The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-23
John Curran Says the RepubIi-
cans Are Weak.
Believes That the Opposition
May Succeed.
POINTS.
Says That Kelly Will Greatly
: Weaken Ticket.
Control by Burton Faction Will
Also be Felt.

John Curran. secretary of the Peo-
pies party state committee, thinks
that the Populist state convention
which viii be held in Topeka April IL
will be large and enthusiastic.
Mr.. Curran says that he believes that
the opposition to the Republicans
stand good chance of winning this
year.
Il have been visited by sundry scof-
fers and nagged by numerous Repub-
lican friends since my recent declara-
ton that the grand old party in Kan
sas was 10000 votes weaker than two
years ago, until it seems not anniss
that few reasons for the faith that
is in US might be given, said Mr..
Curran today. IF for no other reason
than to see the new machine get up
steam a little sooner.
ITO begin then at the top, there is
no certainty that Mr.. Hoch will stand
in the same light eight months hence.
Thousands of good Republicans, who
know him well, are watching with
| anxious eyes to see him repeat in an
increasing ratio, the bad breaks he has
already made at Wichita, in the Set
ond- district and at Topeka. 1t will
only take few more moves like the
recent stand patting' at Topeka, to
land Hoch and Stabbs in the Leland
camp. Ask Joe Burrow and Dave Null
yane.
mo one, Burtonite or Lelandite. but
will tell you Kelly will weaken the
ticket-not even Kelly himself How
much is still problematical. Perhaps
twenty thousand Republicans will
scratch him. He must be defended
This weakens the campaign in just
the measure the fight is made on
| treasurer. A concentrated fire on Kelly
will put the entire ticket on the de-
fensive in a losing fight.
ITO these bad features must be add
ed the results Of the congressional
| fights which have been the worst by
| far in the history of the party. In the
First district the bad blood and feuds
Of fifteen years gathering have broken
cut, and no one except those who have
| been on the ground can realize the IN
tense bitterness and rancOur which ex-
! lists all over the district in every coun-
| ty. In the Second conditions are equal
ly as bad. complicated as they are by
the fighting of two candidates. for
neither of whom there seems to be any
special demand. and a. consequent
apathy on the part of the people. The
Third district, and especially the east
ern half. is sore at the new machine
for the way it harpooned Atkinson for
| Judge Atkinson, not being factionai
nor a politician. had his strength with
the rank and file. and poll will show
bad mistake was made in turning
him down. The much derided Pringle,
though defeated, has many friends in
the Fourth. and this and many smaller
sore places in that district as well as
in the Fifth, are being rubbed raw by
the new-rich Stubbites. and will break
out in due time.
I'm the Sixth there is heard the rum
bling of an uprising against the domi-
nation of the Rock Island railroad 1t
is a fight between the Burrow-ROyce-
| Buschow people who don't pay fare
and the outsiders who can't come to
Topeka on pass The surprising ac-
tivity of the Populists and Democrats
in that district is in a great measure
accounted for by this. and the result
will certainly show up in November.
sThe defeat of Jerry Simpson and
the late strong and seemingly invinei-
BILE Republican organization in the
Seventh district can be traced directly
to Chester I. Long, Mort Albaugh.
Billy Morgan, Andy Richards and
their people. With these people re-
duced to the ranks it remains to be
seen whether the new men at the helm
can down the ever strengthening fus-
ion organization in that district
add to the bitter district fights the
senatorial contests begun by Sam
Fitzpatrick at Sedan and followed by
the Nugent affairs in Troy and the
two lively tempests in the Sixth with
a prospect of a contest on four out or
even five senators still to be nofn1-
mated and there is little in the situ-
alton for the new organization to feel
elated over.
"But this is not ALL The fights are
on in the representative districts. The
tax bill has promise Of being dug up
next winter and the vested interests
are watching the nominations with
their customary vigilance. Even in
the nominations for county offices is
reflected the Republican appetite this
year for trouble and not even the
township trustees and cross roads
justices can escape the general spiritof
unrest and revolt.
ut will not be admitted by the new
machine, except in secret, that they
have SO far proved themselves poor in
party policy. Blunder has followed
close on the heels of blunder since
they rode into power on a popular
wave of reform. Even at this early
date they give strong evidence of poor
cohesive power and the wise ones will
be disappointed if as the campaign
| advances, their weaknesses will not be
more and more displayed. The old
and tried leaders are all in eclipse
their counsel refused-their experience
scoffed at The party organization
which two years ago was the wonder
of the west is now a heterogeneous
mass of bungling 'newly-founds'
iffoundering in a sea of doubt or march
ing bravely into political morasses-
ssIt is a matter for chagrin, even IN
the hearts of the boss busters, that they
are so completely under the domination
of the railroads. 1t is no doubt eonsid-
4 cred highly essential by the legal de-
partments of these corporations that
Il their representatives sit in every coun-
ell of the party and their ideas perme-
ate every policy So at Wichita they
nominated majority of the railroad
board. Their representatives must at
ltend the national convention. They
must get into the legislature. on the
bench sit on committees. dominate
every act, small or great, that might en-
large their power in the party and pre-