The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-05
TUESDAYS RESULTS.

| l.. Bristow, for United States senator
this is the result of the real. en-
crossing contests among the Republi-
cans at the first state wide primary.
| which passed into history when the
sun went down on Tuesday evening.
The nomination of Mr. Stubs by
an overwhelming majority over his
opponent. Cyrus Leland. jr.. is not
much of a surprise except as to the
largeness of his vote in view of the
claims of the Leland forces that vic
tory's banner would be carried by
them. The success of Mr.. Bristow in
his contest with Chester 1. Long. one
of the present United States senators
from Kansas, was something of a sur
prise.
During the few years that Mr.. Stubs
has been in public life in the state he
has gained in popularity greatly among
the people because of the fights he has
made in legislative halls for reforms
of various kinds which the people
have demanded. And in the exceeding
ly active campaign he waged for the
gubernatorial nomination this popular
ity steadily increased
His was a campaign on new and live
issues and directed principally against
the keeping of the affairs of state in
the control of those Republicans who
have been branded as being of the Re-
publican machines" the past mach
nations of which have been distaste-
full to the great majority of the voters
of the state Mr.. Leland had ever been
identified with these Republican or
ganizations and that fact, no doubt.
initiated strongly against his chances
of securing the nomination.
To a certain extent Mr.. Bristow's
choice as the Republican candidate
for United States senator can also be
set down as a blow delivered at So
called Republican machine politics
in this state with which Mr.. Long has
been identified. But Mr.. Bristow's
success is far more of a surprise than
Mr.. Stubs. Mr.. Longs record in the
matter Of votes on measures of i'm
portance may not have been all that
everyone could have desired during
his career in congress but it has been
an admirable one, none the less. He
is and has been closely identified with
policies and had he been returned to
the United States senate he would
have undoubtedly taken his place as
one of the leaders in national legisla-
tive halls during the next few years.
Both Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt are
UNNECESSARILY strong with the Repub-
lican voters of Kansas but this fact
did not seem to help Mr.. Longs can
didacy for reelection to the senate
very much. The people seem to have |
formed the idea that, although Mr.. |
Long was hand in glove with Mr.. Taft |
and Mr.. Roosevelt, he would not look |
after their interests quite as well as
Mr.. Bristow would. and they voted |
accordingly.
Mr.. Bristow's success is also a little |
in that he made the fight |
against Mr.. Long without an organ |
ization of any kind behind him, while |
Mr.. Long had an admirable one. |
But Mr.. Bristow had with him the |
trusty. searching and scathing pen of |
Allen White and his victory is
probably due quite as much to Mr..
literary efforts in tearing at
Mr.. Longs records as to anything else
The first state primary in Kansas
will go down as being the end of one
of the most spectacular political cam
paigns that has been waged within the |
borders of the state. 1t may leave a
few sore spots for the time being but
its results have more than justified the
enactment of the primary law and the
giving to the voters of each party the
absolute say as to who shall carry
their standards on election day. And
it is certain that the primary has come
to stay.