The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-08
Says That He Stands on Origi-
nal Statement.
Tried to Make Himself Clear at
That Time.
GRATEFUL TO FRIENDS
Feels Like Shutting Himself in
Shell and Staying There.
Sorry Convention Was Not
Brought to Topeka.

A Kansas City paper quotes E. w.
Hoch as saying that he sis not a can
didate for governor and will not allow
the use of his name" So many con-
f1icting statements on the subject of
the gubernatoriaI race have been at
tributed to Mr.. FToch that the State
Journal called him up by telephone to-
day at Marion and asked him if he had
made the statement attributed to him.
mo, have not said that" said Mr..
Hoch.
Have you said anything that could
be construed that way?" he was asked.
mot exactly that way" he replied.
1.-THE nearest 1 have come to it was
TO say that I do not want to have any
thing to do with the matter, and 1
wished 1 was out of it altogether.
I have my personal business to look
after" he continued, "and I am in
clined to pay no more attention to this
matter whatever. The letters and tele-
grams are piling up on my desk again
now, and my inclination is just to leave
them alone and not answer them. In
fact 1 haven't time to do so, for I must
look after my business. I can't afford
to neglect it.
81 tried to make myself clear in my
statement two weeks ago, and to me
my meaning is perfectly clear. I don't
know how can make it any more posi-
tive without slapping my friends in the
face. [ think | have done everything
1 could for peace and harmony-at
least, 1 intended to. 1 am anxious to
do whatever is best for the interests of
the Republican party At the same
inns IN n slaTA friends
in either faction in the face. 1 am, of
course, extremely grateful to my
friends who have been saying nice
things about me in connection with
position clear in my statement two
weeks ago, and now .eessx good deal
like shutting n9yseh up "a my shell and
staying there.
Il wish now. though. that had gone
to Topeka the other day when the state
committee met 1 stayed away purpose
ly, but 1 now wish 1 had gone down. I
would like to have said few things to
some of the members of that committee.
think it was the wrong thing to take
the convention away from Topeka
Aside from any rivalry between the
two towns, 1t seems to me that it was
unwisa to take the convention to Wich-
ita. It simply famed the opposition to
Governor Bailey, andsI should have told
the committee SO had / been there"
What would you have told the op-
position that is trying to force you into
the racer" Mr. Hoch was asked.
Just what 1 told them in my state
ment two weeks ago. and what 1 have
told them SINCE he replied. There
has been no change in my position, and
don't know how to say it any differ
emily"
1t looks IS though Mr. Hoch really
does not want to run for governor, just
as he states, but he undoubtedly would
like to be state printer. For that rea-
son he does not like to offend either
faction.
The Lawrence Journal says: "Mr.
Stubs says that Mr.. Hoch will run for
governor, and Mr.. Hoch says that he
will not. Meantime time is fast fleet
ing and the anti-machine Republicans
of Kansas seem little nearer accomp-
fishing the changes in party manage
ment in the state than they were a
year ago"
Each Republican congressional con-
vention this spring will elect two dele
gates to the Republican convention at
Chicago. In the districts where the re-
nomination of the present congressman
is conceded, the selection of these dele
gates will be the chief matter of inter-
est. In discussing the matter the En-
poria Gazette says:
THE next Republican convention for
this congressional district will properly
enough be a Miller convention, just as
the next Republican state convention
will be a convention largely in the
hands of the friends of the present Re-
publican state officers. Men and inter
ests that are not friendly to Congress
man Miller will perform the best ser
vice to their party by keeping hands
off.
THE Gazette has not been friendly
to Congressman Miller, as factiOnal-
ist within the party, though it has sup
ported him after his nomination, and
believes that unanimous renomina-
tion for him is the best possible thing
for the party this year. But merely as
a Republican and as a party neWspa
per, the Gazette feels free to suggest
that while no one but factional friends
of Congress man Miller be sent to the
convention the Republicans
of this district take great care that no
man be sent there who will not be
true to Roosevelt.
There may. be strong effort to
sidetrack the Kansas delegation when
wagon may be full of seats. Mr. Rur-
tons closed door at the White House
makes him extremely susceptible to the
Hanna influence. Mr.. Burton will have
his friends as candidates before that
convention. They should be turned
down, and no one sent to Chicago who
is not true blue. There are scores of
Miller men who will stand hitched for
Roosevelt. Joe SatterthWs1te of Doug
las is all right; Ed Hoch will be his own
master; they couldn't coax ]. b Adams
into the Hanna camp. Tom Potter
would do
There are dozens who are sound as
a dollar, but on the other hand, the
Republicans of this district, the friends
of Mr.. Miller, should see to it, that
only men of business standing and per-
sonal honor and integrity are put on
the delegation to Chicago. The Ca
zette realizes that this is advice spo-
ken through a hole in the window
made by rock, but none the less the
advice is given in all sincerity and
with every good wish for Congressman
AfHler's success at the convention and
al fhA r,oIIc