The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-04
Attorney General Has Decided
to Run for Congress.
Enters Lists in Fourth District
Against j. nj. Miller.
HE HAS HELD BACK.
Pushed in by Governor, Bristow,
w. A. White and Mr.. DOlley.
Regarded as Most Important
Move of Square Dealers.


Move of Square Dealers.
Attorney General Fred S. Jackson haa
decided to run for congress in tho
Fourth district against J. NJ. Miller.
This statement is authoritative. For
the past three months there has been
lot Of speculation about who would
lead the square deal forces against Mr..
Miller's intrenchments. Since the de-
cisive defeat Of Senator Tucker last
summer 1t was regarded as no easy
task to whip Miller in his own back
yard.
The counse1lors of the inner chamber
had considered the matter. Governor
Stubbs, Senator Bristow. William A.
White, Joseph N DoIley and Attorney
General Jackson had threshed the mat
ter out at many conference. jackson.
the most popular of the square deal
chieftains, was called upon to take
Miller's scalp. Gubernatoria1 timber
was to be used for this congressional
job. But Mr.. Jackson hesitated. Two
or three times they had him going, but
he would not commit himself. The
arguments of Governor Stubbs and tho
appeal of ffr White moved him, but
they could not bring him over the dead
line.
The Fourth district has occupied the
limelight in state politics for many
weeks. Columns Of newspaper space
have been devoted to the subject and
Mr.. Jackson has been interviewed every
day for a month, but up to this time he
had given no sign that would indicate
his intentions with any certainty He
would make his announcement Kansas
Day, he said. He had been urged to
run against Stubs for q second term.
He has been doomed for a third term as
attorney general. He has been offered
the nomination Of lieutenant governor.
The machine men took part in the game
and tried to make medicine out of jack
sons popularity by pitting him against
Stubbs Or Dolley. But still Mr.. Jack
! son smiled in enigmatic fashion and
talked about the work Of the attorney
generals office with great frankness.
| And now, just when the conclusion
had been reached that he was going to
summer or three years hence, he casts
| aside the implements of state politics
with which he has won his reputation
and enters the arena Of national af-
| fairs.
Leader of Square Dealers.
Mr.. Jackson's candidacy for congress
| is the most serious attack yet made IN
| this state against the regulars of the
party who voted for the Payne bill
His record in the attorney generals Of
fee has elevated him to a prominent
place in state affairs. He is a member
of the great triumvirate of the square
deal. He ranks in the first flight with
the big men of the state, and in enter
ing the congressional race 1t is regard
ed that he is giving up the governor
ship for place in congress. He may
sweep the Fourth district and finally
wind up as a United States senator-or
he may lose to Miller and be heard of
no more beyond the classic shades OF
Green wood county.
In Jacksons candidacy is presented
the spectacle of one Of the large men
in the dominant faction Of the Repub-
lican party of this state entering the
tion forces. II he wins there Will be
another Murdock added to the insur-
gent ranks.
Stubbs' denomination and probable re-
election is down on the slate. The "Dol-
ley succession" Is a stronger probable
ity now. The machine and the square
deal will split on the other state Of
fees. The real fight in Kansas next
summer win take place in the congress
sional districts. Scott. Campbell.
Calderhead, Reeder, Miller, Anthony,
all these have serious opposition The
strongest and most popular men the
square dealers are able to get out are
pitted against them. McNeaL jackson
and Mitchell are men of state wide rep
utations and they will make their cam
paign on a progressive platform. Judge
Rees and Senator Young are probably
the best men In their districts to Dit
against Calderhead and Miller. The
square deal in Kansas is likely to stand
or fall on the result of the congress
sional primaries. ALI the resources and
strength of the factions will be con-
centrated in these congressional cam
| padgns. The issues will be Taft and
party regularity against more tariff
revision and progressive REFORM
Program Is Complete.
| Now that Mr.. Jackson has finally de-
cided to take the step there Is not
much of Importance left to speculate
over. The congressional plans of the
square dealers are complete. There re-
mains only Ex-Governor Stanley or
some one else to run against Stubs
| for the nomination. The last chance
| for a split In the insurgent ranks has
| apparently gone glimmering. TIE winter
| and spring will witness the perfection
of plans for the big fight next sum-
mer.
| There has never before been witness
| ed in Kansas such a concerted fight on
such a big scale against congressman
/ Six of the Washington delegation will
/ have to take off their coats in the
early spring and fight for their pohti
/ cal lives. They will have behind them
the influence and support of the ma
tional administration. But this fact
| does not appear to dismay the progress
| sive to any extent.
The state primary gives every prom
| ise of being a tame affair II. compari-
son with the congressional fight. The
square dealers have made no attempt
| to make a slate for the state ticket.
There will be no organized opposition
| to machine candidates there and it
! looks now as though there would be at
| least two and probably three machine
| men on the next state ticket. But in
! the congressional districts there is war
to the knife.