The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-29

FOITI1OAA CAMPAIGNS.
A political custom prevails in many
| Of the Eastern states which might be
emulated with profit to all concerned in
Kansas and other commemorative in
this section of the country. It is moth
ing else than the limiting of campaigns
for public offices and the agitation
which they arouse among the people,
to exceedingly brief periods of time. Its
fedeeming characteristic is being en-
phasized strongly in the contest which
lis now being waged for the municipal
control of New York city. The summer
had passed and early fall had set in
before there was any noticeable activity
in New York's political arena over this
campaign. There was little or no talk
of possible candidates for the mayor
atty or other offices until two or three
weeks before they were nominated. and
these nominations were not brought
about until about six weeks before the
election day which win soon be at hand
The result is a campaign of vigor in
which The issues are being presented
fairly and squarely and in such veium-
nous detail that he who runs may read.
The same conditions maintain in New
York and other Eastern states in respect
scope. There is no talk of candidates
for state offices OF congressional offices
until the late summer before the cleo
! tons for these offices are to be held.
Primaries and nominating conventions
are rarely if ever held for state offices
more than two months before the cleo
ton day. After them come strenuous
and sharp political conflicts. The dis
ltinguishing result of these methods is
that the communities In question are
rot kept in a continual turmoil over
politics.
How different are the conditions in
Kansas. Here the political pot is con-
annually kept boiling to the point where
lit Stops over its sides. Nominating con-
INVENTIONS for state offices We're held here
in days past in the early spring, with
election day not coming around until
months away in the late fall There is
a disposition 20 hold the succeeding pri-
imaries at about the same date. Then
for months prior to the nominating
Iperiods the candidates for office have
ltrotted themselves out in the field and
are dancing around IN all of their many
and varied glories. For some time now
I'm each congressional district campaign
ihaEe been on which can not possibly be
determined for more than a whole year
yet. There is even a disposition to turn
Igubernatoriai candidates loose, although
1.-THE next state election is more than a
year away. Candidates are also pruning
themselves for United States senatorial
ltogas notwithstanding the fact that one
. of them will not be ready for a new
! head until three and one-half years
lhave elapsed and the other one will not
be ripe for plucking for five aud one
half years. The result of this pre-
matureness is that most Of the candi-
dates for office have really no issues to
Island on for the simple reason that they
lget out in the field before the men they
would succeed have had reasonable
, opportunity to show whether or not the
! administrations Of their offices are to be
successes or failures. Naturally. with
, out having much. if anything in the way
, of issues to talk about. they talk about
leach other. because they must keep be-
ifore the people in some way. Mud
{ Singing follows and personal enmities
are engendered for which there is nc
I good reason.
al It's about time that the Kansas poll
ticians stopped playing their game al
!, 1.-THE time. The people are long since
tired of an incessant political turmoil
1 IThey would enjoy few months each
year when they could go about theil
business without being bothered and
!. lhuttonholed by the men who are de-
v sirous of making lucrative salaries ir
:, serving them. 1 s<sst