The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-28
GEORGEMBYGETIN
Rumor That He'n Try for a
Nomination.
Won't Let Defeat in Reno Keep
Him Down.

There Is a movement among the
shippers Of the state to draft" j. S.
George for the Republican nomination
for member of the board Of railroad
commissioners in spite OF his decisive
defeat for the control OF his own coun-
ty. Reno.
The fact is that candidates accept
able to the shipping Interests are
scarce, and the leaders of the anti-rail-
road faction are beginning to be wor-
ried.
l. D. Young was brought out last
week in the Sixth district-an eleventh
hour candidate. whose chances of sue
cess are reduced by the multiplicity of
candidates in the Sixth. and the short
uLne winch he has to line up his dis
trict Young has the backing of the
anti-railroad crowd. They say he is
true blue.
But out Of all the other candidates.
there IS not one that the shippers want
to tie to.
They win probably go to KanaveI,
unless they can resurrect the boom for
j. y. George. They say that Kanavel
would probably be all right; that he IS
disposed to do the right thing, hut that
ne has never taken a decisive stand as
the friend Of the shipping interests of
the state They would like to get
kanavel on record before docking TO
his support, But KanaveI says that he
IS running on the platform Of a square
deal to the railroads, shippers, and
everybody else-and the shippers are
not satisfied with that.
If the scheme to revive the candi-
dacy OF j. S. George fails the anti
railroad influence - which means
Stubs. Taylor, Hoch, and their allies
among the shippers-WiH probably en-
dorse Young and Kanavel The thing
which IS now causing them the most
worry is the lack of a candidate in the
eastern end of the state. They realize
that to defeat George Wheatley and
mead OF the possible strength of J. NJ.
Cory Of 6eavenworth, they must have
an eastern Kansas man on the slate.
Just at the present time the anti
railroad leaders are looking for a Sec
ono district man to put into the race
for railroad commissioner. A Second
district candidate for the job would be
just what the shippers need. Thus far
the Second is asking for almost Moth
ing on the state ticket. 1t has been
too busy with its congressional fight
SIlas Porter Is a candidate for justice
OF the supreme court, and will get the
nomination. Frank Travis of lola is
aspiring to the job Of insurance COM
missioner. NJ. A. Gorril1 of Lawrence
who was to be the railroad candidate
for attorney general was badly frost
bitten in the recent congressional
freeze In the Second This is all that
the Second district has on it's waiting
list The opportunity for a candidate
for railroad commissioner is excellent.
Cory is First district man, and the
First is already overloaded with can
didates. Wheatley is Third district
man, and it is doubtful whether the
Third can hope to land Wheatley If it
also lands Nation and Tully.
Hence the Second district is the
logical place for another candidate
The anti-railroad people are expected
to start a boom for some Second dis
trict man within a few days.
It IS said that there will be a sort of
anti-railroad caucus Of delegates to
the state convention called as pre-
liminary to the convention. for the
purpose of endorsing three candidates
for the board Of railroad commission
ers. This caucus viii likely be held in
case the anu-railroad people feel that
they can control the convention. In
dtcations are now that the anti-rail-
road sentiment will prevail among the
delegates. The country people are
getting into the game this year, and
the defeat or men like Dave Hanna
and Fred DumOnt Smith, by country
votes, indicates which way the wind is
blowing. The anti-railroad people ex-
pect to have a working majority in the
state convention, and they viii make
the question of railroad commissioner
the paramount one.
TT would not surprise me- said one
OF the prominent antl-railrOad politi-
clans Of the state today ITO see a dele
I
the state convention which will be
here for the purpose of seeing that
their delegates vote right A delegate
who shows signs of weakening to rail-
road influence will be likely to have a
hot time of it from his home people.
1.-THE shippers showed what they
could do in the way of influence when
they got behind the railroad bill in the
legislature and pushed it through to
passage. They will go after the dele
gates to the state convention in ex-
aetly the same way. A good board of
railroad commissioners is just as i'm
portant as good railroad law, and
one is useless without the other