The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-02
COBURN is SILENT
He Won't Discuss His Boom for
Governor.
This May Mean That He Will
Consent.
UNITE ALL FACTIONS.
Politicians Admit That II
Would Bring Harmony.
Newspapers Also Approve of the
Plan.

|
the question which the politicians and
other people are saying concerning the
| talk of F. D. Coburn as a compromise
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for governor.
Coburn, it may be stated for the in
| formation of the public. says very little
about (which is a good sign 1t indi-
Gates that he does not entirely reject the
| idea of being candidate for governor.
I was just thinking said Mr. Co
burn, when asked for statement con-
corning MS views on the situation ..uhai
1t might ag1tate some of the political
leaders of the state unduly if 1 should
come out and say: Yes, have thought
TINS thing over carefully and have de-
cided that 1 will ask the people of KAN
sas to make me their chief executive
without regard to factions. ccm hinations
or political arrangements So I won't
make any statement of that Sort
Dozens of Topeka people called at Mr..
Coburn's office yesterday and today to
tell him they were for him for governor.
Many letters are also coming in from
out over the state expressing approval
of the proposal that he be a candidate
for governor. One of the members of
the old machine" crowd, and a very
close friend of the Kelly -Mulvane fac
ton, said:
Il don't like Coburn, but 1 can see that
it would be mighty popular thing for
US to get behind him. 1 would much
rather have Coburn than Stubbs'
j. E. Cation, the well known account
ant and who has been in close touch
with state political affairs, and who
travels about the state a great deal,
said: 81 heard this Coburn business
talked of in a number of different places
over the state before 1 saw it in the
State Journal. 1t looks to me as though
it would be a very popular thing for the
Republican party to do" Some weel.s
ago Mr. Cation stated that he believed
w. r. Stubbs was gaining rapidly in
strength, but he says that now there
seems to be loss Of interest in Stubbs,
and feeling that possibly the Hornaday
plan for a direct primary had better not
be adopted,
Newspapers throughout the state are
also taking kindly to he Coburn boom.
and are giving 1t favorable editorial
mention. If the people of the state have
anything to say about it, the chances
are that F. D. Cob3rn will get the next
Republican. nomination for governor.
The Wichita Eagle, which has been
a strong defender of the policy of the
state board of railroad commissioners
to settle everything with the railroads
by compromise and moral suasion,
seems to be getting little tired. After
quoting Mr.. Sheppard's letter to Geo.
w. Kanavel, it says:
1.-THE Eagle was inclined to regard
kindly the policy of keeping out of the
newspapers and doing the square thing
between the railways and the public,
but the above, signed by Mr.. Sheppard,
looks like he is getting the cOmmis-
sioners into the newspapers with
vengeance. And now since the COM
mission is getting into the newspapers
anyhow, we would suggest to the mem
bers thereof that they would better
stiffen up their backbones and tell the
railroads a few things to do instead
of making mere requests of them.
s. Smith of Abilene has formally
opened his candidacy for congress in
the Fifth district with a speech at
Talmage on Thursday. He built him
self a strong reform" platform, and
said in part:
"I favor the nomination of candi-
dates for all offices from township
trustee to governor of all parties on
the same day by a direct primary cleo
ton by a plurality vote, guarding the
law with provisions that will preserve
the identity of political parties. Elect |
all committeeman of all parties on the |
same day and in the same way. The |
law should contain a provision giving I
70 the voter the privilege of express |
ing his choice for United States sena- |
tor The time has come for changing |
the place for holding primary cleo |
tions for United States senator from /
New york city to the prairies of Kan |
sas. Let the people of Kansas select /
their candidate for the United States I
senate
He took a strong position in favor of
e1ecting United States senators by |
direct vote of the people. and said: /
saThe average man of Kansas has just (
as good a judgment as to who Will
make a good United States senator as
has the average man we send to the |
legislature.
tain the title to all coal, gas and oil /
iands,'' and showed how they can be |
bandIed nv the government so as to |
nrevent combines and trusts from rob- |
hing the people of these commodi- |
ties.
ssThe Interstate commerce commits |
sion and the railroad commlss1oners OF
ssshould be given the power and fur
nished the means to ascertain the true
yalue of railroad property, the cost OF .
operating railroads, and to make and F
regulate rates. Everybody comedies /
that railroad companies are entitled to
reasonable compensation to be based
upon the true value and not upon wa
tered capitalization and fictitious +
bonded indebtedness"
He talked about railroad accidents
and said: 1.-The time has come to
pass laws requiring the adoption of
prescribing strict regulations in the
operations Of trains"
He said: 81 favor strengthening the
antitrust law and the rigid enforce
ment of it's criminal provisions by fine
and Imprisonment. We can't accom-
plish much by fining a railroad COM
pany and sending n switch engine to
jail
He discussed the tariff and said:
1.-THE trusts organized in restraint of
trade should be deprived of all benefit /
which they receive from the tariff, /