The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-11
ATWOOD FOR HEARST.
Kansas Democratic Leader Sup
ports New York Editor.

The New York American, one of w.
r. Hearsts paper. quotes John H. At
wood, of Leavenworth, as saying that
Kansas Democrats are for Hearst for
president. In an interview in Gthe
American under a I4eavenworth date
line, Mr.. Atwood is quoted as follows:
II am, suppose, pretty nearly can
didate for Democratic national commit
teeman for Kansas. I have served in
the ranks for long time, and my
friends have more than persuaded me
that 1t is not improper for me to be
candidate for this place. I expect that
1t is on the theory that something ought
to be done to encourage the common
soldier.
Il am not for reorganization. 1 am
for unitcation; but that doesn't mean
reorganization nor qualification. The
way to get together is for Democrats
of all shades of opinion to gather in
properly organized convention, and let
the majority determine ard the MI
nority agree. I. for one, do not feel
that we who have been on the firing
line for nearly ten years are called
upon, in the name of HARMONY, to sur
render party dominion to those who
were, at the best, little worse than camp
followers during the campaigns of 1896
and 1900.
"A good many who still call them
selves Democrats went out from the
tents of Democracy in those campaigns
and bore arms in the ranks of the en-
envy. 1 would be delighted to have
those men filling their old places under
the banners back of Democracy and
uniting with US in presenting a solid
front against the Republican janizarieS,
but don't see how desertion, even tenn
porary desertion. has earned them pro-
motion.
at is a fashion on the part of some
| to speak of the Democrats who did
! Democratic 1896
Bryan Democrats. In the sense that
Mr.. Bryan's name is q synonym for
loyalty to Democratic principles we are
Bryan Democrats, and in the minds of
all who have a proper respect for de-
votion to principle the name is a
badge of honor. It has been my priv
ilege to be numbered among Mr..
Bryan's friends for fifteen years.
| TT need never be thought that the
Democrats Of Kansas will exalt to place
and power men who have coupled his
name in the past with jeers and SCOT
fling. To all who call themselves Demo-
Gratis, or want to be Democrats, the
friends Of Mr.. Bryan in Kansas are
ready to extend the right hand of fell
lowship, but the hand will not contain
the proffered baton of command.
Il would accord to the eastern Democ-
racy that which .fraternal courtesy COM
mands, and if they present for our con-
sideratiop a candidate not controlled by
those controllers of concentrated wealth,
being Of the people I should be quite
disposed to give their voice almost a
controlling influence in our councils.
Wv. r. Hearst is man whom every
Democrat could vote for. He is young,
he is able, he is a Democrat. In the
midst Of schismatists who We're most
rancorous in their opposition to Democ-
racy he lowered erect, "a veritable Saul
of political constancy, proclaiming
, through the columns of his great news
papers his adherence to Democra tic
| principles and his recognition of the
right and duty of Democracy's great
| trines Of Democracy. Midst railing and
sneers he has ever adhered to the cause,
and has lifted the journalistic banner OF
his party higher than ever it was
borne before.
: My present belief is that the KAN
sas Democrats as a whole incline to
: Hearst. II is possible that instructions
may not be laid upon the delegates in
t his behalf. But my present notion is
, that nine out of every ten delega ties
who go to the next Democratic national
convention from my state will want tc
: see Mr.. Hearst nominated for the presi-
t dency. His standing in the business
5 world and realm of finance makes il
impossible for any one to believe that
he has not proper regard for property
rights.
His daily utterances in San Fran
cisco and Chicago and in New York
D through the medium of his papers have
proclaimed his adherence to the cause
of the people too long too ably and toe
2 disinterestedly for them to doubt hin
l now while the tremendous majority
awarded him by his constituency in his
1 race for congress shows that he could
carry New York city and also New
York state by majority that would
S approach that which Mr.. Cleveland OBJ
S tanned in his famous gubernatorial con
: test with Judge Folger.
I Hearst is a strong man; no weak
2 ling could have done the things he has
s accomplished. The man who imagfnes
S that money can be employed to accom-
j plish results desirable or advantageous
without the cooperation of brain pow.
e er is an abbot of unreason indeed
o Great wealth is like a great army
f neither can be welded by any one who
= cannot mentally grasp it as an entire
y ty, and this none but the big in bratr
f can do.
= Less than a decade ago he entere,
s the world of American Journalism. HI
s now dominates it, the greatest news
: paper man the world has ever seen
he has duplicated the deeds of Horact
s Greeley and James Gordon Bennett OF
both edges of the hemisphere, and il
d midcontinent as well. He is clean il
: body, he is strong in mind. He is
d total abstainer from all intoxicants, h
y is Industrious: his days are days of IA
k Dor and l o'clock in the morning b.
d is in his office in touch by private wir
d with all his newspapers. In disposition
e he is kindly-a gentleman always. Their
is nothing very much the matter witt
a man like that for candidate, i
there?"