The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-30


@Then you do not think it wise to
invite Mr. Bryan TO stump Kansas this
fa1i-2" was asked.
s'Now, for Gods sake, don't say
that he retorted. quickly. II said
nothing Of that kind at all. Don't.
quote me as saying that. I simply
take the position that experience has
taught me that it is best to handle a
purely state election by yourself
The eastern newspapers seem to take
very kindly to the new Kansas senator.
The New York Evening Post devotes a
colur-1 to him, In the course of which
it says:
Uniquenes- is a characteristic which
attracts attention in the United States
senate, where many men show their
greatness in many ways. AS dlner1ng
from those who have been born great
there are L4any who have quite evident
ly achieved their own greatness; but
when it Gomez to considering those who
have had greatness thrust upon them
suddenly, unavoidably, ruthlessiy, and
OVerpoWeringly=th is one senator
head and shoulders above all the rest.
He is Benson Of Kansas, the unassum-
ing, hard working, conscientious-look-
ing legislator who was transformed
from a district judge to a federal SEN
ator by telephone, and was started on
his new and larger career at Washing
ton with the published assertion that
he intended to reform the senate.
The American public need not puzzle
its wits about how Benson of Kansas
is going to ref, rm his new associates.
He isn't going to do it. He isn't even
going to try to do It. This may be
stated 'on reliable authority" as the
press dispatches so often say.
Speaking Of his opposition to the
state oil refinery bill in the last legis-
lature. Senator Benson said to the Post
correspondents
II opposed it on the grounds that it
was unconstitutional and would not
pass muster in the courts. I made
speech against it that attracted some
attention-(this with a deprecating
wave of the hand)-but it had no
effect upon the members Of the legis-
lature. They were determined to pass
it and they had the votes to do it.
But the courts did not uphold them in
their views" the senator draWlingly
concluded, with a sort of quiet salts
faction that his legal opinion had been
vindieated.
Senator Benson is working hard to
master the ways of the senate He is
invariably in his seat through all the
routine, and when other senators drift
out to the cloak rooms or to commit
tees. he moves up to some vacant chair
near which ever one of his colleagues
is addressing the senate. 1t has not
mattered whether the subject was
EdudHld. lHE meat Ills RGCliOn DiiAs VI
a conference report on something else.
He is frankly interested in the senate
and pays close attention because he
enjoys it. He is not going to reform
it unless he can do so by the power
Of his own good exampleZin attend
ing the daily sessions, for instance.
The Democratic convention in Bour-
bon county was held this forenoon.
over 500 delegates attended this con-
vention at which a county ticket was
nominated This afternoon. Col. W. A.
Harris and David Overmyer are maxi
ing political speeches at the Fort Scott
convention hall This evening the big
dollar a plate" banquet will take
place. at which speeches. will be made
by all the Democratic leaders
Col. Harris arrived in Fort Scott
about 9 o'clock Friday evening, and
was given an i1apFanaptu reception at
the Goodlander hotel. He was kept
busy for two hours shaking hands,
while outside the band played in honor
of his arrival r5s-,-
The Wellington Mail does not seem
to think much of the oratorica1 a bility
of State superintendent L L. Dayhoff.
It says:
state superintendent I. L. Dayhon
was in the city this morning and made
an address to the normal institute. The
first time he delivered his speech 1t
was good enough to pass muster but
by the time he had repeated it three
times it became quite bum. Mr.. Day
hoff's trouble is common among GER
tain classes of public speakers; he does
not seem to know when to quit He
exhausted his thought in one short
speech and then chawed the same
thing over time and again.
Preacher Elwood, of Leavenworth,
who wrote a letter to Governor Hoeh
and another to ". A. Harris, asking
each to declare himself on the prohibi-
tory law, has received a reply from
Governor Hoch which does. not an
swer the questions, but which is a stiff
rebuke to the minister for asking them.
In reply to the letter, Mr. Elwood has
given out a long statement in the course
of which he calls Governor Hoch a
coward and a dodger. The LeavenWorth
Times says that ElWood declared him
self in favor Of Harris for governor be-
fore he wrote to either Hoch or Har-
This is Governor Hoch's letter to FL
rev. r. A Elwood, Leavenworth.
Kan.
my Dear sir.-I have had your long
letter for several days and have also
seen it in print in the daily newspa-
pers. AS a Christian minister of course
you do not wish to misrepresent any
one, but you will pardon me for saying
4 that your short residence in the state,
and necessarily limited knowledge of
conditions here, including the legal lirni-
tations of the executive. should have
prompted you to at least seek a per-
sonal interview with me before rushing
into the newspapers with your critic
isms. If you are q fair man, and your
position compels me to assume that
you are, you should al least have given
me the benefit of the hearing before
seeking to do me the injury OF your
published letter
Very truly yours,
"E. W. HOCH."
Mr.. Elwood's closing comment or
this letter is as follows:
s'I will leave it to any fair-minde6
citizen of this state to judge botf
from Hoch's record and this answer
to my courteous inquiry If I am no
justified in branding Governor HocI