The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-17
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Speculation Regarding the First
Fight Under Primary Law.
Contest for All State Offices
Except Governor.
THOSE TALKED OF.
Not Too Early for Talk of Who
Will Save State.
All Congressman But Two Like
Iv fO Have 0nn0SitiOn.
THOSE TALKED OF.

While the next state campaign is
year ahead of the present procession
of office seekers, yet there is already
much speculation as to who will win
in the first free for all primary fight
In last years primary there was only
one contest-for the office of governor
all the other state officials being
given a second term by courtesy of
custom with but slight opposition
Next year all the state Office plums
excepting that of governor will be
hanging on the tree for the boldest,
strongest hand to pick and no single
man or set of men will be on hand
to place a ladder against the tree for
some candidate who is right
The old days when a few politicians
gathered in a small room and decided
months in advance on the state ticket
and then called upon the county
convention city in a crate labeled
delegates for Mr.. Right-as-a-Fox."
have passed away in Kansas and will
never return again.
The man now standing the best
chance to get on the state ticket is
the fellow with the widest acquaint-
ance over the state, some good
speaker or writer, a man noted above
his fellows for his talents, his capacity
for hard work or some master stroke
III pal ~ COuIltll VI dS-
sembly. These advantages will count
in the primary race and give their
possessor a running start. He may
lose however, through conduct of an
inferior campaign, but he must be
reckoned with at the start. For in
stance. the man with the good rec
ord as deputy in the Office in which
he is trying to succeed his chief, or
the man who made good in the
legislature or at the head of some
state association. can count these
things as worth thousands of votes in
primary election where they would
likely have been worth nothing to
him under the old convention plan
There will likely be whole raft of
candidates before the next state pri-
mary and most of them will get few
votes outside their own counties or
districts The little fellows like
Zacchias. will have to climb a tree to
be seen by the multitude, while there
will be many Nicodemus asking
what he shall do to be saved. And
they will have to give their wealth to
the poor in order to gain recognition
The men high in the councils of
the administration declare that there
will be no slate prepared in advance
for the next state ticket. There is to
be no combination for or against any
one, say the chief captains, unless
some very objectional parsonage
looms to the front.
A square deal slate means a weak
ened party at the fall election. So
the rabid partisan will run under a
handicap. If the big guns in the square
deal keep hands off in the selection of
the state ticket it will further
strengthen the sentiment for the pri-
mary plan and weaken party faction
In the same proportion. Each man
standing on his own bottom to win
or lose on a test of strength is the
ideal nomination plan.
But people will talk beforehand
and this talk, like straws. serves to
show the direction of the wind at this
time. 1t may veer in a little while,
but it blows this way now
Two Justices to Elect.
There are Two places to fill next
year on the supreme bench. Justices
Porter and Graves are the ones who
must appear before the people for en-
dorsement. There is no talk at this
time for opposition, for either of
them. Both have made fine records
on the bench and the idea is to keep
politics and the supreme court as far
apart as possible. They were never fur
ther apart than right now. declare the
party leaders The effort to beat JUS
tice Smith last year with Judge West,
a strong and popular candidate. failed
of fulfllment and in the light of that
mentioned to lead a fight on the pres
ent court.
For governor Stubbs is not likely to
have any serious opposition. His ad-
miniStration so far has been a success
and he is stronger now before the
people of the state than he was a wear
ago.
Contests That Are in Sight.
The self elimination of William AL
len White from the race for lieutenant
governor still leaves two prospective
candidates for the place R. J. Hop
kins of Garden City and Attorney Cen
eral Jackson. So far more newspa-
pers over the state have declared for
Hopkins than for the knight errant of
the temperance forces. Hopkins will
make the race Wilde Jackson is still
undecided and there is little likelihood
of him entering the race. Hopkins
the Emporia editor, but he mentioned
no one else to whom he was willing to
extend that courtesy.
Charlie Sessions, the well known
newspaper man. has the field to him
self so far for secretary of state.
For state auditor w. E Davis of
Dodge City. present deputy in that Of
fee, is a lively and promising candi-
date. There may be others but they
have not bobbed up vet.
State Senator G. L. Chairman of
Great Bend, Barton county. is spoken
of as a candidate for state treasurer
Senator Chapman runs bank in
Great Bend and is we'll known in his
section of the state.
It is believed that John Dawson
secretary to the governor, will enter
the race for attorney general h1,+
John has not yet made any announce
ment of his designs against that place
John served in the attorney generaI's
office as first assistant and has long
been considered as a popular and EN-
cient campaigner by the powers that
be in his party. He would set the
grass on fire in a race for a state
office
Albert Reid Will likely make the
race again for state printer and this
time should have as good or better
chance than an1rhOdx- for fl,r