The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-24
HocH,s DECISION.

HoCH's DECISION.
The announcement of Mr.. Hoch's
decision not to be a candidate for the
gubernatorial nomination at the next
Republican state convention will be re-
ceived with considerable surprise by
those who have not taken into account
the sober second thought of the Marion
statesman.
The readers of this paper have been
carefully informed from time to time
as to the real situation so far as was
possible through the best efforts. and
most careful opinion of the paper. So
long ago as last Saturday the State
Journal said editorially:
Whatever may have been said in these
columns about Mr.. Hoch it must be clear
ly borne in mind that we regard him as
a high minded gentleman of unquestion-
able integriay. But we do not regard
him as the only gentleman in that class
In this state. Neither do we agree with
IS going to run for governor this next
year. We give him credit for having TOO
much common hard headed sense when
1t comes to his final decision
AS a cool headed editor of an inhu-
entail paper. the Marion Record, Mr..
Hoch has weighed the matter and de-
cided to not butt his head against a
stone wall. Toward the last Mr.. Hoch
has evidently realized how he was be-
ing worked by the Burton machine.
He apparently did not appreciate it earl
Ter in the stage of his political fever,
but when his pulse assumed it's nor
NAL beat he did the sensible thing
Various adherents to the Burton
cause have doubtless realized that zzr.
Hoch could not bring himself to COM
hitting the political suicide which
stared him in the face, on the brink of
the preciDice. and for that reason up
to the last have endeavored to make
what capital they could and try to
| secure some trade or pledges from
Governor Bailey and his friends.
1t is quite evident, however, that no
pledges were secured and no trades
| contaminated. The Burton leaders as
such are not entitled to any credit for
the withdrawal of Mr.. Hoch District
Attorney Dean is undoubtedly a true
friend of Mr.. Hoch. He is classed as a
Burton appointee, but Mr.. Burton is
not any more than in part entitled to
credit for this appointment. Mr.. Dean
is neighbor of Hoch and his advice,
whatever it may have been, was I'M
doubleday disinterested.
The announcement of Mr. Hoch to-
day, of course, means that Governor
Bailey will be renominated by accla--
nation at the next Republican state
convention to be held early in the
year
Governor Bailey has made a good
governor and is as much entitled to
a denomination at the hands of his
party as other governors before him.
He has been shamefully treated by a
faction of the party and by some even
to whom he has been especially patient
and even kind.
He has been blamed for what the
legislature did that was blameworthy,
and not credited with what he did that
was praiseworthy. He has been mis-
represented and his actions have been
attributed to the influence of others
even when such actions have been in
direct opposition to the known wishes
of such politicians, but the governor is
not narrow, nor even revengeful and
people and papers that have abused
| him will simply be sorry for their con-
/ duct toward a governor of Kansas who
evidently tries to do his duty and sue
ceeds quite we'll