The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-19
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Grant Harrington In an. Opt
mistic Mood.
Bryan Will Sweep the State,
He Says.
BUT THAT ISN'T ALL.
Also Asserts Democrats Will
Elect State Ticket.

Says Republican Reform Wave
Is Subsiding in Kansas.
| Grant Harrington, of Hiawatha, one
of the well known Democratic polite
| lans or the state, was in Topeka Mon
day on his way to Salina to attend the
big Democratic pow-wow.
Talk about the Kansas Democrats
| going back on Bryan is all felton,
said Harrington. II don't know OF any
Democrats in this state who are not
for Bryan. Bryan will sweep the state
in the election, and he will carry the
with him. The chances for Democratic
success in Kansas were never before
so good. There is a confidence of VIC
tory which I have never before seen.
From what my Democratic friends
tell me about conditions in their own
localities. I believe that Leland will
beat Stubs for the Republican nomi-
nation. The place where Stubs is
strong always seems to be over in the
next county. This primary election
they were taking the control of politics
out Of the hands of politicians. Elec-
tions will be controlled just as they
have been before. People are very
mucn ike Sneep; they play follow
their leader all the time.
1.-THE reason that Leland will beat
Stubs is that the reform wave in the
Republican party has reached its
height ard is now receding. For
time, the Republican party was long
progressive policies. Stubs was at the
head Of that movement, and he was
immensely popular. Now the Repub-
licans think that reform has gone far
either reform movement must keep
constantly pressing forward, or it will
recede. The Republican reform wave
is receding. and Stubs popularity is
going down on that wave.
1.-The result will be that the Republi
vote for Bryan and the Democratic
state ticket, and the Republican party
will be swamped in Kansas.
I'm my judgment the Democrats will
nominate Botkin for governor There
will be no effort at Salina to eliminate
anybody from the race. hope we can
have half a dozen candidates for every
place on the ticket. But I think that
there will be no more candidates
brought out for governor on our tick
ct. Botkin will win because everybody
in Kansas knows him, and knows he
is sturdy and reliable man."
P. H. Coney, the grand army man
who is now so earnestly advocating
governor, was at one time a high Of
f1cer in the Stubs army of reform.
His speech for Leland at Wichita has
therefore stirred up lot of ancient
| history for Capt. Coney.
Among other things it is recalled
that there was square deal meet
| ing held a few years ago in Topeka,
at which Capt. Coney was presiding
| officer. Coney made speech scorch-
| ing the Leland crowd, and wound up
| by asking every man who favored
| Leland to leave the hall. Several got
up and left.
Concerning that period in his his
tory, Capt. Coney says:
| the Grand Army of the Republic;
| Stubs could not be. I have per-
sistently plead for the support of
our comrades for all public positions,
| when and where they were competent
| to perform the duties Of the same; I
have fought relentlessly for this; I
have absolutely plead for co-opera-
| tive unity and harmony, in our grand
army ranks. Now, to be in harmony
| with myself, to exercise good con-
science and to avoid contention and
dissension in our ranks, chose be-
| tween Mr.. Stubs and Comrade Cyrus
| Leland, to give my undivided and
earnest support to my comrade, Cyrus
| Leland, as we all should do"
At the socialist county convention
held few days ago in Pfttsburg
Henry Vincent, of Girard was nomi-
mated as candidate for district judge.
| The district judgeship ordinarily isn't
a very funny matter, but this nomina-
ton is something Of a joke mas
much as there is no district judge to
be elected this year. The socialists
did not know that at the time and
made the nomination any way. Vim
| cent declares he's going to run any
how.
st. Louis Republic: There is
strong movement on foot to bring
about a compromise at the Salina
conference in favor of State Senator
| George H. Hodges Of Olathe. for gov
ernor. Leading Democrats all over
the states have urged Hodges to be-
come a candidate, but he has declin-
| ed, preferred to return to the senate
from the Johnson-M Miami district.
Hodges's record in the state senate
has made him strong with the people,
and it is conceded that he would Sc
| euro many thousand Republican
votes. Many leading Democrats who
will go to Salina hope to be able to
show that Hodges's nomination would
| insure Democratic success. They will
urge the other candidates to retire in
Hodges's favor, in which event, it is
stated, Senator Hodges will consent
| to make the fight. If this compromise
can be effected it is probable that
Botkin will be Endorsed for lieuten-
ant governor, Ryan for secretary Of