into the Republican campaign.
He blames it all on to Curtis and Long,
and points to the fact that he has been
governor for four years without arous-
ing any factional differences in the
party, but that the fractional fights have
come from Washington.
The Independent Tribune, which is
supporting Stanley for senator, contains
the following editorial warning the Re
publicans that there is danger in the
fight now waging within the Republican
ranks:
in Kansas will tell you, if you press
them for a candid and conservative
statement that they do not hope to
elect their state ticket, but that they
do expect to steal enough members OF
he house OF Representatives to give
them a majority of the legislature, and
return Democratic United States SEN
ator for six years more. Fusion leaders
will tell you this IS possible because of
the fight for supremacy between the
factions supporting two congressman,
both of whom are candidates for United
States senator, and are also candidates
for reelection in their respective dis
tricts-
TT is little less than travesty on
ReDublicanism that such a condition
should prevail in Kansas at this time.
With an assurance that the Republican
state ticket will be elected by 10000
plurality, and a solid Republican delega-
ton returned to congress. It is to be
deplored that a few present and pro
spective Office holders under Congress-
man Curtis and Congressman Long were
permitted to inject into this campaign
the senatorial issues and thus throw
even doubt over the possibility of
sending to Washington a senator who
Will represent Kansas Republicanism
and stand for the stable governmental
policies advocated by President Roose
welt.
For two years the friends of the
gentlemen named have been Industrious
ly promoting their candidates. for Unit
ed States senator. Washington has been
the headquarters of both. Every legis-
lative district has been visited by these
fractional 'fxers' and the plans laid for
ThOt xx-nT
be right when the time comes In many
of these districts the loyal Republicans
repudiated these senatorial managers
and nominated candidates who will go
to Topeka next winter and faithfully
represent their constituents and assist in
the election of United States senator
who will reflect honor and credit upon
Kansas. Wherever these hXers' have
been able to secure the nomination of
a pledged candidate, that district may
be put down in the doubtful column.
This is generally true all over the state.
In districts where the Republicans, I'M
hampered, met and selected a candidate
for the house who could be depended
upon to vote the sentiment of his con-
stituents in his vote for United States
senator. there is no friction, no cOnten-
ton and no doubt about his election.
In such counties and localities the Re
publicans are united and harmonious,
and are standing shoulder to shoulder
for a splendid victory for every man on
the ticket in November
If the Republican party should lose
the house of representative and with
II a Republican United States senator
the responsibility for this calamity viii
rest on the factions backing Curtis and
Long, for these two factions seem to
have lost sight of everything else In
localities where these factions are about
equally divided. the feeling is so bitter
that the Curtis men would rather see
fusiOnist elected than the Long candi-
date, and visa versa.
Fellow Republicans of Kansas If *
time for us to call a halt. Let Mr. Cur
It's and Mr.. Long. who have been sig
nally honored by the Republicans of
this state. understand that they must
repair to their respective congressional
districts and merit the confidence re-
posed in them by the party in renomi-
nations, by assisting the organiza ton in
their own reelection. Their senatorial
campaigns can wait and their over
worked managers take a needed rest.
THE Republicans of Kansas should
learn that factions. and cliques. and
crowds, never increased ma jorities.
Sooner or later they will disrupt dis
organize and bring disaster ard defeat.
-Four years ago the party came back to
power under most favorable eircum-
stances. Governor Stanlev's election
was the beginning of new Republican
era in Kansas. During the four years
of his administration the affairs of
state have been honestly wisely and
economically administered. There has
not been a breath of scandal. He was
reelected BIZ an increased ma iority,
and when he retires from office in Ian
uary he will leave a record for honesty,
fidelity and faithful public service No
man ever closed a second term in the
governors Office as strong with the peO-
pie as Governor Stanley He has been
big enough and broad enough to rise
above party factions and crowds. lie
has been guided by two Drinciples-tC
give to Kansas a commanding position
among the states of the union by hon
estly and faithfully administering her
affairs, and to help in uniting and
bringing together the Republicans OF
the state into an invincible and har-
rnonious organization. Such a man is
Governor Stanley and such is his
:. e