The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-21
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Queer Stories Being Told About
the Senator Fight.
Attempt to Free Curtis From
Railroad Odium.
TALK OF wv. j. BAILEY.
Anti Railroad Interests May 60
to Him.
Likely That Open Ballot Will
BE Taken.
TALK OF w. j. BAILEY.


other day. several people have told
me since came to town that the ran
roaCs are not on Curtis trail, ana are
fighting him for all they are worm;
This is amusing but then maybe tlAs
man didn't know.
The member who was talking IS
supposed to be one of the crowd not
entirely in sympathy with the rallroau
faction, though not pledged IN any
way to the Stubs or square dear
crowd. Hence he is looked upon as
one of the members who might under
proper conditions be induced 10 Vole
for Curtis.
ITO tell the TRUTH" said this mem
\ Der, Il didn't believe that the ran
Fcroads had turned around, and gone 10
fighting Curtis 1t didn't look rea-
The supposed friendship of the rail-
roads to the candidacy Of MT Gurus
for United States senator is one OF the
weakest points in Mr.. Curtis cam
paign. and his friends are doing all IN
their power to counterfeit the prevail
ing Impression No candidate Woulu
be aided this year by the friendship OF
the railroad interests. provided that
friendship was manifested in a man
ner which would reveal itself to the
public.
The reason that people generally
believe that Curtis IS the railroad can
didate is founded to a cOnsidera bic ex-
tent on the fact that the Curtis candl-
dacy is the natural place for ralIroau
interests to light. The railroads Ger
tainly will not be for BrIStOW, StuDDS
or Murdoch and Benson IS not at all
under railroad control Bailey's can
didacy has not yet developed SUI
ficiently to be serious, but even II II
should. Bailey would not be classed as
a railroad candidate
one of the shrewd politicians of the
state today made this guess on the
final line up of the sena>Srial fight;
The fight for United States senator
will in my opinion. be between Chas
Curtis and w. J. Bailey
Il think that ". r. Stubs IS not
going to push his own candidacy very
hard. I doubt whether he will have
six votes to start with. and he will lose
those early in the game.
Benson is not as strong candi-
date as he was before election. He
did not make good in his campaign
,, speeches, and I do not believe that he
will be acceptable as a compromise
candidate.
"Bristow has too many bitter enc
mics to win. a great many votes
would go TO Curtis on a break rather.
than to BristOw.
Victor Murdoch is getting himself
in line for the future. He is not real
" expecting to win at this trial
James Getty will not be able to get
very far with his candidacy, and Phil
Campbell is in about the same fix
Hence the anti-Curtis faction will
and this is where Willis J. Bailey is
going to come in. Bailey is one OF the
strong men of the state; he would be
power in the United States senate;
he is clean and honest: he is not a
railroad batter nor is he tied up by
corporate control. believe that he is
one of the most popular men in the
state today and his splendid speeches
during the campaign went a long ways
toward saving the Republican ticket
Bailey is in line when the break
comes
Il think it is doubtful whether Bail
ey VIII nave enough votes to win. even
under those conditions. Curtis is in
better shape than any other candidate
at the present time, and has more sure
votes"
There is not much doubt that The
Republican caucus to nominate the
United States senator will be open. ana
the oallot public. Every one of the
leading candidates has declared in
FAVOR of this plan. COngressr1ap Cur
tbs made this statement last night.
me Kansas City Star in stating that
l am the only candidate for United
states senator who is in favor Of a
secret ballot for the nomination of a
United States senator. wilfully and ma
HclouSly misrepresents me. As a mat
ter or fact four years ago when 7 was
q cahdldate Tor United States senator
was the one who forced an omen ball
lot Henry Allen, William Allen White
victor Murdoch and several others who
are responsible I think for this secret
oallo1 TAX were the very ones who /
STOOD Tor a secret ballot four years ago
They wanted to beat Stanley and tried
every means in their power to have tina
ballot taken in secret. I forced them
out and was responsible for the first
Aopen ballot ever taken in this state on
'eae United States senatorshlp
am not AFRAID Of an open ballot /
There Is absolutely no reason why /
other hand there are good reasons why
I should be against it. The people
have a right to know how their repre-
sentatives represent them and thew viii
know on an open ballot. There is no
excuse for secret ballot on any propo- !
sition in which the people are inter
ested- They should know now their
representatives vote on the speaker
ship contest and in the senatorial ffrht
and for these reasons insist upon an !
open ballot on both propositions.
Cyrus Leland. one Of the most active
candidates for the speakership. is also /
an open ballot man. He said yes
terday I am in favor of an open ball |
lot in the election of speaker. Being In |
favor Of that I am naturally in favor a. !
the election of United States senator bv |
open ballot. in which. when the roll Is
called. the state senator or house mem
Der shall announce the candidate he |
wishes to vote for.
In the speakership contest. I am
" INNS 1HH al iOds mat the people in /
the state shall know who votes for me |
and who votes for the other fellow. The /
same rule should be followed in re- |
gard TO the senatorship. II a member I
Of the house Is elected with the under /
standing that he is not TO vote for
certain man or is for a particular can
ridate. his constituents know how he /
has performed his duty. They Will /
never know If there is a secret ballot 4
In both the elections Of spea ker 90j \
senator, am irrevocably in favor Of
the open ballot"
c. S. Beekman. of CowIey county. for.
ner member Of the state legislature. Il