The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
THIS IS STUBS or KANSAS.
THE NEWEST STATESMAN or THE
NUNFLOW Err STATE.
Wa Inheard OG Two Years AgO-rhen
Won Fame % q Campaign BY Teles
phone May 60 10 the seuate-he A
knawn 60 Everybody simply 40 stubbs.

TOPEKA, Kan, Sept. s.-Every few years
Kansas produces an especially picturesque
statesman. or course, all the time and for
ever IL has odd and Interesting people, but
AZ intervals comes a figure TO ovsrtop the
rest for "A while.
This time II ID Stubbs-Walber Roscoe
! StLbbs, Quaker, 0 feet in bis stocking,
broad, redheaded. with q smile that can
light up an auditorium 10 the topnost gal
! Iery and a voice tina Can keep pace with
the smile. He In a member OF the Kansas
House Of Representatives. was Speaker OF
the last session, II q candidate Tor United
Statea Senator-but his fame does not rect
on things Of that sort.
ST. Lbs-no one in Kansas ever refers TO
him as Mr.. St.bbs was unheard OF Two
years ago. He had been busy building rail-
roads and took no interest in politics.
He had several hundred mon working
for him and his work trains were scattered
from the Rocky Mountains to Chicago. HIS
contracts ran into millions and he was kept
busy looking after them.
Then one day there was a political re-
bellion against the Republican Governor
and q party OF men met to discuss means of
defeating him for denomination Among
them was Stubs.
Wen Just 20 to the people, he said,
and here is my contribution
He threw $500 on the table. Such a
Rift was unprecedented and IL made him
a leader at once. He established head
quarters and engaged the services OF a
bright young man as telephone caller.
Then he began his campaign. All day
long, day after day. he called up farmers
and township managers In every part OF
Kansas.
.They like it, was his explanation.
who pays any attention to a letter? But
a long distance call from Topeka can't be
IGNORED. The farmers will think IL means
something"
Thew did. Day after day the long
! distance lines were busy carrying Stubbs's
messages to the most remote parts OF the
State. With In many farmers lines it
Is possible to reach almost anybody OF
c-onseouence in a few minutes.
The bills for telephone tolls ran up into
hundreds Of dollars, but Stubbs did not
stop. He talked and talked, received re-
ports and opinions and when the conven-
ton met he had a majority % the delegates
for his candidate, the present Governor,
+. W. Hoch.
Stubbs was the chairman Of the con-
vention. He had never presided over a
body Of eight hundred men before and
! he was plainly embarrassed as he took
the platform. Instead OF making the
usual speech, he said;
We'll. We are here for business; what
do YOU want to dor"
The Legislature met and Stubs, who had
! run for the lower house and had been elected,
was chosen Speaker. The same directness
thai had characterized his convention work
was seen in the management OF the Houses
affairs and he was clearly the leader.
/ After the Legislature adjourned however.
things rather got away from him. He was
busy with some big contracts and before he
knew IL the convention this year was organ
lied against him.
He tried his best to control II, but vainlyj
and a ticket was nominated that did not
suit Stubbs. Since then he has taken the
| role OF a question asker.
He called a meeting at Topeka and all
those who were with him in the fight gath
cred to discuss campaign plans.
I'm give $780, said he again, and laid
his check on the table.
Others added to the amount until a fund
was raised that would run another cam
paign.
The Republican platform in Kansas was
silent on the anti-pass proposition, also on
the two cent fare matter, also on the assess
ment OF railroads. Stubs formulated some
questions to ask OF the candidates for the
legislature and the State officers to deter
mine their positions on these subjects.
Every candidate has been auizzed. Some
OF them have ignored the questions. some
have answered eOuivocally, but most Of
them nave given answers that they are in
accord with the reform movement headed
by Stubbs. When the Legislature meeIs
these will he organized 70 stubbs IL likely
to have a working force that will make
him a power in the Legislature, IL 1t il not
su ticient to carry him to the Senate
Stubbs went into a picture store in
J Kansas City a few week. ago and looked
with interest at som oil PAINTINGS.
How much2" ne asked.
Those are very fine" replied the dealer.
We are asking $500 each for them"
And how much for framingp"
We'll, they ought to have frames that
would cost $50 each, though We can frame
them for t3S."
Il am surprised said Stubbs. Thought
they would be about s. each, frames and
ALL"
He laughed heartily at his mistake.
But these are by the hest artists, : ex-
planned the dealer, scan dalized.
He then launched into a long argument
to show that the pictur res were worth the
money.
"Oh, we'll, I didn't mean anything wrong"
said Stubbe, with another laugh. just
frame up three OF 'em the best you ran
and send 'em to me at Lawrence, Kan.
My names Stubbs.-
Once he was competing with several
other contractors for a Ss,OOO,OOO Job n
railway building. The contractors met in
Chicago to consult with the president Of
the road.
All went to the presidents Office one
morning and talked tbs matter over. Finally
the wearied Official said:
Gentlemen, I am going to lunch. You
will have to let this go until Tomorrow
on course, they left and all went down
in the elevator together. As trey cnra
TO the second floor Stu tts stored Snn
elevator.
sHavA 20 ana q man = ha o-rIoK,ol srr,l