The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-15
Extra Session of Congress May
Also Relieve Politicians.
Contest for Judgeship May
Then Be Settled.
THEY ARE LINING UP.
Candidates Are Capturing All
Endorsements in Sight.
Judge Picker Has an Incipient
Boom for Governor.

The announcement that President
Roosevelt may call the extra session of
congress a month or more earlier than
has been anticipated, or early in Octo-
ber, is of more than ordinary interest to
Kansas politicians. 1t means that the
nomination of Judge Hook for United
States circuit judge will go to the SEN
ate just that much earlier, which will
bring about the vacancy on the federal
district bench. and thereby precipitate
the contest for that place.
In the meantime things are in statu
quo, as the lawyers say. The various
candidates are supposed to be gathering
endorsements, but there is little doing
on the surface. The fact that the con-
test will come to an issue month ear
lier than expected and only about six or
eight weeks in the future may tend to
stir up matters.
OF course each of the avowed candi-
dates will have long list of endorse
ments, but it is doubtful If there will be
any list to equal that of Chief Justice
Johnston. 1t is understood that Justice
Brewer of the United States supreme
court, Pension Commissioner Ware,
and a large number OF the district
judges of the state are for Johnston, be-
sides many others. Justice Pollock VIII
doubtless have a good line of political
endorsements, and Charles Blood Smith
will have a considerable number of en-
inent lawyers behind him. 1t is under
stood, however, that some of Mr.. Smiths
strongest endorsements come from east
ern attorneys who have known him in
federal and corporation practice. He is
not much a mixer and has therefore
never got as close to the ordinary run Of
Kansas lawyers as some others.
The friends of N. H. Loomis have
also been active during the summer
gathering signatures to a petition ask
ing for his appointment to the federal
bench, Notwithstanding Mr. Loomis'
disavowal of his candidacy. Mr.. Loomis
himself has been camping out in the
Rockies and paying no attention to
judgeship matters.
j. B. Tom1inson, for many years a
strong factor in Fifth district politics
and an embryotic candidate for the
congressional nomination himself, has
left the district. He has moved from
Minneapolis to Independence. and will
hereafter be identified with Third dis
trict Affairs.
Judge Dick Pickler. of Smith county.
has gubernatorial boom to succeed
Bailey as governor His present term
as district judge Will expire just in
time to make him available as a candi-
date. Up in his judicial district. COM
posed of Jewell. Smith. Osborne and
Mitchell counties. he is so popular that
his election TO the bench last fall came
near being unanimous.
Here are two Second district COM
ments which show how congressional
politics is boiling down there. The first
is from the Lawrence World. which
SAYS:
''E. H. Funston has announced himself
as candidate for congressman in the Sec
ond district. Mr.. Funston held the place
for ten years and made a good record.
This paper has always been friendly to
him and always expects to be. He is
a great big, honest man whose public
life has been useful. He served his con-
stituents well while in congress and
would do so again if occasion offered.
But Mr.. Funston was in congress for ten
years. He had his turn. The present
congressman has only been in six years
and is getting more useful all the time.
AS between Mr.. Funston and Mr.. Bow
ersOck there ought to be no question.
Both are good men, both have creditabla
public records. Mr.. Funston served his
time and retired. Mr.. Bowersock is now
in the harness., thoroughly in touch with .
the administration and with the depart
mentS. 1t is not to the discredit of NJ
Funston to say that Mr.. Bowerso<
is already valuable member and is b.
coming more so every year. He ought
to be kept in congress. 1t is poor policy
to always be changing. While being
friendly to Mr.. Funston, this paper can
not see any reason why he should defeat
Mr.. Bowersock for this nomination"
The Fort Scott Republican copies the
following from the F'redonia Citizen:
THE congressional fight in the Sec
ond district involving the denomination
of ]. d. Bowersock, is getting a good
start There is strong opposition to the
Catfish Croesus in Bourbon county
which is natural and proper. In choice
between two candidates for postmaster
al Fort Scott two years ago Bowersock
straddled. requiring Lowe, as a condi-
tion of reappointment. to enter into a
written agreement to resign or step out
after two years tenure, that Bowersock
might let the candidate of a different
crowd have the office the second half OF
the four year term. That shows how
much Qittle) political stamina the con-
gresham had. 1t is probable the par
ties on neither side in the postoffice con-
test now admire him. 1t is also proba-
BILE that if President Roosevelt had
known of the disreputable Fort Scott
arrangement or dicker he would not
have permitted it. He may yet prove
his effective displeasure Bowersock
joined Burton last winter in the 'po-
litical immortality cry when the election
of Pringle as speaker was fixed up"
In speaking of the loyalty of politic-
ians to their friends. the Holton Recor-
der takes a rap at Congressman Curtis,
Governor Bailey, Victor Murdock and
politicians in general who are given
high places. 1t says:
IF we can believe the reports Victor
Murdock, the new Seventh district con-
gresham, has given a Democrat and a
Populist the two best positions he has
at his command. That is to say these
two men, when they thought the Re-
publican party was going to be defeated
and put out of business. fought it to a
standstill If it had not been for the
men who were true to Republican prin--
ciples when it cost something to be SO.
and who counteracted the influence Of
Mr.. Murdock's two friends and benef1ci-
aries, there would have been no Repub-