The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-24
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Has Mr.. Hoch Made His Peace
With the Liberals
His Key Note Speech Was Sat-
isfact0ry.
BOTH SAY ALL RIGHT.
Prohibitionists Are Not at All
Dissatisfied.
BOTH SAY ALL RIGHT
The Attack on Federation Of
Commercial Interests.

Some time ago some of the opponents
of E. w. Hocn started out to make
him trouble because of his lifetime
opinions regarding the enforcement of
the prohibitory law. 1t was asserted
that ME-. Hoch's attitude would cost
him the support of the liberal voters
of Kansas-those who do not want the
prohibitory law strictly enforced in
Wichita, Kansas City, Kan, and 9TH
er places which usually have wide-open
joints.
The liberals, however, now seem to
be satisfied with Mr. Hoch's attitude.
They say that since Mr.. Hoch's key
note speech at Marion at the opening
of the Republican campaign they are
satisfied that Mr.. HOch will not be
| ''fanaticaI' in trying to enforce the
prohibitory law; that ne will leave to
county officials to enforce it as at pres
ent, and that each county will there
fore have open joints if it wants to.
The prohibitionists, the other hand,
see in Mr.. Hochs Marion declaration
the same determination to enforce the
law which he mas always had.
In times past Mr.. Hoch has severely
criticised Kansas governors for the
non-enforcement of the prohibitory law.
During Governor Morrilfs adminiStra-
ton he went so far as to declare that
ii he were governor he would enforce
the law, even though he had to call out
the militia to do it 1t was these ex-
pressions that worried the liberal ele-
ment.
Mr. Hoch's views concerning law-en-
forcement do him no discredit, SO long
as he remains consistent and does not
hscome trimmer" trimmer" is
an abomination in the eyes of most peo-
pie.
Mr.. Hoch's expression on the prohibi-
tory law at Marion was as follows:
81 am not and never was a fanatic
on this or any other subject; nor will I
renounce my lifetime views. Since the
repeal of the metropolitan police laws.
which required the governor to appoint
the police commissioners in cities CT
the first class, the cases are rare and
extra ordinary when 1T becomes the duty
of the governor or within the scope of
his power to act. If, however, I am call
ed upon to take the oath of this exalted
office, 1 snail not take it with perjury
on my lips or in my heart, and I can
not believe that my opponent, VINO has
worn the judicial ermine and who, If
elected. would be required to take the
same OATH would take it in any other
spirit or for any other purpose than I.
have above expressed
The prohibitionists believe that Mr..
Hoch is standing pat on his prohibi-
tion views and his determination to
force the law. They point to his state
ment that he will not renounce his
lifetime views" nor take the oath of
office with perjury on his lips or i'll
his heart
The liberal element, on the other
hand, is seemingly satisfied that Mr..
Hoch will do as both Morrill, and
Stanley, who were pronounced prohibit
tionists, did and will let each communi-
ty do as it pleases regarding prohibi-
tion. The liberals point to Mr.. Hoch's
declaration that the governor has
nothing to do with prohibition in sup
Of their They a h1t
he has had his name taken from the
executive committee of the State Tenn
perance union, as published in the
Kansas Issue, and that this is another
evidence that he is bidding for the sup
port of the liberals and will not go out
of his way to disturb the joints.
Which crowd is guessing right?
Mr.. Hoch seems to be alternating from
himself the support of the State Fed
Grafton of Commercial Interests, if the
speech, as told by J. N. Dolley, are
correct. The railroad interests among
the Republicans started the report that
the federation is a Democratic annex
because it made recommendations to
the Democrats to nominate two candi-
dates which it suggested for railroad
commissioners. and when the Demo-
Gratis did as requested the federation
gave it's support to the two candidates
named.
Now Mr.. Hoch seems to be attacking
the federation himself. According tol
Mr. Dolley he said III his speech 8 t
Mcfarland that the federation does not
represent the business men of the
state, but that it is simply an adjunct
to the Democratic party.
1t looks as though the friends of A. |
D. Walker are working Mr.. Hoch
again. It is quite probable that the
Democrats will get all the support
from the federation possible, but the
fact remains that most of the mem |
bers of the federation are Republicans
and that they do represent the business
and shipping interests of Kansas, de- |
spite all statements to the contrary.
An interview in a Kansas City paper |
with J. A. Ranney of the Ranney-Dav- |
is Wholesale Grocery company of Ar |
kansas City, one of the leading mem |
bers of the federation. says that Mr..
Ranney is incensed over the report that |
the fedora ton is a Democratic annex. |
1.-The idea is absurd said Mr. Ran |
ney "a poll taken at our last meet |
members are Republicans. The only |
Democrats the federation is support |
ing are Ferguson and Chase, the nom |
ineeS for railroad commissioners. That /
is because Walker and Wheatly,- the |
candidates who are UP for |
reelection, did not give us a fair deal |
when they were in office. The fed |
Grafton also Endorsed ]. W. Robson, |
a Republican. Regarding the rest of |
the ticket, the members will vote ac-
cording to their political belief
William Allen White also calls down |
the Republican leaders for saying that |
the federation is a Democratic annex. |
He calls attention to the fact that J. |
E. Evans, the only Republican repre- |
sentative in Lyon county at present, |
is one of the prominent members of |
the federation, and that both of the |
nominees for the legislature are also. |
1t might also be remarked that George |
e. Tucker, representative from Green
wood county, the Republican senato- /
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