The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-22
JUDGE sTUART's CANDIDACY.


The State Journal bows its acknowl-
edgments to the morning paper for its
considerable notice in a leading editorial
a few days ago on the congressional
situation in the First district. But the
erudite and verbose editor is entirely
mistaken in a few of his premises. The
State Journal is not interested in the
candidacy of Judge Stuart, neither is
it the organ of the machine. The State
Journal knows that its duty is to Crint
the news. and that it sometimes
prints things that would not pass the
blue pencil of the editor of the paper
that enjoys and lives off the political
patronage of the state, county and city,
but it does this because it knows that
the people are entitled to know what is
going on.
The announcement Of Judge Stuarts
candidacy was printed as a mere mat
ter of news. and pains was taken to
give credit to the paper which Srst
printed the fact. After the question of
his eligibility was raised by the morn
ing paper editor. who might have been
a great lawyer but is not, a reporter
for the State Journal interviewed two
or three men who have the reputation
of being good lawyers. one of them
judge of the supreme court. and they
cited the case of District Judge Peters,
who was elected to congress and took
his seat. and Justice Brewer, who was
appointed to a position in the federal
judiciary while serving as a Justice of
the Kansas supreme court, and they
expressed the opinion that there would
be no question about Judge Stuart taxi
ing his place in congress if elected, and
this was printed in the news columns
like any other item of news.
Perhaps these men did not know
what they were talking about, and per-
haps precedent has nothing to do with
it, but the State Journal feels that 1t
is justified in saying that Judge Stuart
has a right to be a candidate for con-
gress if he cares to do so, and that any
other free born American citizen in the
First district has similar right.
The State Journal admits that its
methods of procedure were not those that
would have been used by the organ.
and were not consistent with its meth
DDS. Instead of giving the true situa-
ton and telling what every lawyer
knows is true, that Judge Stuart will
take his seat if elected, it should have
said that Judge Stuart has no bust
ness to run for congress; that it is an
unwarranted piece of impertinence;
that there is only one man in the First
district entitled to that privilege. and
that even if elected Judge Stuart would
not be allowed to take his seat. OF
course the public would have been mis-
led. but It is the business of an organ
to print only what pleases the par
ticular faction it represents and to
which it looks for financial support.
The State Journal does not wear the
collar of anyone, and it will continue
to be conducted in the interest of all
the people instead of any political party
or faction. When it comes to a question
of news the State Journal aeknowl-
edges no party, and in conformity to
this policy it occasionally tells some
unpleasant truths. things which do not
meet the approval of the organ.
To show that this paper is not alone
in the position of its news columns, the
following. written by Charles Finch. of
the Lawrence Gazette, who certainly
can not be charged with being a friend
of the machine" is quoted:
THE Topeka Capital with an in
dustry worthy of a better cause, con-
tinues to point out that the constltu-
ton and laws make it impossible for
Judge Stuart to get to congress. no
matter how many people vote for him.
The CAPITAL may as we'll save it's ink
and gray matter. If Judge Stuart gets
the nomination and a majority of the
votes It election time. he will be the
congressman. The scheme to refuse to
put his name on the ballot even If he
is nominated will not work. The United
States court gets in it's work there, and
that court will compel any old secretary
Of state to put his name on the ticket.
and any and all canvassing boards to
count his ballots. Kansas is pretty
large when it comes to wheat and corn
crops. but when it gets into national
politics it is about as big as a tadpole."
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