The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-17
POLITICAL GOSSIP
State Printer Contest Is Warm.
ing Up.
Mr.. w. c. Austin Appears to Be
Confident.
REID MEN ARE BUSY.
ID. w. Mulvane Taking Active In.
terest in His Behalf.
Judge Stuart Replies to Rev.
Charles NJ. Sheldon's Attack.

Il
Charles NJ. Sheldon's Attack.
w. Z. Austin, Of Cottonwood Falls,
who Is making an active fight for the
Republican nomination for state print
er, was in Topeka today Mr. Austin
Is now spending his time travelling
about the state, visiting the counties
where he wants to get acquainted. and
shaking hands with the voters
More than half of the newspapers of
Kansas are for me in this contest"
said Mr.. Austin. st feel greatly en-
couraged. I think it is remarkable
that SO many Of the newspaper boys
should. turn away from Tom McNeal
and support me. I don't attribute it
to my personal popularity, but simply
to the prejudice against the third term
idea. People don't want a man to hold
a job like this too long.
Another idea which is making lots
| of friends for me is the plan which I
proposed for making blank books for
the various counties at cost. at the
state printery. That Is a mighty good
idea, and people who have investigated
| it, say 1t should be DONE"
| Asked concerning the governor and
| senatorial fight, Mr.. Austin said:
Il can't tell much about it, and am
| keeping entirely out of the fight. /
know the feeling is very intense in a
good many of the counties down in the
! Seventh district. They are either strong
| for Long or strong against him. /
know Of number of candidates for
| state offices who sent their petitions
| down into some of these counties, and
had them returned, with letter stat
| Ing that the people down there didn't
| know how the candidate lined up on
| senator, and would not sign petition
until they knew exactly the candi-
| dates attitude on that ISSUE"
| Mr.. Austin did not stay in Topeka
| long. This isn't the place for me to
make votes" he said. Things are diff
| ferent this year from what they have
been in the past"
1t is admitted that the strongest ar
| gument which can be advanced against
the denomination of T. A. McNeal for
| state printer is the fact that he has
held the office nearly two terms. He
| was appointed for the first term, and
| elected for the second.
1t remains to be seen whether the
voters of the state are prejudiced
| against a man holding an Office for
more than two terms. provided that
! officer Is making a good record. Some
! think that now that the voters them
| selves are given chance to make sup
/
| renominate and re-elect officers as long
! as they make good.
| This wasn't the case under the con-
| vention plan of nomination. 1t was
rare thing for a man to be placed on
| the ticket for a third term Even
Frank Nelson, one of the most popular
Republicans in the state, was beaten
in convention for a third nomination
for state school superintendent, and
beaten by l. L. Dayhoff. an unknown.
faf4
missioner, was beaten in convention
for a third nomination as state treas
urer. 1t may be that under the pri-
mary election law, both of these men
would have been retained on the ticket,
solely on their merits.
However, the third term hoodoo has
not always worked. In fact, custom
has determined that it does not apply
to supreme court justices. Chief JUS
!, tice Johnston has held his office since
1884, and there is no disposition to
challenge his right to continue to hold
1t. James Smith was three times elect
ed secretary of state. p. I. Bonebrake
, and George Cole each held the office
of state auditor for three terms. John
Francis was three terms state treas
urer.
In the office of state printer, which
. was filled by legislative election, Geo.
Martin was given the office four times
| In succession. T. Dwight Thatcher
held the same office three terms in
succession. Each of these terms was
: for two years, and they were at a time
when the state printers office yielded
a fortune every two years.
The fight for the state printer NOM
ination will be of especial interest, as
1t will to some extent set a precedent
on the third term question under the
primary election law There is no
doubt that the tendency is these days
to disregard the third term prejudice.
Z. t. Fairchild, state superintendent
of education, recently issued a state
. ment urging voters at county elections
? to retain county school superinten-
dents who are doing efficient service,
regardless of how many terms they
may have had.
Albert T. Reid has a lot of powerful
, friends working in his behalf in his
, race for state printer, and If he wins,
II Will probably be due to the appeals
of these friends. d. w. Mulvane of
Topeka. is sending out letters to all
parts of the state, urging his followers
to support Reid, and 1t certainly ought
to help to have the active support of
the Republican National committee
man from Kansas.
Mr.. Reid will no doubt get a good
vote at his old home in Cloud county.
He will also be strong in Shawnee and
Leavenworth counties.
Mr.. Reid is receiving many compli-
\