The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-14
NOMINATION or SENATOR.

The discussion as to the best method
for nominating the Republican candi-
date for United States senator is wax
ing warmer and warmer. There is a
pronounced sentiment over the state in
favor Of having the state convention
name candidate but there is also some
opposition to that plan
Nj ". r. Stubs, chairman of the
Republican state committee, and himself
a candidate for senator, has come out in
opposition to the state convention plan,
but he offers in its place a suggestion
that it be left to the people to decide
at the polls. His plan is to have the
next state convention adopt a resolution
instrueting that at the next general
election in November a separate ballot
be prepared to read For United States
Senator 49," allowing the electors to
express their choice in this way.
Mr. Stubs idea would be a good one
but for one thing: It is Illegal No con-
Eention could instruct what shall be
done at an election. No election board
could. be required to take charge of
the extra ballot box and ballots, nor to
count them, and it would be illegal to
maintain party primary in connection
with the regular polls.
In the last legislature Senator Wag-
gener introduced a measure providing
for submitting the senatorial question
to the people at the election Had this
been adopted it would have made legal
and practical the idea that is now ad-
Vocated by Mr.. Stubs, and the election
boards would have been obliged to carr
it out. In this connection Senator WatS
genef writes:
THE Hon. Walter Roscoe Stubs is
always first to get into the band wagon.
The senate passed d bill providing for
securing an expression of the will of the
people for United States senator, and it
was killed in the house. Nj. Stubbs says
Long and Curtis killed it. VIII Mr..
Stubs answer the following question::
Did not several senators urge him to
support the senate bill, and did he not
say that he could not afford to do it.
because it was introduced by a Demo-
crat? If he did not make such state
ment, what effort did he make to pass
the bill through the Stubs house?"
In view to Mr.. Stubs opposition to
the nomination of a senatorial candidate
by the state convention, there is some
wonder if this has anything to do with
his delay in calling the state committee
together to fix the date for state conven-
ton. Some people think Mr.. Stubs is
purposely delaying the matter until
some of the delegates to the state con-
vention have been elected, as they will
be in considerable number of counties
during the coming month, but that does
not necessarily follow.
The State Journal cannot altogether
endorse the plan of having the sena-
torial candidate named by the state
convention. It has its good points,
chief of which is that it would probably
take the senatorial fight out of the leg
islature and enable that body to do
more real legislative work. In case d
bad senatorial candidate were nomina-
ted it would also enable the people to
express their dfspleasure at the polls by
defeating the legislative candidate of
that party. unless he should declare
against the senatorial nominee.
On the other hand the nomination Of
a senatorial candidate by the state con-
vention would come no nearer arriving
at the choice of the people than would
the legislature. if as near. Member. of
the legislature are frequently named on
the senatorial issue alone. Delegates to
the state convention will be chosen with
reference to nominating candidates for
fifteen state offices as well. There may
be forty or fifty candidates for various
offices before the convention. There
would be all sorts of trades involving the
senatorship and all the state offices. The
politicians and traders would have full
sway. and the men who could make the
best combinations would win.
The State Journal wishes to offer this
plan, if it is desired to secure an ex-
preston of the will of the people: Let
the state convention adopt a resolution
instructfng the state committee to call
a primary election at which the people
can decide by popular vote whom they
wish for senator. There is a demand for
a new primary law and this will allow
an opportunity to test that also; let the
primaries be held all over the state on
the same day They could be held
either before or after the general cleo
ton. By holding them after the cleo
ton, early in December for instance,
the senatorial issue would be removed
from the election Of representatives.. and
the latter would be chosen on legisla-
tive issues only.
This plan would be the same in effect
as that proposed by Mr.. Stubs, except
that it would be legal this year.