The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-08
MIR. coBURN,s REFUSAL.


The fears of the friends and admirers
OF 4. D. Coburn have been realized.
Although he doubtless could be easily
elected governor of Kansas, Mr.. Co
burn positively refuses to stand for bis
guberna torial boom. He not only makes
it plain that he has no political anabi-
ton of any kind, but he further says
positively that he would not accept
political preferment If it should be
thrust upon him.
1t was expected, of course, that a
man who would turn down a United
States senatorship when it was his
without even asking for it, might have
decided views about running for gov
ernor Those who knew him best le-
allied that his personal inclination
would be to refuse the honor, but it
was hoped by many of his admirers
that Mr.. Coburn would consent, from
a sense of duty. to accept the nominal
ton If it were rendered him.
No one can point out Mr.. Coburn's
duty to him. however. He reserves the
right 10 be the sole Judge Of that himself.
He has a high sense of the duties of
citizenship. but he does not believe
those duties demand of him the sacri-
fee of his personal inclinations to The
center of the whirlpool of politics.
1t would have been a happy outcome
of the present political turmoil in Kan
sas had Mr.. Coburn consented to his
boom. His election as governor would
have pleased everyone except some of
the professional politicians, and kan
sas would have had genuine COVER
nor. 1t is well known, however, thai
Mr.. Coburn has a great dislike for the
scheming and wire-pulling of politics.
and it is possible that his health insSht
not have stood the strain. He over
worked himself in organizing the live
stock exhibit at the ST. Louis exposi-
ton, and he could not be censured for
protecting his health. even if it cora
PEELED him to turn a deaf ear 10 the
people who would make him governor.
The Daily Drovers' Telegram. CT
Kansas City, a loyal friend of the Kan
sas secretary, evidently believed it Mr..
Coburn's duty to accept the office OF
chief executive. THE trouble with the
American system of government" says
the Telegram. -'is that too few gGot:
men submit themselves for office, and |
so through party machinery an undo |
sirabfe man is feisted upon the voter, |
who has the provocative of voting for |
the machine candidate or staying away |
from the polls. The question Is, does
the honest man, the capable man, owe
anything to the public? Isn't it the |
duty of such men as Coburn, who have |
their work, to take up |
the battle of the people and labor for
them. even If unsolicited by the wire |
pulling cohorts of the professional poll |
ticians? Coburn would make n good |
governor, but you might as we'll ex- |
pect an elephant. to lay humming bird |
eggs as to look for his voluntary nomi- |
nation by the men who are oiling the |
But Mr.. Coburn has spoken and his |
real friends must acquiesee in his re-
fusal, for they know that, he means |
Just what he says. And If entering |
politics would jeopardize his health, no
real friend would ask him to make the |
sacrifice, even on the plea of political |
duty.
For the good of the state it is to be
that circumstances were not |
such as to lead Mr.. Coburn to accept
the responsibilities of the gubernatorial
office. His high ideals of public SER
vice. his remarkably good judgment,
and his tremendous executive ability |
would have given Kansas an admins
Lration unexcelled.