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


lie meeting He had Stunned even a
caucus the year before.
But Lawrence as well as Douglas
county. recognized Stubs as a leader.
man who was courageous In his
CONVICTIONS. who was sincere, honest
ana FEARLESS. In casting for candi-
dates ne was the man first thought of
by the Republicans to represent the
people of the district.
He came to the legislature in jan
uary AFTER good study of parliament
tary rules of order. From the first
time he took the floor his co-mates
knew that he was a man who would
lead, so he was prominent from the
beginning
With his characteristic clear vision
below the depths of superficiaHties. it
did not take him long to see that the
handling its affairs in an unbus1ness
IKE manner. He knew what good
system meant. He had learned this
while a contractor
Local Political Crafts.
And he started then and there to
rectify imperfect and extravagant
methods. He saw that the state was
paying employees fat salaries for lit
tie or no service in return. He
located about 800 politicians on the
payroll for duties in past campaigns.
He unearthed the fact that the
state printing department had been
operated as a conceded graft That
TOUR years meant a fortune for the
state printer and a loss of fortune
to the people of Kansas. The job of
state printer was a fat one. And since
1t was elective by the legislature, the
politicians had the right kind of hold
on the throttle.
He saw the plum trees that were
included in other jobs of the state.
The board of charities controlled as
1t was by the politicians. The state
treasurer depositing the funds of the
state in any bank that he chose And
the interest that should have been
man in Office. He saw that free rail-
road passes operated to control politi-
cal parties and as a peculiarly in
sidious form of political bribery.
~ Becomes u Reformer.
And then he became a reformer. He
advocated a business system for bust
ness affairs. He worked to cut down
the state payroll and to draw the blue
pencil through the names of the 300
politicians. He started the move that
placed the state printing department
under the direct vote of the people.
This reduced the state printers salary
from $4,000 year to $500. He was
the undertow that took the board OF
charities from the politicians to make
it instead a business institution.
Then he introduced the state treas
urer depository bill that provided thai
the funds of the state be under the ..
X. Of an executive board who named
the banks where the funds should be
deposited. The rate of interest to go
to the state instead of the state treas
urer. And he was a strong supporter
of the anti-pass law.
After the first session he fell out
with the so-called machine crowd.
They laughed at his methods and knew
that money would back them up in L
fight against the young reformer. The
of the machine in control
objected to interference
from an amateur in politics.
Brings Out Hoch for Governor.
By this time he was the recognized
leader in the house. He brought out
E. w. Hoch Of Marion as candidate
for governor to fight the machine
Bailey was out for second term but the
fight was so hot that he withdrew and
Hoch was nominated Unanimously at
the Wichita convention.
Then Stubs was elected speaker of
the house for. the '06 session and it
was during this term that the import
forms had meant to the state saving
in expenses of $4,000 over the previous
session. , It meant that $4,000 that be-
fore had been used for gratis and
was saved for the people of
Kansas during one session of the leg
islature.
He had been the recognized leader
since the first term he had represented
his district. He has served as chair
man of the state central committee for
two years during the Hoch- Roosevelt
He had been speaker in the
house. He was a reformer. He was the
leader of the Square Dealers against
the machine.
Wanted to Be United States Senator.
Then he stumped the state to succeed
Chester 1. Long as candidate for the
United States senate. But his friends
wanted him as the governor of Kan
sas. They told him SO last January
at a meeting held at the Copeland ho-
tel. And they insisted that he run as
candidate for governor of his state.
Against his personal preference 10
acquiesced. The announcement had
been made only a short time when the
primary law was passed after its in
to the house by him. He
did not believe in a narrow system of
manipulated by politicians.
He believed in primary that would
be nothing more than big convention
where all the voters of Kansas could
select the men of their choice for the
of their state.
Runs for Gubernatorial Nomination.
At the close OF that eVent1ul session
Walter Roscoe Stubs went to his
home at Lawrence candidate for
governor of Kansas. There he met
the friends who asked him to go into
politics. They grasped his hand and
told him they would stand by him to
4 man. They knew that what he
would do when they chose him the
first time. They had watched him
the three regular sessions of
OS, 'O5 and 'O7 and the two special
sessions. They knew what he would
DO for their state If he is elected gov
ernor.
There are two men in particular in
Lawrence who can not say enough for
Mr.. Stubs One is George Innes, one
Of the leading men of the city. The
other is Prof W. H. Carruth of the
of Kansas. Both are men