The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-05
HE'S AHAPPY MAN
Mr.. COburn Is Showered With
Congratulations.
kilograms, Letters and Friends
Pouring In.
WILL WAIT AWHILE.
Still Undecided Whether He Will
Accept.
Would Have to Resign His Pres
ent Position.
WILL WAIT AWHILE.
Ex-senator John Martin Origi-
nal Coburn Boomer.

Secretary Coburn's Office this morn
ing was the busiest place in the state
house. A constant stream of visitors
were pouring into the Office, and calling
Mr.. Coburn Senator" messenger boys
were rushing in with bundles of tele-
grams conveying congratulations from
every corner of the state, and some
from outside the state; the telephone
bells were buzzing, and between hand
shaking and telegram reading, Mr.. Co
burn was busy with the long distance
and local wires talking with his friends
who called up to express their pleasure
at his appointment.
1t is evident even to the most casual
observer that Mr.. Coburn's appoint
ment is popular. even if the politicians
are very much knocked into cooked
hat.
Mr.. Coburn himself is being pressed
hard for statement regarding his in
tentions. Everybody is asking him
whether he will accept; everybody be-
lieves that he Will. and yet. through it
all, Mr.. Coburn is really and truly un-
decided whether or not he should do
so. AT least that is what his closest
friends say. Mr.. Coburn said this
morning to State Journal reporter:
when I decide what 1 viii do, my
intentions will be communicated to the
governor. l think it fitting that l
should make known my decision
through his Office. ou undoubtedly
appreciate that when a man is struck
by lightning he is somewhat stunned
for a. few days That is my condition
I want time to recuperate, and catch
nv breath. This is something Whlcn
only one man can decide, and that is
Coburn. 1 have to WreStle with the
problem alone. When I have reached
a decision it may be wrong, but there
is one thing certain, and that is, it will
be my own decision.
Il received my first indication of
what Was coming about 10 o'clock
Monday morning Governor Hoch
called upon me and told me what was
on his mind Then 1 went out to Gov
ernor Hoch's home in the afternoon
and talked with him nearly all the
afternoon. I certainly appreciate what
people are saying about me. But
must take a little time to think this
over. know that people are natural
ly impatient for a decision, and I sup
pose that if it was somebody else I
would say that he ought to make up
his mind at once and get on the first
train for Washington to be there in
time to vote on the important meas
ures pending
Among others who came in to offer
congratulations was ex-senator John
Martin.
There said Mr. Coburn, s'is the
man who first suggested to me the
possibility Of my being appointed SEN
ator. He came in here three weeks
ago, and said to me that / would get
the appointment. I laughed at him.
But at the same time I wanted to ask
what made him think so. I didn't
ask, because thought 1t would sound
as though I was fishing after the job"
That's right" said Senator Martin.
TT was in the air three weeks ago that
Coburn was the man for senator, and
ROW I say, great is Coburn, and John
Martin IS his prophet"
Would Resign State Job.
1t would be necessary for Secretary
Coburn to resign his office as secretary
of the state board of agriculture in or
der to accept the appointment as SEN
ator. but there is no doubt that the
board would hold the place for him, at
least until such time as it became cer-
tain that Mr.. Coburn would be elected
senator by the Legislature.
One of. the members of the board said
this morning that he would be willing
to guarantee that the state board of
agriculture would do anything I.Oburn
wanted. It would give him leave of
absence as 1t did at the time of the
Worlds fair in st. Louis, when 4r. Co
burn was head of the live stock exhibits,
or it would accept his resignation and
hold the place open for hitu.
It would probably be necessary for
Mr.. Coburn to resign, as the position
which he holds as secretary of the state
board of agriculture is created by sta
tute, and is hence a state Office. \ sen
ator can not hold a state office n con-
nection with his senatorial duties.
Hard Jolt for the Politicians.
Coburn's appointment has simply
dumped the politicians of the state into
q, heap They hardly know where they
are at. Most of them were Whoopfn-S it
UP for the plan of leaving a vacancy in
the office until the legislature could
elect S. S. drummer. chairman of the
Republican state central committee,
was in favor of this plan, ana was
greatly dismayed when he found that
it was in the cards for Coburn to get
the place. He thought it would be bad
for the state ticket if the governor
! should make any appointment at aII.
! However. he admits that Coburn is ss
good man as could be found
! The reason that Governor Hoch 1ned de
an appointment over the protests Of his
strongest political advisors was that he
/ has grown tired of the reputation of be-
/ ing a rabbit He smarts under that
accusation. and he simply decided that
In the present instance he would give
no opportunity for anybody to saw that
he didn't have the nerve to make an
| apnointment.
There were only four men who were
/ taken INTO the governors confidence IN
the matter of this appointment The
first was John Q. Royce, who it is sai6
| has known for ten days past that Gov
ernor Hoch was likely to appoint Mr..
! Coburn. The second was Chief Justice
". A. Johnston of the supreme court
| whom Governor Hoch took into his cor
/ fdence. The third was Charles Sessions
I the governors private secretary, who
has been looking to the political record
of Mr.. Coburn TO see whether It would