The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-14
w. ]. Bailey, Governor Elect,
Flooded With Letters.
Young Women Would Relieve
His BachelOrhOOd.
EAST Is INTERESTED.
Papers Say That He Can't Find
Wife.
Executive Mansion Need Not
Want Mistress.

Within the past two or three days
great many letters have come to the
Topeka postoflice addressed in fem
mime hand to W. J. Bailey, governor
elect of Kansas. They ara coming at
the rate Of six to ten a day Many of
them are encased in dainty envelopes,
from which a faint odor of musk or
some other delicate perfume escapes.
These letters are all delivered at the
Copeland where Mr. Bailey's mail is
delivered when he is in Topeka, and
the letters are all forwarded by the
Copeland people to Mr.. Bailey at Rail-
eyville.
or course, nobody knows what these
letters contain but the people who have
seen the outside OF them nave jumped
at the conclusion that Mr. Bailey IS
receiving a great many applications
from women tOr state positions during
his sdministra ration-proDably stsn0gra-
phers-and that the majority Of them
have used dainty pink stationery in
stead of the business forms tnat are
generally in use.
But this guess is undoubtedly er-
roneous. A lew days ago Chicago and
New York newspapers contained Ii
story from Topeka that Mr. Bailey could
not find d wife. A number OF papers
have made it the subject for editorials.
bic column picture of Mr. Bailey under
the heading Governor Elect Who
Can't Find a Wife," and beneath the
picture it says;
Willis J. Bailey, who was elected
governor of Kansas last week, wants
wife to preside over the new $4,000 ex-
ecutive mansion, but can't find one.
Mr.. Bailey claims to have extended his
search into every county of the state
in his campaign tour, but without sue
cess. 1t is said he made an ante-elec-
ton promise to marry a Kansas girl
when he became governor, but that he
has been released from this promise
and told he may go where he will, if
only he viii find a wife. Governor
elect Bailey claims he cannot even
with the state restriction removed. but
there are many in Kansas who say
there must be more than one eligible
woman in the United States willing to
be the wife of a governor and occupy
a SI0Q00 home"
The Chicago Record Herald publishes
an editorial in which it says:
The distressing news comes from To-
peka that both the new governor and
the lieutenant governor are unmarried
Whether the people were advised of this
fact before election or not is not reveal
ed by the dispatches. but it appearS thar
their obvious qualification for high ex-
ecutiVe and managerial responsibility
has stirred the social set of Topeka to
Its deepest matrimonial depths
Whether the knowledge of their un-
married condition was general or not.
their induction into office appears to be
accompanied by d vociferOus popular
demand that they shall get married at
once Bleeding Kansas wants no bach
elor governors or lieutenant governors.
There IS nothing in the constitution re-
quiring the governor or lieutenant gov
erncr to renounce the joys and inde-
pendence of bachelorhood. But the feel
ing is general that a man who has not
managed wife or family is not capa-
bic of managing such a commonwealth
as Kansas, and there is little doubt that
Governor Bailey and Lieutenant Cover
nor Hanna viii lend attentive ears to
the sovereign voice of the Sunhower
state
Here is great opportunity for the
comely maidens of the west who have
not been spoken for and who feel them
selves fitted to take charge of the ex-
ecutive mansion at Topeka Governor
elect Bailey is 46 and Lieutenant Cover
nor Hanna Is 35, both in the prime Of p
vigorous and sturdy manhood. and both
of kind and gentle disposition. with 2
great fondness for children. Sealed pro
posals will be received at the executive