The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-11
Mr.. COBURN,s DECTINATTON.


Just as the state had fully made up
its mind that 1t would have to lose the
services of its highly valuable secretary
Of the state board Of agriculture. but
gain in the United states senate a rep
resentative of the highest integrity and
intelligence, Mr.. F. D. Coburn surprised
the country by eIecting to remain in
his present position. Mr.. Coburn,
however, had given no intimation that
he would go to Washington. The only
thing that led the public to believe he
might do so was because he did not
turn down the prohered senatorship at
the start, but took the matter under
consideration. That the appointment
was tremendously popular became at
once apparent, and from all parts of
the state Mr.. Coburn was urged to ac-
cept, yet there were also many express
sions of regret because the state would
lose his services in his present position.
But Notwithstanding the popularity
Of the appointment and the pressure
on him to accept, Mr.. Coburn has put
the senatorship from him and will con-
tinue to serve the interests of Kansas
in his present position.
When the tender of the senatorship
to Mr. Coburn was first announced the
State Journal asserted that while Kan
ass would be fortunate in having man
like Coburn in the United tSates senate,
it would be doubly fortunate should he
elect to remain as secretary Of the
board of agriculture. It now reiterates
that sentiment, for no one else can do
the work Mr.. Coburn is doing for KAN
sas agriculture. and he is worth mil
lions of dollars to Kansas in that ca
pacity.
At the same time as Senator Co
burn he would have had an elevating
influence on the political morals of
the state, and. when more widely
known, on those of the nation. His
example and career would have been
an inspiration to young men to do
their best in whatever capacity they
might be placed, for the sake of them
selves and their work.
From a personal standpoint, Mr..
Coburn has doubtless chosen wisely.
AS has been often stated-and as is
proven by his action=Mr. Coburn is
no politician. The wire-pulling and
trading of politics is extremely dis
tasteful to him, and ne could not have
escaped it in a degree had he accepted
the senatorship. While he would
doubtless have served the state and
the nation well as a statesman. he
would have refused to aequiesce in
the schemes of politics. and his ideas
along those lines might have proven a
source OF constant trouble to him.
Yet this very fact is one of the things
that makes Mr.. Coburn popular with
the people.
It is a great act to decline a seat
in the United States senate. How
many other men in Kansas
would have had the strength of pur-
pose and the poise of mind to have
done it? That act in itself stamps Mr..
Coburn as a great man.
While the state as whole de-
voutly wished Mr.. Coburn to accept
the senatorship, he has still further
endeared himself to the people by his
deelinations The welfare Of the Kan
sas farmer is more to him than the
highest political honor in the state,
and his desire to continue his work in
the interest Of good agriculture rather
than seek glory in Washington will
give him a still greater hold on the
affections of the people of Kansas.