The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-05
THE POLITICAL mx-UP

So many new alignments have been
formed in. Kansas politics in the last
three months that the man who tries
to stay with his crowd is liable to
miss a lot of old faces from among
those around him. and in their places
he Will behold either new and strange
ones or else c-ountenances that he has
been accustomed to shoot at heretofore.
That is why there are so many funny
things happening in Kansas this year.
For instance. the lion and the lamb
have lain down together-side by side
and not one inside the other-and the
Long influence is for Curtis for United
States senator. Stubs. who played in
to the hands of the railroads two years
ago, is now fighting them worse than
a Populist- The railroads are supposed
to be opposing a railroad attorney who
is a candidate for lieutenant governor.
Bill Allen White, who always was a
fighter, is fighting harder han ever and
yelling at the top CT his voice for peace
and harmony.
Billy Morgan, who stood for railroad
legislation in the last legislature. has
lined up for the candidate of the rail-
roads n Of d. w. Mulvane for lieu
tenant governor. T. T. Kelly has no
county delegation behind him, but he is
doubtless at work somewhere.
Henry Aliens smiling countenance is
visible above the wreck of his Second
district hopes.
J. L. Bristow and several other SEN
atorial candidates are quietly saving
wood.
Mort Albaugh. J. T. Pringle and your
Uncle Cyrus Leland are not saying any
thing but their names are noticeable
about the top of the list of delegates
from their respective counties to the
Republican state convention.
Altogether the situation is somewhat
mixed, as are also the plain common
people and the citizens-on-foot like the
State Journal. The average man
doesn't know whether the alleged
leader who is reckoning to him will
take him where hi wants to go or to
the other place.
But the rank and file do know what
they want. There is no mistake about
that. They want honesty in public af-
fairs and a good railroad law. properlv
enforced Perhaps we have the law
already; whether it can be improved
0POA liz 2Adl6 dOQIlidi QO6S hot KNOW.
But Notwithstanding the law the peo-
pie are not yet getting a square deal
from the railroads, and that is one Of
the things most needed in Kansas.
A square deal from the railroads.
however, does not mean railroad abuse
or railroad batting.
the people of Kansas are in favor Of
a square deal for the railroads as well
&c fro-o fL- -.F7--.l- RI -
most of the resolutions adopted by the
county conventions this year mean.
The difficulty is to make sure which
leaders Will give the state just what it
wants. There is a possibility of MAX
ing some pretty bad mistakes. For in
stance. there is a disposition on the
of some Republicans who distrust
w. r. Stubs to be against everything
Stubs is now supporting, although at
heart they want just what he claims to
be for. This paper doubts If that is
good policy. Just because Mr.. Stubs
claims to be the Only Original and
True Railroad Regulator is no reason
why the rest of US should oppose rail-
road regulation. If Mr.. Stubs is real
" and truly for the people, and not for
the railroads as he was two years ago.
give him due credit for it; but do not
fight against good ideas just because he
also happens to be for them. If the
people distrust Mr.. Stubs it is not
necessary to place him in a position
where he can betray them.
The strife, the jobbery, the bicker-
the trickery. is very wearisome to
the people as a whole. It is to be
that out of it all will come a real
leader who will rise above all this
petty s~elhshness and corruption, a
who is worthy of the conf
dence of the people and who possesses
the qualities Of real craftsmanship that
can solve our problems and give the
people what they wan