The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-24
HOCH OUT OF 1T.
Will Not Be Candidate for
Governor.
Finally Decides to Keep Out of
Contest.
MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
1t Appears in Marion Record
Today.
Burton Fixers Did Not Expect
Such Action.
IAKES ANNOUNCEMENT

Marion, Kansas, Decneber 4.-E.
W. Hoch has decided that he
will not be a candidate for governor
before the Republican state convention.
The formal announcement to this ef-
feet will be made in Mr.. Hoch's paper
the Marion Record, which is published
this afternoon.
The announcement will occasion
much surprise, especially to the Burton
wing of the Republican party who
have been especially active in their
efforts to induce Mr.. Hoch to enter the
race. against Governor Bailey
Some of the most influential of Mr..
Hoch's friends and neighbors have ad-
vised him to keep out of the muddle.
Among them was J. s. Dean, United
States district attorney who though a
Burton appointee evidently does not
believe in the sacrifice of Mr.. Hoch.
Mr.. Hoch's statement is of some
length. He thanks his many friends for
their interest and good words in his be-
hall, but his declination is in positive
terms.
The announcement that Mr.. Hoch
viii not be a candidate for governor
will occasion surprise with a large class
OF politicians in Topeka. 1t is known
positively that D. W. Mulvane, T. 4.
Kelly, ]. J. Burrow and other members
of the Burton machine have bent every
effort to induce Mr.. HOch to enter the
race because they saw or fancied they
saw an opportunity for destroying the
influence of Albaugh and Leland as we'll
as getting rid of Governor Bailey. They
did not care for Mr.. Hoch except as he
offered the most available cudgel with
which to dethrone the men who are
now in the confidence of the powers.
There are very few who believe that
the effort, even with Mr. Hoch, would
have been successful There would
have been little chance of success and
1t would have meant the utter anni-
hilation of Mr.. Hoch as a political fac
tor in Kansas. Mr.. Hoch's real friends
knew this and no doubt their argu-
ments went far toward 4pdncing him
to keep out of the race.
1t is only a few days since Mr.. Hoch
was IN Topeka. While here he had a
secret conference with T. T. Kelly,
state treasurer; J. r. Burrows secre-
tary of state; D. w. Mulvane, national
committeeman, and others of the Bur
ton faction. What was said and done
in this meeting was kept carefully
guarded. 1t is known, however, that
Mr.. Hoch shed a disposition to keep
out of the race. 1t is also known that
Mr.. Mulvane, Mr.. Kelly and the rest
brought to bear every argument they
could command to induce Mr.. Hoch to
enter the contest as their champion.
many Thought lldI tHey HdQ SuCtScuSN
for since then certain Burton workers
in Topeka, not fully informed as to the
real course events were likely to take,
have been especially insistent in their
statements that Mr.. Hoch would be
candidate for governor before the next
Republican state convention. Evident
ly Mr.. Hoch did little thinking for
himself.
The determination of Mr.. Hoch, now
first given to the public through the
State Journal, will cause a stampede.
While the Burton supporters would
gladly look to some one else they have
no one else to whom they can turn.
They are left in the same position as
the man without a country. They CEN
tered all their hopes in Mr.. Hoch and.
like the will -wisp, he has eluded
them and they have no other light
toward which they can direct their ef-
forts.
Mr.. Hoch's announcement, of course,
means that Governor Bailey will be re-
nominated by acclamation, and inn
proves the chances for the selection of
Topeka as the place for holding the
next Republican state convention early
next year, probably in March.