The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-29
IT'S A FAIRY TALE.
Senator Harris Denies the Sapp
Rum0rs.
Knows of No Plan to Boom Him
for Senator.
READY TO DEBATE.
Wouldn't Hesitate to Discuss
Issue With HOch.
Square Deal Question PIanks
in Democratic Platform.

Never heard the suggestion of such
an ldea," was the terse reply of Sena-
tor w. A. Harris, Democratic candidate
for governor, when he was asked to-
day about a story which has found its
way into print to the effect that he
and W H. Ryan. chairman of the Dem
ocratie state central committee, had
agreed to use their influence to make
Col. William F. Sapp. former chairman
of the committee. the caucus nominee
Of the Democratic party of the state
for the position of United States sena-
tor such a story" added Senator
Harris. ''is the result of a fertile imagi-
nation. There is certainly no founda-
ton for it. I never even heard the idea
suggested before
Senator Harris arrived in town last
night from Kansas City and was at
Democratic headquarters at the Hotel
Throcp during the day. He leaves to-
night for Dodge City where he will ad-
dress the reunion of the old soldiers of
southwest Kansas tomorrow. From
Dodge City he goes to Caldwell where
he viii speak on Friday and on Satur-
day he viii deliver an address at Moran.
IS a general proposition joint de-
bates on the issues Of a political cam
palSn GO not result IN nluC0 good Tor
either side, - said Senator Harris when
questioned about his position on the
joint debates which have been suggested
by the executives of the Democratic
and Republican state committees. You
know that at affairs of this kind each
side has its crowds out to holler good
and plenty for their candidates and that
is about all the debates amount to.
Nevertheless I think it might be IL
Illuminating for Mr.. Overmyer and Mr..
To- 7ak
attorney general, to enter in a debate
and discuss certain of our state laws
and their enforcement"
"How about your taking the plat
form in a debate with Governor
Hoch2" was asked
well. l am not much Of debater.'
answered Senator Harris with a smile,
but I don't think I would hesitate
long to discuss the issues of the cam
paign in debate with Governor Hoch
or with anyone else.
LAS to these Stubs questions this
so called square deal movement re-
marked Mr.. Harris in reply to a ques-
ton as to his ideas on the matter
why they are nothing more than an
effort on the part of certain Repub-
leans to supplement the platform
adopted by the Republican conven-
ton with some real live issues, and
this movement was started in response
to the demands of the people of the
state that the Republican party stand
for something. The platform as
adopted at the Republican state con-
vention is absolutely meaningless and
stands for nothing, so that something
had to be done to appease the Re
publicans throughout the state on the
real issues of the campaign.
These square deal questions are
merely an enunciation of various
pIanks in the democratic platform and
were discussed by me in their entirety
In my letter of acceptance. Secretary
Miller of the Republican state com
mittee in his letter about the joint de-
batting proposition says that this is not
a campaign of principles and I agree
with him from a Republican stand
point for there is not a single prin-
ciple of any kind in the platform on
which the Republican candidates are
running. and hence this effort on the
part of Stubs and his friends and fol-
lowers to inject some issues of i'm
portance into the campaign, and the
issues they are injecting are ones
which the Democrats have come out
fiat-footed for in their platform
''The outlook for the success Of the
Democratic ticket grows more encour-
aging each day." said Senator Harris.
land prospects for victory are ex-
ceedingly bright"