The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-10
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Senator Long Will Remain at
Medicine Lodge.
This Intimation Made by His
Secretary.
COMMENT ON PRIMARY
Says Long viii Probably Never
Be Active in Politics.
Candidates for Speaker of the
House Coming to Surface.
COMMENT ON PRIMARY

AhOuSC OOuIih ~ Jul IdCOs
That Senator Chester I. Long will, at
the expiration of his term of office, re-
tire from politics, and devote himself
to making money out of the law bust
ness at, his home in Medicine Lodge is
the announcement made by Senator
Longs private secretary, Ralph Faxon,
in his paper, the Garden City Tele-
gram.
1t has been the general belief that
Senator Long would do the way he did
when he was beaten by Jerry Simpson
for congress in the Seventh district
keep on fighting for his party, and
make an effort to beat Bristow six
years hence. But according to Mr.
Faxon, Senator Long is ready to quit
politics. Faxon says:
I'm the defeat of Chester I. Long for
the Republican nomination for United
States senator, Kansas has lost the
ablest senator in its nearly IS years of
history.
I'm the defeat of Long. Kansas has
refused, as 1t has steadfastly for TWEEN
ty years, to re-elect a United States
senator. no matter of what party.
I'm the defeat of Long, Kansas has
JOlllCu Tic Slpup VI SldlCS, diu'
as 1t was in Populism, is getting
around to it after nearly all the rest
are through
Senator Long can survive the de-
feat. and 1t is probable that he will
never again actively participate in
politics. A man at the age of At. with
a family on his hands, and with very
small means, who has devoted all his
time and talent to the public service
unstintedly for a period of twenty
years, can hardly be expected, when he
loses the great office he priced so
tude of the man who will seek or ac-
cept other office.
Senator Long is philosophical as
becomes any dignif1ed defeated candi-
date. You will see no interviews ema-
mating from him. You will hear no Bit
terness, no faultfinding, no explanation.
He will be grateful to his thousands of
loyal friends all over Kansas; and as
for the rest-he will try to get his
physical strength back acquire a COM
petence for himself and his family, and
remain an honest, upright citizen of
the little town of Medicine Lodge"
About the next interesting question
for the politicians to figure on is who
will be speaker of the house Of repre-
sentatives-provided of course, that
the Republicans control that branch
of the legislature.
There are three candidates who
seem to be in line for the job. They
are al follows:
Ansel r. Clark of Rice county
Robert Stone of Shawnee county.
s. l.. Ryan of Brown county.
Ansel Clark will probably have the
strongest backing of any of these can
didates in case he decides to become a
candidate. He was speaker pro tenn
of the house at the 1905 session. In
such capacity he made very fair and
able presiding officer, and was espec-
tally popular with the minority, whom
he treated with the greatest consider
alton. At the close OF the session, the
minority members gave him VAL
liable gold hea ded cane as a testimon-
ial of their esteem. Clark is a strong
square dealer" and has splendid
training as a parliamentarian. He
served as district judge for a number
of years. was a candidate for lieuten-
ant governor al the last state conven-
ton. and is an old soldier.
Robert Stone of Shawnee is also
very favorably considered by many of
the square deal members. He is the
author of the anti-pass law, and was
one of the most active allies of Stubs
in the passage of the primary election
law. The fact that he is from Shaw
nee county is the only thing which is
likely to prejudice his case.
s. L. Ryan Is the only avowed can
didate for the job. Ryan may be put
forward as the machine" candidate
for speaker. though he claims to be a
dealer" The Stubbs crowd has not
forgotten. however. that il was Ryan
who weakened and wouldn't stand pat
for the Stubs primary election bill in
the final conference committee. Had
it not been for the Democratic mem
Der of that committee. the senate pri-
mary bill would have been reported
back from that conference committee
Had 1t not been for the Democratic
member of that committee the senate
primary bill would have been reported
back from that conference committee
instead of the Stubs bill. Ryan
would probably be unable to get any
support from the Stubs crowd in his
candidacy for the speakership.
1t may be that w. L. Cunningham
of Cowley county will have to be reck-
oned with in the speakership fight. He
was speaker pro tenn of the last ses-
sion. and showed himself to be a good
presiding officer. He was not counted
as one of the square deal" crowd,
however.
w. B. Ham. of Stockton. has finally
conceded that the indications are thai
w A Reeder has been nominated fol-
congress. Ham figures that Reeder's
reajority is about 33S with several coun-