The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-13
SKETCH OF E. ". HOCH
Something of Life of the Next
Governor.
BY ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
Estimate of the Editor by J. E.
House.

J. E. House of the Topeka Capital wrote
the following sketch of E. w. Hoch, the
next governor of Kansas, before his nom
ination:
This hurried study of E w Hoch is
not written with the idea of idealizing
the man who has been drafted" That
sort of thing is the peculiar property OF
those who were behind Hoch's' candidacy
for governor. whether they be writers,
orators or politicians. 1t is rather the
observations and deductions OF a man
who knows nothing of the politics of the
question and whose interest in matters
political ends where good citizenship
ends. What follows here is intended TO
Re fair and honest estimate of the Hoch
personality. 1t will be a kindly valua-
ton, since it was written by man who
has been Hoch's personal friend for more
50 far as the governorship is concerned,
than ten years. But Hoch's limitations,
so far as the governorship is concerned,
will be set down and the things that vio-
lent factional prejudice have placed to
M diSCitull VIII liOl Dt NO8lNtdlCN
There is a disposition among Hoch's
political opponents to create the impress
sion that Hoch is a self-seeker. There
have been covert sneers at his we'll
meant attempt to let the cup of the gov
ernorship pass from him. 1t has been
hinted-even charged-that this is a cloak
made TO fit the character for honesty in
politics which his friends have given him.
Hochs assumption of fairness and NOR
atty as his guide in politics has been
termed a veneer-a bait to catch suckers
who vote This rubbish should be
cleared away. Whatever Ed Hochs lin
itations, whatever his faults, he is hon
est TO the core from the heart. He
doesn't care to be governor, and would
greatly prefer leaving it TO taking 1t.
That he has tacitly agreed to accept 1t is
not because he cares for the place-he
knows fun well the worry and the an
novance entailed in the legacy. But he
Is the old fashioned sort Of politician who
believes in the voice OF the people. and
he further believes that a considerable
number of the people have called.
This reluctance on the part of Hoch to
take Office is not new pose. He is. per-
maps. the tilH lldu III NdiioaS NiiO ii"S
persistentiv hidden from the Office in its
search for the man. This has the sound
of airy persiaage and to prove it TO those
who scott and jeer these instances, all
well established IN the political annals of
Kansas are cited. HOch first showed his
head above the political horizon of Kan
sas when he came TO the legislature of
1889. He was not more than receptive
candidate FOR the place when the Repub- |
ncans of Marion country drafted him for
It He came to Topeka, served through
out the session with credit and returning
home declined a nomination for re-elec- |
ton Il have had he said to the fell
lows who would have renominated him by
reclamation. enough glory of the 50
DAY kind" Meanwhile Thomas Ryan had
gone as minister TO Mexico and there was
gap in the Kansas delegation to be !
filed BY the election of a congressman /
from the Fourth district. Hoch went to the
Burlington convention with the Marion |
county delegation and some additional !
strength He could have been nominated
for congress had he agreed TO do certain /
Things unnecessary to nominate in this |
bond. He declined and went back to /
son Kelly. dead long since. went on 10 (
Washington for his brief day in the /
greater public service Hoch was sent I
Il the legislature again iii 1892. He had 1
not been in any sense a candidate for /
The place. There had been talk of his I
Candidacy. but he had done everything !
within the power of his newspaper to dis /
courage IT. He was not in the hall when /
the delegates met and the half score OF /
Iishtweights who were out for the place /
II gan their active skirmish for il. When /
for representative were call /
Cd J. Hudson Morse, of Peabody, a states
man of the generation preceding. got on /
his feet and nominated Hoch i'm an i'm /
passioned address. The nomination was
a surprise to the convention and equally /
q surprise to Hoch. who in his news
7 aper office three blocks away. But the /
took the bit in its teeth and I
ran over the candidates. nominating Hoch .
nv reclamation. 1t is a fact well known
and disputed of men that Hoch could
have had the Fourth district congressional
when the Populists gerrymau-
dered Charley Curtis into the First dis
trict He was the first man considered
y ~
had he gotten I'm he would have had not
more than nominal opposition. The offer
was carried to Hoch at Marion and he
positively declined to stand for the NOM
nation. Hoch has never cared for but one
office within the gift Of the people Of Kan
sas. He has wanted for more than ten
years to he state printer. He wants 10
be state printer now. There was Hoch 1
furry in the gubernator;al campaign of
1884, predicated upon the fact that Gov
ernor Morrill, had not given satisfac-
ton to all the elements Of his party
Hoch's friends tried 10 push him into the
race and half way succeeded. although
nothing came Of il. When the Hoch
boom began to sit up and notice things
In the early spring OF lS94 this writer was
the editor Of newspaper In town so
near Marion as to be considered neigh
Dor Hoch had diScoura ged his Euberna-