The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-26
He Will Enter the Race for
Governor.
Friends Have Put Him Into
Contest.
'TILL NONCOMMITTAL.
A Formal Announcement Is
Expected Soon.
Refuses to Go on Record When
interviewed.

Candidate for the Republican NOM
tnation for governor of Kansas in 1908
Cyrus Leland OF Doniphan county.
That this will be the announcement
to be made in the near future seems
to be safe political prediction. Mr.
Leland, active in Kansas politics since
1854, wants to round out his political
career with term in the governors
chair. ff
mo one has heard me say that
would be a candidate for governor"
said Mr.. Leland this morning. They
haven't heard me for the reason that I
will do. 1 certainly won't go into the
! fight unless I think 1 can win. At the
present time it looks to me as though
I it would be anybody's victory. A great
many of my friends have been writing
to me, and urging me to be a candidate
These friends are the ones who have
been doing the talking. have not said
a word"
1t is Cyrus Leland's friends who are
back of the Leland boom, but 1t is Mr..
Leland himself who stands in the back
ground and does the steering of this
boom. Mr.. Leland does not propose to
get anything started that he can't stop
If necessary, and for that reason he
does not enter into any extended dis
cussions of his candidacy.
At the present time there are only
two candidates in the race, and Mr..
Leland figures that he could outfoot
dates is Grant Hornaday of Fort Scott
and Leland figures that w. r. Stubbs
could control about five counties in the
Second district and place them for
some one besides Hornaday. Such a
swing would just about break the back
of the Hornaday movement. If Stubbs
should come to the defense of Leland,
Leland might reciprocate by helping
Stubbs go to the senate. The other
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton is c. L. Davidson of Wichita who
now seems likely to be the square
deaf' candidate.
Mr. Leland probably figures that
Lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald, of
Dodge City, will stay out of the race
for the purpose of noninterference with
Senator Long. Senator Long is up
against a serious fight, and his friends
viii not want to do anything to dim his
prospects. .-s,...s.-.
With the fight between Horrfaday
and Davidson. Mr.. Leland probably
figures that. he could sit in" the
game with reasonably good chances
of success. Barring the appearances
of some new and exceptionally strong
candidate in the field. it is apparent
that Lelands figuring" is not far
wrong.
"Of course" said Mr.. Leland in
speaking of the situation. "If should
be candidate for the Republican
nomination for governor. 1 would ex-
pect to have a lot of my enemies get
out and fight me. wouldn't give
much for a man who has no enemies.
have made my enemies in helping
my friends. 1 have been in politics
for over 40 years. and 1 have stuck to
my friends. and have never been
mixed up in any graft"
Mr.. Leland had a conference with
Governor Hoch this morning. Wheth-
er it was about pardons. politics or
panics neither gentleman would say.
But the governor called him "Cy"
when they came out and the material
for an offensive and defensive alli-
ance seemed to be brewing.
rs Governor Hoch going to be a
candidate for the United States SEN
ate 2" was asked of Mr.. Leland
II don't know" he replied ANY
man would like to go to the senate. If
Hoch should go he could certainly
hold his own with any of them In
speaking"