The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-14
THE HoCH MovEMENT

afternoon that he expected about sew
enty-five. There were probably four
times that many in the han, some of
them earnest and sincere, some ener-
getic and insineere, some young in
politics. some old and SCARED, some
bright ones and some dull. Mackey
seems to have got some transportation.
The roll of forty-two counties was
called and responses came from twelve
of the counties Representative Stubs,
who was al the head of the movement,
is evidently a good organizer. The Rev.
MIR. Shawhan, who introduced the reso-
lutions, is smart of thought and
speech.
There was in the gathering a mix
ture of the creditable and the diseredi-
ted in politics. In the former category
are some bright young men who are
evidently honest in their intentions and
do not recognize that they are being
used to repair a machine which, if put
in good working order, would produce
a product which would not reflect cred
it upon Kansas. and which in its new
ness ground out much that caused the
people of this state to blush for shame.
The longest and noisest speech
made last evening was by the late Dick
Blue. He was much in evidence.
During the last few decades. Colonel
Blue has championed many reforms
with his full voice and large frame,
but few with. his heart and soul.
Among the other exes was Mr.. B. H.
Tracey, whom Senator Burton tried to
foist into the office of United States
district attorney.
There was Farmer Smith, but we al
ways have Farmer Smith in these
of the "outs' against the
"ins."
Former Bill Higgins was also on
earth again last night.
There was our own John Dudley, the
great and good man who represents the
anti-machine and reform element in
this county. Mr.. Dudley was selected
to be the chairman of this Hoch move
ment in this congressional district.
Think of this! The man who has done
as much to corrupt politics in this
town, county and congressional district
as any willing tool of designing poll
ticians.
Last night everything was cut and
dried. The resolutions were all pre-
pared: the committees were all APP
pointed. Those at the meeting had
nothing to do but to vote aye on every
question. For an alleged anti-machine
the new organization dis
played wonderful smooth running
gears.
Mr.. Hoch has again wobbled. Great
and good though he may be, he has
certainly played a deceiving game and
apparently has said one thing when he
meant another. He studied long and
carefully over tAe question of being
candidate and declined. He is now
apparently in the race. At least that's
what he leads the people to believe
from letter which he wrote to Man
ager Stubs and which was read last
evening. Mr.. Hoch discredits the whole
line Of letters of declination. The pub
lice does not know whether to balieve
Mr.. Hoch or not to believe him. He
IS playing the part in state politics that
Nj Hanna is in national politics.
There is no more reason for Mr..
Hoch being a candidate for governor TO-
day than there was month ago. The
same reasons and conditions that in
duced him to decline in December oper-
ate in January. He simply gives the
public another reason for believing that
the movement, which has attached to
itself his name as the adjective. is in
reality one of soreness and hypocrisy.
Mr.. Hoch knew in December that if he
permitted the use of his name it would
stir up a big fractional row in his party,
which would weaken instead of
strengthen the cause which he claims
to have near to his heart. This ques-
ton Of rending the party into factions
is undoubtedly one which Mr. Hoch
carefully debated and a month ago de-
cided that he would not permit his
name to be used in creating that which
he claims is not a part of his political
Observation-Disclosures.
What has come over his dreams? He
knew that ten words from him would
stop a factional fight. He wrote a col
umn with the ostensible purpose of
stopping it, but has been too busy since
to give the ten words which seems to
have been necessary to make his col
umn effective Mr.. Hoch's pretended
position was to keep out of the race
but a lions skin has never been known
to become or to fit anything but a lion
It is not what a man says, but what
he does that gives him character and
standing. The public appears to be dis
covering that Mr.. Hoch can herald one
thing and do another, without splitting
any water on either of his shoulders
The Marion statesman has evidence
that the movement in his favor was in
stituted and championed by Senator
Burton and his cohorts; that he was
being worked and used. With Hoch the
standard bearer, Senator Burton will be
the general; Mr.. Stubs will be the
colonel; John Dudley will be a captain
and Bent Murdoch will be the marshal
Of the day, on a black charger with a
crimson plume in his helmet In the
ranks will be some good men, but like
other good men they will have unwit-
tingly championed what will turn out a
bad cause, however good it seemed at
the time of the enlistment