The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-13

committee to arrange for managing the
campaign. nothing was done.H
a lawrence dispatch concerning the
square dea. meeting there Thursday
says:
AT the n-eeting here the subject that
caused the most discussion and which
was admitted to be the most delicate
was the selection of a national commit
reeInan from Kansas The plan of the
machine 10 get into the Taft band
Wag n and trad. everything FOR the ma
tional committeeman WAS discussed and
steps will be taken to stop it. The is
cue will be squarely drawn 1t was
admitted that the man who is Endorsed
as a candidate must be a fighter. a
man, of resource and ore not afraid to
give or take blows w. A White de-
cIired t. run for the place. He 1okingly
said that a friend had told him that
he would mt know a flock of politicians
if he met them face to face on the
street in broad daylight.
There was also some discussion as
to whether the square dealers should
insist upon an entirely new deal in the
state house or givssthe first term mem
bers sec hid term. This subject will
be discussed later. but majority of
these al ti1e c9nferer &c we're inclined to
believe that there ought to DE a clean
sweep. BeLt Murdoch said before leav-
ing that he was getting tired of fighting
paign. Personal inyit ations will be sent
10 prominent Republicans all over the
state to attend the Topeka meeting
and lit arary bureau will be organized
at once.
The Democrats believe that they
will have a strong candidate for gov
ernor in the person of Senator George
Hodges of johnson county. And in
this idea the Democrats are not far
wrong Hodges is a man who went
through the recent burning fiery fur
mace of the senate chamber without
a. scald or scar. He is clean, indepen-
dent and smart. He can make good,
common sense speech, and at the re-
cent session he voted against the sem
ate lodge at every turn in the road
Hodges is not as wei known in the
state as ex-senator Harris, but it is
general idea among Democrats that
Hodges would bes4a much stronger
candidate than Harris. Harris has
the "bloodys shirt, prejudice to con-
tend with, and besides he is getting to
be pretty well along IN years. Hodges
is young and full of energy. He is
well to do, having made his money in
the lumber business.
Roy Van Orman of Chanute, the
new secretary in the office of Cover
nor Hoch, who wrote out the pardon
for Willie Sell lived within a short
distance of the Sell farm at the time
the murder was committed. He was
a small boy at the time, but is we'll
acquainted with all the circumstances
of the tragedy. 1t happens that most
of Mr.. Van Orman's family has been
opposed to granting any pardon to
Sell believing him to be guilty of the
crime.
t. T. Kelly. ex-state treasurer. has
formed a partnership with Charles J.
Lantry and gone into the business of
railroad contracting Lantry is the
Strong City man who has made a for
tune building railroads for the Santa
Fe, and is one of the richest men of
the state. Kelly will continue to make
his home at Paoias but the firms
headquarters will be in Kansas City,
and Kelly will give HIS entire time to
the business, it is said. Lantry and
Kelly have a big contract out on the
western division OF the Santa Fe
which will engage Mr.. KeIly's atten-
ton for some times
Senator G +. Martin of Fort Scott
was in Topeka yesterday to interview
Governor Hoch and the members of
the state tax commission about the ap-
pointment of a secretary for the COM
mission. Senator Martin is for VIII
liam Pitts for that position, and says
that number of behe state senators
are doing all in their power to aid
Pitts to get the appointment Mr..
Pitts was reading clerk of the senate
for several sessions, and at the last
session was assistant secretary.
Martin. because believe that the |
board needs a young man for the place |
who has plenty of energy, and is an |
expert bookkeeper and accountant. |
Mr.. Pitts fills the bill. 1 believe that |
ne has a good chance to get the place"
Asked concerning the Hornaday /
boom for governor, Senator Martin |
aid:
Grant Hornaday is going to be a
candidate for governor and in my
opinion he will be the leading candi- |
late. He has splendid qualifications
Tor the office. and plenty of good back
ng. He has lived in Kansas a long |
line; came here poor. and has shown /
lis -shrewdness and ability by making
He would give that same
and ability to the service |
# the state If elected governor. While
do not know that Mr.. Hornaday has
commenced to make an active cam
1aign for the nomination, he is doing
whatever there is to be done at this
n shape for his race