The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-08

In a comment on the candidates
for the presidency of the Relief
Corps, the National Tribune Of this
city, which is the official organ of the
Grand Army of the Republic, picks
Mrs. Belle c. Harris of Emporia,
Kan, IS the winner. 1t says:
Belle C. Harris. of Kansas. and
Mary Hartwell, of California. seem to
hunting trouble of the character
mentioned. The department of Kan
sas has unanimously endorsed Mrs.
Harris's candidacy, and the Kansas
Woman's Relief Corps knew what it
was about. Among the 1000 mem
bers of the order in Kansas there
are many bright women delightfully."-
remembered in national convention,
among them all. Who that heard
her at the Mckinley memorial exer-
cises will ever forget the swelling
emotions as she sang Face to Face
and just two years ago, when our
own LiZabeth Turner went away
from US, what comfort and what
hope there was in Belle Harriss mag
nificent voice.
at is true, to sing is not a
prerequisite for qualification as ma
tional president, but to have a voice
IS almost necessity, and Belle
Harris's talking voice is equal 10 her
singing one. Then. as they say out
west. she has the 'sabe,' she knows
4lOM- MIS-. I1dIAiS 10 Il past uEDdII-
ment president, and had splendid
year. She has been national chief of
staff. and national senior vice presi-
dent. She knows how to take hold
woman's Relief Corps. She has
executive ability of a character that
seems Unborn.
Mrs Harris is a native of PennsyI- |
vania, but has lived , 5 years in EN-
poria, Kan. She is the wife of Com
rade Charles Harris, past depart
ment commander of Kansas. who
served in an Iowa regiment. The de-
partment of Kansas was organized in
1884. and has had but one national
president. Its 1000 members believe |
the time has come for the honor to
gravitate their way. The candidacy |
of Mrs. Harris is Endorsed by every |
living past department president, all |
the department officers and all the |
delegates. If all of them attend the
convention at Salt Lake, Mrs. Harris |
will not need any more votes.
1.-The department of California and |
Nevada has Endorsed Mrs. Mary E. |
Hartwen for national president. Mrs. |
Hartwell is one of the well-loved |
members of the order"
Former Senator chester I. Long of |
Kansas is at the Raleigh hotel, on his |
way from New York city to his home. |
Mr.. Long has not been in Kansas since
the last congress, and says he knows |
nothing of political conditions in the |
SunfioWer state. In an interview given |
to the Washington Post, he said:
Il haven't lost interest in politics" " |
said the former senator, last night. |
81 shall continue to study political |
questions, but as to political Office. |
that is a matter for the future. 1 have |
been defeated before. Several years
ago I could not agree with my con-
etituents on the silver question and |
they did not see fit to return me as
q member of the house. I am not a
candidate for any federal office, and |
don't want any.
f'If Kansas has any candidate for
federal Office it is Representative
Scott. Mr.. Scott has been mentioned |
as a possible successor of Secretary
OF Agriculture Wilson in the event the
latter retires. I do not know that Mr..
Wilson contemplates retiring. He has
made a marked success of the depart
ment of which he is the head. and I
am sure the great mass of agricultur-
lists would like to see him remain in
Office IL he cares to. But If he should
retire. the Kansas delegation in con-
gress will be strong for Representative
Scott for secretary of agriculture. Mr..
Scott. ever since he has been in con-
gress. has been a member of the COM
nnittee on agriculture, and is probably
the most thoroughly informed man on
the needs and wants of the agricultur-
lists of any man in public life. I don't
know that he is a scientific farmer.
He is the editor of a paper, but his
long experience as a member of the
agricultural committee certainly quail
des him for the head of the agricul-
kuraI department
AZ. Long will remain in Washing