The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-18
HOCH OR STUBS?
Which Will Be in the Next SEN
atOrial Race?
Politicians AnxiOusIy Watching
for Signs of the Times.
HOCH BOOM LAUNCHED
Conner Davies Says People viii
Demand Hoch for Senator.
Claims Stubbs Is Not Fitted for
the Place.
HOCH BOOM LAUNCHED

In this weeks Concordia Kansan
Conner Davies tnaugurates Governor
I4och's boom for United States senator
to succeed J. r. Burton. Incidentally
Mr. Davies comes out against w. r.
Stubs, at least to the degree of say
ing that Stubs is not fitted for the
place.
It has been commonly supposed
that Mr. Stubs would be in the SEN
atorial race which will be finished
in less than two years from now. At
the same time some of the politicians
have been guessing that Governor
Hoch- might like the place himself,
and it would be hardly possible for
Stubs and Hoch both to run. One
or the other will have to sacrifice
himself and keep out, and Mr.. Da-
vies' statement may have the effect
of driving one or the other, or both,
to make a declaration.
It may be a case of Alphonse and
Castor, but the situation will not per-
init of too great a delay. for there are
others who are looking longingly
toward the senatorial plum. 1t is
practically certain that there will be
at least four congressman in the sem
atorial race-Curtis, Campbell, Scott,
and Calderhead- J. L. BristOW may
possibly get into it if things shape
themselves right. and there is a great
deal of talk about D. w. Mulvane in
the same connection.
It must be admitted by the other
candidates that either Mr.. Stubbs or
| Governor Hoch will be among the
| leaders in the senatorial contest if
either enters it. but it would be a
hard matter for them to divide forces
and both run. 1t has been generally
supposed that Stubs would be the
one who would get the administration
the leaders in the boss buster move
ment, now comes forward and de-
clares that Mr.. Stubs is not equipped
for the place and that popular senti-
ment demands the election of Gov
ernor Hoch. Mr.. Davies says
We note that w r. Stubs says he
will not aspire to greater things than
have already come to him in the realm
| of politics. We are not surprised, and
we think Mr.. Stubs shows himself
wise in his notion of it. Mr.. Stubs
has accomplished much in the short
time he has played at the game, and
while we have the greatest admiration
Tor the man. We do not believe him of
/ the proper mold nor does he possess
/ the requirements to fit him for the
position of United States senator a
place with which his name has been
! frequently mentioned since election
day last fall. No one knows this bet
| ter than Mr.. Stubs himself and his
good sense has prompted him to make
/ a positive statement to the effect that
he has no desire for the position and
Will not, under any circumstances, be
| a candidate. While the time for the
| election of a senator to succeed Mr..
| Burton is a long way off, there is al
ready much casting about and predic-
ton as to who his successor will be,
as certainly new man will be chosen.
/ To our mind when that time comes
there will be a man towering above
his fellows so high that all hands will
! point to him as the logical and only
candidate-he is honest old Ed HOch.
eve fully appreciate the dangers that
! lie in the pathway of every man who
fills such a responsible position as he is
now filing having a possibility to blast
forever greater preferment, and Hoch
may make some mistakes. but people
are not harsh in passing its decree on
mistakes of judgment-and that is the
only sort of a mistake Hoch will make.
Mark it, if Governor Hoch meets the
expectations of the people in anything
near the same degree of fullness as he
has in the past, he will be the successor
of Senator Burton as certain as the
rising and setting of the sun. The edi-
tor of the Kansan is not playing in the
game of politics, if he We're he would
probably conclude that it was 1nd1S-
Greet to say this much by way of pre-
! diction. Developments of the past two
years reveal the fact that political fix
ers are not at present in the ascendan-
cy in Kansas-the plain, common, every
day Sovereign SquatS are just now do
ing things out here in Kansas, and it
| is they who will select the next United
| States senator and not the whispering
breed of gum-shoe politicians Cover
nor Hoch has got to make some very
grievous error in his official capacity to
avoid being the choice of the people ror
United States senator in 1907"