The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-22
Governor Gives Evidence That
He Can Be Funny.
Talks in Amusing Strain About
Presidential Boom.
HAD A JOLLY TIME.
Secretary Denton Played Mark
Twain Trick.
He Has Fun With Guide in
Richmond,

"How's your boom for president of the
United States ?"was asked today of Gov
ernor Hoch, who returned last night
from his eastern trip.
Fine" replied Governor Hoch, who
did not discover the boom until he got
outside of Kansas. 1T has gone so far
now that have picked out the MEM
bers of my cabinet and a few foreign
ambassadors. All 1 need now is the
votes.'
Taft slipped in here and stole Kan
sas away from you while you were
gone" was suggested.
Yes" replied Governor Hoch, but 1
can be nominated without Kansas. 1
went to Albany when Governor Hughes
was absent from the city, and captur-
ed the New York delegation. feel that
everything is getting along first rate"
Governor Hoch first encountered his
boom for president in Indiana. 1t was
a stranger to him then. and he did not
recognize it as belonging to him. La
ter on he became quite accustomed to
it, and decided to play the game to the
limit.
When the party reached Richmond,
Va, Aajutant General Hughes went to
to try to get him to pry open the home
of Jefferson Davis, which is now used as
a Confederate war museum, but which
was closed up at that time. On the
desk of the city editor he saw big
cut of the governor of Kansas. ready
for insertion in the paper, with this in
scription:
sas, and leading candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for president of
the United States, on account of his
tremendous fight on the Standard Oil
octopus and other trusts which were
trying to swallow up the state of Kan
sas."
And so it went Everywhere Gov.
Hoch went he was an ''avowed" candi- |
date for the presidency.
Did you go and see Teddy about it,"
was asked of the governor today.
mo; when Teddy heard we were
coming, he left Washington" said Mr..
Hoch. Seriously, however, he con- |
tinued, I'VE heard very little about the |
presidential possibilities. In fact. I |
didn't hear anything at all, until we got |
to New York, and there the sentiment |
seems to be very strong for Hughes. |
Hughes has made good, but his veto |
Of the 2-cent fare bill has prejudiced |
him with the reform element in his |
party The conservative element, how |
ever, is much pleased with his refusal |
to sign the bill"
Governor Hoch and his party were
given an ovation" at Albany. The New |
York state officials did things up brown !
Tor them. Adjutant General Hughes
-elegraphed to the adjutant general of
New York, asking him to arrange so
hat the governors party could visit
he state capitol building during their
stay in Albany, from p. m, till 10 p.
n. The adjutant general was absent,
md so was Governor Hughes, but the
ldtutant's assistant, and the governors
secretary met the Kansas party at the
'oat with carriages, took them to the
tate house. and showed them the $1O,-
co. 600 graft building, explaining with
considerable pride how the state of New
York had been shaken down by the
,rafters. Then the Kansans were TAX
n to big hotel, and given an 11-course
Inner after which they were returned
o the depot in carriages.
Gene" Denton, the secretary of
tate, seems to have been one of the
eatures of the trip. He is the man &C
used of spiking the punch. He also
ad fun with the guide at Richmond,
"a The guide showed them the resi-
ence of Jefferson Davis.
rs Mr.. Davis in?' asked Denton.
He's dead" gasped the guide.
lis that possible?'' replied Denton;
when did he die %
The guide patiently explained all
bout it to Denton. Then he showed
hem a house where George Washing '
on had once stopped. i
"Is Mr.. Washington there now?" in :
ocently inquired Denton. 7
Again the guide carefully explained !
nat Washington died many, many t
ears ago.
''WelI, are all your great men dead /
ere?" asked Denton. why don't |
on show US where somebody lives be- '
des dead menu" l
The guide gave Denton up as s
opeless case. ''I guess you don't quite
Understand this business he said. 6
In a restaurant in Washington, t
tate Auditor Nation and Mr.. Denton {
as a long talk with the proprietor, 6
nd filled him 50 full of Indian stories g
nat he was afraid to go to bed that S
light. They told him that it wasn't
lfe for children to run about the
reefs of Topeka on account of the
wages which continually lurked
bout among the trees.
The question of who spiked the
unch is still unsettled. Governor
och says:
ct must refuse to talk about that :,
ntiI we have caucused on it, /
Nation says it was Denton was q
1ggested.
'sWell, if Nation says it was Denton, c
Il right Whatever Nation says goes. I
enton isn't here, anyway
"And they do say, governor, that s
III thought the punch was very t
bod" 7
again 1 must refuse to be inter- I
ewed," replied the governor. I
Wine Frauds Bill Passed.