The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-19
zoos.

Some Kansas Republican newspapers
are pessimistic enough to see in the
narrow Republican victory this wear
grave chances for Democratic success
in 1908. Colonel Harris has bought him
home in Lawrence, which is inter
preted to mean that he is quite likely
to make another race for governor in
1908, and that he may succeed.
Republicans who are fearful of such
calamity. as they might deem it, are
worried without cause. Such a thing
might happen, but the close election
this year does not necessarily presaee
it.
Whether there is danger of Republi-
can defeat in Kansas two years hence
depends entirely upon the Republicans
themselves - the Republican leaders
There are two things which might turn
the state over to the Democrats in 1908
One is the capture of the Republican
party nationally by the trusts and
money interests, which would be very
apt to force Kansas out of the Renub-
lican column nationally and incidental
ly endanger the party in the state The
other thing would be a bad record by
the party within the state.
There is more danger from the latter
source than from the former Even
though Theodore Roosevelt himself re-
fuses to run again in 1908, he will
doubtless take a lively interest in the
management of the party and will head
off any attempt to turn it over to the
corporations.
There is danger. however, that the
Republican leaders of Kansas may not
make the record the people desire. The
people of Kansas are demanding that
the state government shall be not only
passively good but they want it ag-
gressively so. They want the anti trust
law enforced. They want railroad
rates, the fairness of which cannot be
disputed. They want all laws enforced
with justice to all sections. They want
to be represented at Washington by
men who will be active and aggressive
in their interest
Yet there is a possibility that the
Republican leaders will start off wrong
by allowing the railroads to name the
United States senator the coming win
ter. If they do, it viii go a long ways
towards electing not only a Democratic
governor in 1908, but also a Democrat
to succeed Chester /. Long in the Unit
ed States senate.
There is danger that the politicians
themselves will be so eager to boss the
state that the people viii become dis
gusted with them.
Certain legislation is desired by the
people. If they don't get it there is
quite likely to be trouble.
IT, on the other hand the people have
their way and the state is given a good
administration during the coming two
years, there is no possibility that a
Democratic state ticket would be elect
ed on state issues in 1908 Kansas is as
prone to vote the Republican ticket as
the sparks are to fly upwards The
habit of going Republican" is as firm
ly fixed in Kansas as is the habit of
going Democratic" in Texas. Incl
dentally the Republicans Of Kansas and
the Democrats of Texas are very much
alike in their beliefs and wishes 1t
is only the force of habit that makes
them different in their politics
The result Of this years election and
the narrow defeat of Colonel Harris is
portentous only from the fact that it
shows that the people Of Kansas arr
becoming more and more independent
But If they are given a good state gov
eminent and the policies Of Theodore
Roosevelt prevail nationally. nothing