The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-28
VOICE FROM THE WEST.
Edward o'connor, of st. John, Writes
of Hoch Movement

To the Editor of the State Journal:
In a recent issue of the Mail and
Breeze editorially was stated that in a
contest between Governor Bailey and
Senator Harris, Harris would win.
May I ask what, in your judgment
would be the result of contest between
Hoch and Harris. There is certainly no
valid reason to assume that Mr.. HOeh
would command the confidence or slGD-
port of the masses. in whose interest
the opponents of the administration are
pretending to labor, to a greater ex-
tent than would Governor Bailey Or,
does this statement of the editor con-
vey an implication or threat, that the
malcOntents who are now using Mr.
Hoch would refuse to be reconciled, or
to abide by the decision of the cOnven-
ton? If Bailey is defeated by Harris
or any other man on the opposition, it
can only be the result of a. betrayal of
the party by Hoch Republicans.
Do you imagine, Mr.. Editor that Bal
ley's supporters all belong to the Society
of Friends; that they will turn the other
cheek and submit uncomplainingly to
a line of treatment unjust vicious and
unprecedented in the political history of
the state. I fear much that you at
tribute to the followers of Bailey, the
possession of a larger supply of Chris
tan virtues than is warranted. The
people are indeed getting tired of this
uncalled for strife within the party and
are about ready to exclairn, "A plague
on both your houses"
To. the unprejudiced voter, many
reasons present themselves WHY Mr..
aoch should fall short of the support
which would be accorded not alone to
Bailey but to any other capable man
in touch, with the party organization.
In the first place, sluggish sympathy
for sore heads is not a potent factor
in arousing enthusiasm in a campaign.
Second, the average voter will weigh
the motive that impeIs Mr.. Hoch TO
stir up this party strife. Men will ask
themselves the question whether or not,
Mr.. Hoch, if he had been installed in
the office of state printer, would be
making this campaign; whether or not
his higher self would have rOuSedA him
to this same effort to purify politics,
to awaken a dormant public conscience,
to rescue the down-trOdden taxpayer
from impending ruin, and to lift the
suffering masses up mid the Holy of
Holes, where they may chant paeans
of praise to their savior. The answer to
the question, is the crucial test of Mr..
Hoch's disinterestedness and sincerity.
No voter built of common clay and
possessed of ordinary human instincts
can believe in the affirmative. In fact
unregenerated man, unappreciative of
Mr. Hoch's celestial character, and his
all-permeating purity, will fail to recog-
TieZ in him an impeecablea and heavenly
prototype, and will Wickedly conclude
that Mr.. Hoch, as state printer, would
be whoCping it up for Bailey instead
of sacrificing himself in an effort to
rescue the Republican party from
moral and financial ruin The world
is uncharitabIe and is likely to dis
credit the unctious rectitude that owes
its birth to failure to obtain office, and
the reform instinct that is coexiStent
with exclusion from the pie counter.
The opponents of Bailey assert that
he is not governor. that he is simply
an instrument in the hands of the ma
chine; yet in the same breath they hold
him RESPONSIBLE for all the sins of
omission and commission of the last
legislature, thereby ascribing to him
an individuality capable of nlolding and
influencing at will the chosen represen-
tatives of the people. How absurdly
contradictory are these implications.
They canaot both be correct. as they
are antagonistic- Bailey cannot be
Louis XVI and a Cromwell at the same
time as those men whom he failed to
recognize in a substantial way would
have US believe.
But if it We're true that the governor
is Influenced by the so-called machine,
win a change of machines commend
itself to the Deople2 Or are we to ex-
poet that the instrument of the would
be machine will spread the odor of his
personal sanctity around its operations
in suck manner as to dispel all fric
ton, ailay all irritation, and evolve only
beatific reahZatiOnS in the shape of low
taxes. fewer offices, and general econ
omy? The parts of the would-be ma
chine have been, in the main. in public