The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-29
TURN TO ALBAUCH
Burton Faction Will Center
Fight on Him.
Plan to Give Burton Control of
National Delegation.
ON SAME OLD LINES
Was Fought Four Years Ago
and Burton Won.
Two Senators Will Lead the
Warning Elements.

Since E. w. Hoch has made positive
announcement that he will not be a
candidate for governor against Cover
nor Bailey, it has become apparent
that the Burton faction will center it's
fight upon State Chairman Albaugh,
since it has no possible chance of de-
feating Governor Bailey. If Hoch had
been persuaded to run an attempt
would have been made to defeat the
denomination of Bailey first and the
success of this plan would have carried
Albaugh's defeat with it. And the same
general action would have carried with
it the control of the Kansas delegation
to the Republican national convention.
In a way the fight in the coming
state convention will be the boss bus
ter fight of four years ago over again.
The same disgrunt1ed politicians are
making the fight to a large extent. 1t
is backed by practically the same in
f1uences. ]. r. Burton was the bene-
ficiary of it's success then, as it is in
tended that he shall be of the one that
will be made this year. Burton was
given the control of the delegation to
the Philadelphia convention just as it
is desired to give him the control of
the delegation the coming year to the
Chicago convention if possible. The
final result of the boss buster move
ment was the election of Burton to the
United States senate. If the same
movement this year should be success
full it would tend to restore to MI. Bur
ton some of his lost political prestige.
The fight this year, however, while
directed against the same general ele-
ment, is against different individuals.
Then it was centered on Cyrus Leland
as Republican national committeeman.
1t succeeded in defeating Mr.. Leland
at the time and D. w. MulVane, Bur-
tons close political friend, succeeded
him. Today Mr.. Mulvane is figuring
to. succeed himself. 1t was intended
that the fight should be centered on
Governor Bailey, but since that is now
impossible and it is evident that Gov
ernor Bailey will be renominated prac-
tically without opposition, the fight
will center on State Chairman AL
baugh.
Back of all the contending forces,
however, are the two senatorial lead
ers, Burton and Long. 1t is not merely
a contest between factions over the
state ticket and the organization of
the state committee, but it is contest
for the control of the Kansas delega-
ton to the national convention, and
this is where the senators are most
deeply interested. One or the other of
them will largely influence the delega-
ton whether either is a member of it
or not. Ard down beneath the surface
it will really be a Roosevelt and anti
Roosevelt nShC-
The Burton people may talk Roose-
welt and scott at the idea that anyone
in Kansas is opposed to him, secretly
or otherwise, but does anyone who is
familiar with affairs doubt the feelings
or attitude of Senator Burton toward
President Roosevelt? It is we'll
known fact that Burton has no stand
ing whatever at the White House. He
goes there less than even the majority
Of Democratic senators. Suppose Mr..
Burton had the deciding vote in a con-
test in which President Roosevelt was
personally interested-does any one
doubt which way he would vote? Sup
pose he controlled the Kansas delega-
ton in the coming national convention
and it should be pledged to Roosevelt,
and supposing there should be a con-
test on organization in which Roose-
velt's interests were at stake, does
anyone doubt which way Mr. Burton
would throw his influence, notwtth-
standing the instructions of the Re
publicans of Kansas?
On the other hand it is just as well
known that Senator Long stands close
to the president, and that he is per-
sonally interested in the denomination
and reelection of Roosevelt. If he
should control the Kansas delegation
there would be no doubt about its po-