The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-20
Click and st. John Write on
Governor Question.
Both Are Supporting j. ID. Bot.
kin This Year.
GORE HERE.
Blind Senator Promises to Make
Speech i'm Topeka.
Long and Bristow May Debate
Here Saturday.

1t is decidedly romantic incident
OF the present campaign for the
Democratic nomination for governor
of Kansas that John p. St. John, of
Olathe. and George w. Click, of Atch-
ison. are both supporting ]. D. Botkin
Of Winfield.
st. John was the great prohibition
governor of Kansas, who served at
the time the prohibitory amendment
was adopted. He was elected in 1879,
and served two terms. He was nomi-
mated for a third term. The Demo-
Gratis nominated against him George
w. Click, of Atchison. Click was an
anti prohibition candidate, and the
campaign was waged to a great extent
on the issue of prohibition. st. John
was defeated by about 5000 majority.
and Kansas had it's first Democratic
governor.
That st. John and Click should now
be united in the support of J. D. Bot
kin for governor is a most remarkable
incident.
Ex-Governor ST. John is chairman
'Botkin for Governor club in John
son county; Ex-Governor Click is
treasurer of the "Botkin for Cover
nor" club in Atchison county.
Senator Thomas p. Gore, of Okla
homa, spent Saturday evening in To-
peka, the guest of Owen L. Cope, a
former Oklahoma man now employed
in this city. While here he agreed
to make a speech in Topeka before
the November election.
Senator Gore is the famous blind
-hr te hx-I ,ie Pria I-
cred the most able Democratic leader
in the United States. He is a wonder
full orator, and made one of the
speeches seconding Bryan's nomina-
ton at the Denver convention. Sena-
tor Gore and his wife were on their
way home from Colorado, and missed
their train connections at Mcfarland.
They decided to come on through to
Topeka, and visit MIR. Cope, who
makes his headquarters at the Central
Y. M. C. A. building.
While in Oklahoma Mr.. Cope was
secretary of the Democratic county
central committee at Enid, and came
into close personal relations with Sem
ator Gore. In speaking of Senator
Cores visit, he said:
Senator Gore is called The blind
orator of the Wichitas' He is most
akin to Homer and Milton in his great
mental powers and his blindness. He
was originally from Mississippi. He
lived in Texas for some time, and ran
for congress there on the Populist tick
et He moved from Texas to Oklaho-
ma, and has been the leader of the
Democrats in that state. He domino
ted the constitutional convention, and
dictated large portions of the new con-
stitution. As an orator he has no
equal in this country. Bryan is
great orator, but Gore is a more force
full and magnetic speaker than Bryan.
After he made his speech at the Den
yer convention, an agent for lecture
bureau offered him II lecture engage
ments at 5000 each. He declined the
offer because he felt that he owed his
time to the people Of his own state.
MIR. Gore went through the common
schools. the high school and the uni
versity, though stone blind, by having
| sons to him. He never attended blind
school. His literary productions are
| classics like those of Ingalls,. He has
| not yet made real speech in the SEN
ate, and they don't know what he can
| do. His only speech was in connection
| with the last f1libuster.
Senator Gore was more than pleas
| ed with the result Of the Denver con-
vention, and predicts that the Demo
| cratic party will have a sweeping VIC
| tory in the nation in November"
The treatment which Senator Gore
has been taking for his eyes has had
no beneficial results, and 1t Is not like
| ly that he will ever recover, his sight.
He lost one eye when years old by
being hit with a stick in the hands of
a playmate The other eye he lost when
Z years old by being hit with an ar.
row from a crossbow.
Senator Long and his opponent. j.
| L. Bristow, were both in Topeka Sun
day, and met at the Copeland hotel.
No blows were exchanged and the two
candidates made 1t appear that they
were on the best very terms.
There are negotiations pending for
| q joint debate between the two at To-
| peka next Saturday. Long says that
! this date will suit him. Robert Stone,
who is looking after the Bristow end
| Of the negotiations. says that Bris-
lows dates are all full for this week.
and that he will have to communi-
cate with Bristow before agreeing to
come here Saturday. Both sides
claim to be honing for the debate.
Saturday was Leland day at the
| Hiawatha Chautauqua. Mr.. Leland
made a short speech to 1000 people,
which is the first speech he ever made
| in Brown county, though he has lived
| neighbor to that county for fifty years.
D. r. Anthony, congressman from
| the First district, also made a speech,
in which he urged people to vote for
| Leland, as Leland is the First dis
trict candidate. F. B. Dawes also
| made a strong speech IN favor of Lee
land. F. NJ. Pearl of Hiawatha.
Democratic nominee for congress in
| the First district, and Myron F.
Wiltse. Of Hiawatha. Socialist nominee
| for justice Of the supreme court. also
L