The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-14
IT BOBS up AGAIN
Special Session Talk Is Again
Revived.
Primary Election May Be Solved
That Way.
GOV. HOCH FAVORS ONE
May Conclude Legislature Is
Way to Get 1t.
RumOr That Call Will Come
Within Sixty Days.


lature is looming up on the horizon OF
political possibility, and there are those
who express the belief that the logica
outcome of the present situation will OF
q proclamation from the governor with
IN so days.
IF the primary election middle
reaches the place where a majority OF
the Republican state committee seems
to favor a primary, and If the agita'
ton for a primary among the people oil
the state becomes strong enough, Gov
ernor Hoch will assemble the leslsla-
ture for the purpose of enacting a prl-
mary election law" This is the opinion
expressed this morning by one of the
foremost Republicans of the state
Other politicians interviewed this
morning were inclined to take similar
view of it. One said: ''Hoch favors
primary law; he also wants to call a
special session il he can find suff1-
cient demand for it. The progress OF
the primary election agitation during
the next few weeks will determine his
course
1t seems to be the general idea that
If the state central committee seems ia
be about to order a state primary with
out a state primary law, the people VINO
want to run for Office, and who are OPP
posed to the primary without law VIII
appeal to the governor to save them
from the expense by calling a special
session to enact a law compelling all
parties to hold primaries, and proVlo-
ing for the payment of the bills by the
public treasury.
1t is claimed by some that a special
session will commend itself to the
people of the state, and not injure the
chances of the Republican party, pro-
vided the special session enacts a
good primary law and then throws in
some freight rate regulation to boot
The thing which causes hesitation on
the part of the governor in calling a
special session would be the expense.
It might be bad thing for the party
to put the expense of a session on the
state unless there was a strong popu-
lar demand for a session, and some
reason to believe that the state SEN
ate would perform" If called upon.
The fact that the railroads backed
down on the 2-cent fare proposition
to avoid a special session may indi-
cate that they could no longer depend
upon the senate lodge" to stand by
them.
The thing which should probably
carry the most weight with the COVER
nor against calling a special session Is
the general unsettling of business con-
ditions that--mig hit result frora-a-
meeting of the legislature now. The
public generally thinks that once in
two years is often enough for
gathering of the legislative members.
The people can get along without an
nual sessions and without a session
SO soon after the regular one as one
called now would be. Then there are
ways Of accomplishing things without
Observation-Disclosures the 2-cent fare
matter.
Senator Ed Wilkerson of Winfield.
who was counted as a member of the
lodge" was in Topeka today. In
speaking of the situation, he said:
ct do not believe that the Republic
can committee will call a primary for
next year, and do not think there is
any great demand for primary any
way. The people of the state are not
very much agitated about that matter.
1t certainly would be a risky matter
to hold a primary without law to
authorize it. OF course it is possible
that the governor might call spec
ial session, but that is a remote pos
sibility."
STATE Senator George Tucker, another
visitor today, who was not member
of the senate lodge" said: Il favor
primary law covering all offices. If we
can hold a primary without law L am
for that. People might be willing to
approve the governors action in calling
a special session to enact such law,
provided he deemed it unwise to try the
plan without law"
Governor Hoch was out of town today
and no expression from him could be
obtained The talk thus far is largely
among the politicians who are interest
cd in the Anthony campaign. The only
thing which seems to be certain is that
Governor Hcch is not adverse to calling
a special session of the legislature if
conditions arise which warrant such &C
ton
Attorney General Jackson returned to
topeka Sunday from his home at
Eureka. He says he has not yet an
ewered Mr.. Anthony's letter, and may
not give out a copy when he does an
swer It.
The Fort Scott Monitor says that
Grant Hornaday is preparing a plan
for a primary in 1903 which will save
the expense. The Monitor says:
"Grant Hornaday. candidate for Re-
publican gubernatorial honors. and
champion of the primary plan. who is
working with Congressman Anthony
TO bring about a complete system of
primary nominations is now working
on a plan which he believes will prove
to the people of Kansas that the sys-
tenn will not be expensive. The
statement will be ready in a short
time. His plan would be for the can
didates TO meet the expenses of the
primary, but he says it will not cost
the sum that the present state officers
are trying to make believe"