The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-22
THE FIGHT ON Hom

OLten when political dissatisfaction
ana unrest are entirely just. methods. OF
asserting protest are unwise and men
strike bllndiy- We believe that this ac-
counts for the report OF politicians that
the contest in Kansas is on nobody bllf
Governor Hoch. If that is so voters re
hitting out blindly, for Governor Hocb
mas given Kansas a frst-class admin
ton Of the Office OF governor.-To-
peka Capital.
The Lawrence Journal touched on the
same subject a few days ago when It
said: ''Hoch has been governor for two
years. He has met with widespread on
position Why? Nobody seems to know.
It is not very difficult to discover WHY
however, If one goes back a fewmonths,
Two years ago Governor Hoch had ev-
erything his own way. but in order to
pull through T. T. Kelly. he promised
the people Of Kansas to investigate the
charges against Kelly and if anything
amiss were found with him. to remove
him and appoint a Republican state
treasurer in his place.
Relying on this promise thousands Of
Republicans voted for Kelly who would
not otherwise have done so, and 25. 600
voted for Hoch but refused to vote for
Kelly. even after the governors prom
Use
The investigation was held, and the
Morris report corroborated the Rowett
report, yet Governor Hoch returned to
Kelly his famous resignation in escrow
and refused to do anything towards re-
moving him from office.
On top OF this came the smash of the
First National bank, revealing the fact
that Kelly had placed more than half
a million dollars of the states money
in that institution for the use Of his
chief bondsman. And If c. j. Devlin
had not died, thereby making his life
insurance available for his creditors, the
state would have lost several hundred
thousand dollars by Kelly's malfeas-
ance in office. Yet not a step did Gov
ernor Hoch take towards removing
Kelly from office
This is one great reason why thou
sands who voted for Governor Hoch
two years ago have lost confidence in
him and are not supporting him today.
Another reason is his action in the NJ
X & T. suit. Another is his failure to
take a single step towards enforcing
prohibition in Leavenworth, Atchison,
Wichita, Junction City or any Of the
places where saloons are VIGOROUSLY
licensed-except Kansas City. Kan. stiu
another reason is his praise Of Mr.. Cur
lis in his campaign speeches, indicating
to many that he will use his influence
for the election of Curtis to the United
States senate.
These are some of the reasons for thu
widespread dissatisfaction with Cover
nor Hoch.
On the other hand. Governor Hoeh's
appointments as a rule have been good
ones. The men with whom he has sur
rounded himself in his administrat ton
have usually done good work. In Shaw
nee and a number Of other counties as
sistant attorneys general have been ap-
pointed to enforce the law-some Of
whom have. been successful and some
have not.
The legislative record Of Governor
Hoch's administration is also excellent
The last legislature, as Governor Hoch
has pointed out, passed some very ex-
cellent laws. ameng them the railroad
law. the oil legislation and others. No
fault can be found with the legislature.
It is generally admitted that there Is
widespread disanectfon among Republi-
] can voters, in spite Of the claims Of