The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-07
WHAT OF TIE FuTURE2

While praising the high qualities OF
Senator Coburn, the Ottawa Herald be-
lieves that Governor Hoch did a great
stunt of lodging in appointing him to
I'LL the senatorial vacancy, and that the
appointment was made in the interest
of Mr.. Curtis. who did not wish the
senatorship himself at this time, but
who also did not wish It to 20 TO any
other active candidate for the place.
Mr.. Curtis could scarcely afford 10
take the appointment. It would have
meant that he would have had to give
up his present. seat In the lower house
OF congress- in which he is now secure,
| and take a somewhat remote chance
upon being elected to the six year SEN
atoria1 term next January. If he were
[ defeated he would be entirely out of Of
| fee and a new congressman would be
in his seat from the First district.
But with none of the other active can
| didates in the place, Mr.. Curtis will
stand an equal show with them in the
election next winter. and IN the mean
time he will have secured his present
place for another two years and have
| 1t to fall back on in case of his defeat
in the senatorial election. The Ottawa
Herald accuses Governor Hoch of hav-
/ ing this in mind in the appointment of
Mr.. Coburn.
Measured by the qualities of the
man and his standing in the state -
says the Herald. Governor Hoch has
made an excellent selection in his choice
of United States senator. Measured
by the motives which prompted the
choice. by the spirit in which the selee-
ton was made, Governor Hoch has
done a weak thing.
IF. D. Coburn is certain to be salts
factory to Kansas He is a capable
man, a big man, an honest man, and
man who has been adequate for
whatever has come to him to do. lie
has been Kansas head adviser, and
the merit of his work has come from
his intimate knowledge of the state
and its resources.
The unfortunate feature about the
appointment of Coburn as senator is
that it is insincere. 1t is not in good
faith It is a compromise with a situa-
tion-and a compromise that is very
like Governor Hoch. Whether Mr.. Co.
burn knows it or not, the appointment
is made in obedience to the wishes of
the friends of Mr.. Curtis. as the thing
least liable to injure the senatorial
prospects of Mr.. Curtis and the busy
interests for which Mr.. Curtis stands
next to leaving the place vacant alto
gether. Mr. Coburn has not been
senatorial possibility. Governor Hoch
himself would not have given serious
thought to Mr.. Coburn if the place were
being filled permanently. This is in no
sense a criticism of Mr.. Coburn- But
Governor Hoch knows. and the men
who smoothly counseled Governor
Hoch to his action know that the nam
ing of Coburn as senator was make
shift. intended to meet the existing en-
Urgency without, affecting the politics
of the senatorial situation"
The State Journal has at times criti-
cised Governor Hoch, but it does not
propose to question the motive that
prompted the appointment Of Mr.. Co
burn No matter what the motive the
appointment was good one. It is true
that the governor might have selected
a man whose integrity is undoubted,
who is extremely popular with the PEG
pie, and who has in addition the ex-
perience and acquaintance to take his
place at once by the side of La Fol-
lette and other reform senators, but this
detracts nothing from Mr. Coburn's high
standing and ability.
let II - undoubtedly AA0C t4AcAl MI
Curtis will continue to run for sena-
tor and that his friends will shape
things to that end in the nomination
of members of the legislature This
being the case it will be entirely nat
uraI for the other candidates also to
remain in the contest It has already
been on for months. The 40 members
Of the state senate hold over and a
ocx,c47ara lfn r111ra her of them arc known
to be for Curtis A large number of
candidates for the lower house have
also been nominated, and the senat oriaI
contest has entered more or less into
their nominations. So that the fight
for the senatorship is already well
along. It therefore behooves those who
are opposed to the election of Mr..
Curtis to be on their guard.
This paper does not know at this
writing whether or not Mr.. Coburn Will
be an active candidate for the six
year term as senator next January.
The natural Coburn way would be to
tell the people that if they want him
for senator they viii have to impress
that fact on their representatives, and
if they do not want him he does not
want the place. There is no doubt,
however, that Senator Coburn will be |
satisfactory to the people, but mas |
much as so many members of the next |
legislature are either elected or nomi-
mated, the contest may already be out
of the peoples hand, except as they
can bring pressure to bear on their |
senators and representatives.
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WORKS BOTH WAYS.
In an interview in the C,hioaoro