The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-29

H I8 now Only ave WEEKS AAAAAA liz
Republican state convention VIII be
held. Those five weeks win be full
Of politics while delegates are being
elected to nominate state ticket. A
number of delegations have already,
been chosen. and the instructions show
a wide variance Of Intentions and pur-
poses
In general the main issue in the con-
vention viii be whether the railroads
shall control or not. Two years ago
the railroads controlled and were aid
ed by w. R. Stubs This year Mr.
Stubs is posing as the leader of the
anti-railroad party. The convention
viii be made up Of four general classes
Of delegates, as far as the railroad
question is concerned: Civic Leaguers,
who will be friends of Mr.. Stubs and
also heartily in earnest Of railroad
regulation: another class that viii be
for Stubs for political reasons, but at
heart in favor of the railroads; a third
class that will be anti-Stubbs, but sin
cerely and earnestly in favor Of rail-
road regulation: and a fourth class
that win be pro-railroad and anti
Stubs
What the outcome will be it is i'm
possible to determine at this time The
people are in favor Of the principles
advocated in general by the Civic
League-the abolition of the pass; two
cent railroad fares: a railroad law that
viii really regulate, and a railroad
board that will enforce it; the election
of United States senators by the PEG
pie, and various other reforms. At the
same time there is strong feeling
against Mr. Stubs, who is now rec
ogn1zed as standing for these ideas.
It is difficult to foreten which Of
these two sentiments viii win. 1t is
possible that the convention may even
repudiate Mr. Stubs. and yet adopt
the ideas he claims to stand for. 1t is
really an exhibition Of considerable
nerve on the part of the state chair
man to try to monoponze these various
reforms. For instance J. T. Pringle
is the logical man to lead the fight
against the railroad pass and for two
cent railroad fares. It was Mr.. Prin-
gle who framed, introduced and work
ed for that measure in the last legisia-
ture. and it was Mr.. Stubs who help
ed defeat it. Consequently it seems
somewhat presumptuous now for Mr..
Stubs to attempt to usurp the credit
for opposing the pass and favoring
lower fares.
Mr. Pring1e who is among the lead
ing men on the Usage county delega-
ton. will Of course. be in favor OF this
reform, but he can hardly be expected
to follow the lead of Mr.. Stubs, con-
sidering the latter's past record. It is
quite possible, therefore, that men like
Pring1e viii not allow Mr.. Stubs
claim as the High Chief Apostle of
railroad reform to go unchallenged.
They may do a little stunt in that
line themselves.
It is pretty safe to predict that the
Republican state platform this year
win be no cut-and-dried affair No
one man viii come to the convention
with the resolutions typewriter in his
pocket In fact, it will not be surpris-
ing If there should be a debate on the
floor Of the convention concerning the
platforms procedure that has been
INDUCED in heretofore mainly by the
Populists-for it is quite likely that
the platform will have considerable
significance this year.
It is sincerely to be hoped that the
outcome may be favorable to honesty
and good government.-fai to corpor-
atoms and people alike-and that a
ticket viii be named that will be made
up Of the most capable men in the
state, men who will do right and be
Influenced by right motives. no matter
what the political effect may be.