The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-04
FUTURE LEADERS.

The course pursued by a certain
quartette OF leaders in the late lament
ed Republican convention challenges
admiration Of every honest citizen Of
the state. These men are Henry J.
Allen, J. T. Pringle. ". J. Bailey and
Joseph L. Bristow. There were others
who lined UP with them, but these four
men stand out pre-eminent.
Mr.. Bristow was not a delegate in the
convention and therefore did not ap-
pear in its deliberations, but 1t was we'll
known where his sympathies lay. It is
known that an attempt was made by
the railroad combine some time ago to
get him into the deal to click Stubbs.
but Bristow refused to stand for it.
Although Mr.. Stubbs was then one of
the most formidable candidates for
United States senator. to which Mr..
Bristow also aspires, the latter would
not be a party to any scheme the
avowed object of which was simply to
defeat Mr.. Stubbs. He refused to go
into any combination on either side,
but in the recent contest his ideas and
principles naturally made him an op-
ponent Of the railroad combine.
No other man has come to the front
in this hght as has Henry Allen. Al
though on the losing side, he came out
of the convention the peer. il not the
superior. of any man in it in real lead
ership. It was Henry Allen who made
the combine more trouble during the
days Immediately preceding the con-
vention than any other man in it.
When Mr.. Allen came to the conven-
ton there was every personal reason
why he should line up with the railroad
crowd His personal associates, w Y.
Moran and Morton Albaugh, were two
of the I'VE leaders Of the combine. They
were counting on his support. But
when AIr. Allen came to Topeka he re-
fused to endorse the railroad slate, al
though by so doing he would have been
on the winning side. He took of his
coat and started to fight the combine,
although he knew the odds were over
whelming against him. and although
he had to Join forces with his enemy.
W. R. Stubbs.
But larger than any personal friend
ship or animosities is Henry Aliens be-
lief in the square deal. He has been
grossly rnisrepresented in politics and the
public is now realizing that fact. His
ability and natural leadership placed
him at the front of the fight against
the combine, and although the fight was
unsuccessful, Henry Allen came out of
the contest a bigger man in the eyes
of the people thc1 any of the victors.
When Ex-Governor Bailey reached To-
peka he could scarcely believe that the
combine existed as was represented in
the newspapers, but a personal investi-
cation convinced him of it's truth and
he quickly lined up with Mr.. Allen, Had
Governor Bailey consented, it is not at
all Improbable that he could have had
the gubernatorial nomination, but he
refused to allow his name to be used TO
take advantage of Governor Hoch's
misfortune and unpopularity. Governor
Bailey was tremendously popular before
the convention, and he has lost none of
the good will of the people by lining up
against the domination Of the railroads
in politics.
AS has been pointed out in these
columns heretofore. J. T. Pringle was
the logical leader of the movement for
the abolition OF passes. the reduction of
passenger rates, and railroad control in
general. While the platform committee
refused to allow Mr. Pringless resolu-
ton along this line to go into the plat
form, 1t undoubtedly represents the
sentiment of the people Of Kansas, and
unless the railroads completely domin-
ate the next legislature Mr. Pringle will
be enabled by public sentiment to enact
into law the ideas along this line that
met defeat a year ago.
The State Journal believes that the
hope of the Republican party in Kansas
lies in these men and the element they
represent. and present indications point
towards their leadership within the next