The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-14
POLITICAL GOSSIP
A. C. Stitch Is Feeling the Pub
lie Pulse.
Will See if People Want Him
for Governor.
A VISIT TO TOPEKA.
ChaperOned by an Editor From
independence.
Ra. her Modest About Discus
sing His Ambition.

Another prospective candidate TOT
the Republican nomination for gov
ernor of Kansas was in Topeka Satur-
day, spying out the land, and seeing
whether the signs were right for his
aspirations. The man was A. C. Stitch,
of independence, Montgomery county,
the second largest county in popula-
ton in the state.
With Mr.. Stitch came H. G. James,
editor of the independence Reporter,
who did most of the talking in behalf
of Mr.. Stich's candidacy. Mr.. Stitch
himself was not communicative.
II have not announced that l Will
be a candidate for the nomination,
was the only statement Mr.. Stitch
know that the office of governor Is an
honor which any man might prize,
and 1 certainly appreciate even the
honor which my friends are dong me
in asking me to become a candidate.
But l have not decided to enter the
contest"
Mr.. James puts the case this way:
"Mr Stitch will be a candidate II ne
finds that by being a candidate ne can
win support from both factions or the
Republican party, and prove himself
acceptable as a compromise canoloate.
He will not be a candidate or any Iac-
ton. He will be a candidate OF tnose
people who want an able, businessnke,
square state administration. L might
state that number of counties nave
already rendered Mr.. Stitch their sup
port in case he decides to become
candidate A prominent Shawnee
county politician told me TO-DAY thae
shawnee would be for Stich-but of
course that is a long shot.
''Mr Stitch is mayor or 1noepeh-
dence. and his administration of the
affairs of that city have been OF an eX-
ceptionally efficient character. When
Mr.. stitch took charge of the affairs OF
that rapidly growing city, its aHalrs
were in an awful tangle. 1t had out
grown it's old methods of handling
business, and was in a great muddle.
"Mr. Stitch took hold of the situation,
and now has things in perfect conol-
ton. He found that joints and drug +,
stores were running in Independence. |
and he quietly notified them that they
would have to stop. There was no
great disturbance made, but people |
soon observed that the law was oelng
observed. that there were no disorderly
houses, and that the town was getting
along Just as we'll without them. MONT |
gomery county was Tor soille ye we
noted as county of disorders we
had great numbers of murders there. |
After Mr.. Stitch became mayor OF IN.
dependence, he asked the mayors OF
the other large towns IN the county 10
come and talk things over with nlm |
He did not attempt to dictate TO tnem' |
but merely suggested that people want |
ed the joints closed. He told them
close
heen that Joints are scarce in our coun- |
ty, and there has not been Tiuroer
MI stitch believes in the enforce
rnent of laws, and he accomplishes
their enforcement by his own vigorous
character When he says thing peo-
pIe know he means what he says:
eff he should be governor OF Kan
cos he would be a man with whom |
the biggest financier, statesman or |
business man could talk and reallze
that he was addressing an equal, Whlle |
the humble citizen who has a ooIlar IN
that would give him to understand that |
he was talking to a friend
Mr. Stitch is a millionaire. He mas
made his money in Kansas. out OF in
vestnents in the mines of southeastern
Kansas. |
George E. Tucker, state senator from
the Greenwood-Lyon district, spent sun |
dav in Topeka talking politics with
some of the Republican leaders of the
state Mr.. Tucker, it Is expected VIII
he a candidate for the Republican noml-
nation for congress in the Fourth ols-
trict 7 M. Miller, the present con-
gresham, who has been putting In the
past five months repairing his baoly
shattered fences in the Fourth district,
has announced vigorously that Iu OK
is a candidate this year but won't pc a
candidate next year" In this Mr. MIL
Ter is probably doomed to disaPpoint-
ment The indications are that fucker
is preparing to become full-heoged
candidate. He is not likely to take this
action without full knowledge or the
situation, or without knowing tnat ne
has good chance to win. He mas not
announced his candidacy yet, but ne
has been around the district some and
knows what the voters think ABOUT Mil
Ter and his tariff and primary views
Tucker is an ardent tarlI IeNlslonlss'
and he is vitality interested In a prl-
mary election for the Fourth district
next year. He worked hard for a pr1-
mary law in the legislature last winter
and he said:
for the election of every nominee OF eV-
erv marty and since there Is no law
compelling all parties to name their
nominee at primary election, l Woulo
like to see the central committees OF
the Republican party, at least, call prl-
mary elections for the selection OF It's
candidates. The vast majority OF the
Republican voters OF Kansas wan pai
mary elections and I believe that What
the majority wants it should have
IF YOU were a candidate for congress
against Mr.. Miller" ne was askeu'
would you prefer to nave the hoillha-
ton made by primary
eff I were a candidate" replied MIR.
Tucker, Il do not consider tnat my
personal wishes should weigh against
the wishes of the people. Certainly IL
/ were a candidate I would be willing
to rest my case with the whole people.
IF nv a direct vote of the people man
cannot be nominated for an office, then
that man can hardly claim that he Is
entitled to the nomination, and a noml-
nation that does not express the VIII
ana choice of the people could hardly
be looked upon as a very desirable ac-
ouisition 1 believe in primary cleo
ton for the nomination OF governor,
state officers. congressman, members of
the legislature and all along the line"
The I,eavenworth Times says: Con-
gresham Anthony has heard from