The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-21
WILLIAM A. HARRIS.

In the sudden passing away of Will
liam A. Harris not only does Kansas
lose one of her ablest citizens. but the
same is also true of the nation. AL
though of quiet mien, unassuming.
unostentatious to a degree, his was
personality of extreme force that ac-
complished things in whatever field
of activity his labors or his duties car
ried him. No sacrifice was too great
for him to make to serve friend, or
to satisfy his ideas of honesty and in
tegrity, and these were of the highest.
Perhaps the best illustration of this
characteristic is to be found in his
conduct during the closing days of his
gubernatorial campaign in this state
! three years ago, when he was the
Democratic candidate against the then
Governor Hoch, who was running on
the Republican ticket for reelection.
The rigid enforcement of the prohib-
| tory law was one of the paramount
issues of that campaign. There was
every indication that the vote was to
be close one. Opposition to prohibit
| ton principles and a winking of the
| eye at violations of the prohibitory
statute had almost been a tenet in the
faith of the Democrats of Kansas.
But when Senator Harris took the
stump he came out emphatically for
the enforcement of all the laws on
the statute books. At first his speeches
along this line were of a general
character. AS the campaign neared
/ it's end Senator Harris was informed
| by jealous friends in the Democratic
camp that if he would go lightly on his
law enforcement propaganda, and es-
| pecially in his speechmaking in the
northern and eastern counties of the
state where prohibition laws were
| looked upon with scant respect and in
the light of a menace to prosperity. his
chances for victory would be almost
certain. There was every evidence that
this was the exact truth and probably
no one realized 1t better than did Mr..
| Harris.
But what did he do? Did he make
the slightest effort to change his cam
paign doctrine. to stultify himself for
the sake of votes and the probable gov
ernorship of Kansas, an honor that
many a man would be glad to get? No
indeed. He girded up his IONS little
| tighter, marched into the very heart
of the anti-prohibition country and in
words that could not be misconstrued,
he announced that if he were elected
governor he would insist on the enforce
ment of all of the laws on the Kansas
statute books, including the prohibition
measure, with fear and favor to none
Needless to state the anti-prohibition
| communities rolled up big majorities
against him. Men competent to ana
! lyze such a situation have been free to
confess that this action of Mr.. Harris
cost him the governorship Of Kansas.
But a defeat of this sort was really a
victory for the man who suffered it,
| for he came out of the contest i'm
measurably stronger with the people of
| the entire state. He had resisted a
| temptation that almost any other man
would have succumbed to under the cir
cumstances. Such a man was William
| A. Harris. There have not been nor
| will there be many like him. And since
that memorable campaign of his the
Democrats Of Kansas. including the
leaders of the old school who used to
think differently on the subject, have
| waged their campaigns for the enforce
ment of tine prohibitory law with quite
as much zest as have the Republic
cans.
i Senator Harris measured up to the
standards of true craftsmanship. AS
a senator from Kansas he commanded
the respect of his colleagues and the
president of the United States. and the
fact that he was elected as Popu-
list and stood nearly alone on the floor
of the senate from a political stand
point did not prevent that consideration
which is commanded only by men of
strong intellectS and conscientious mo-
! tives. He saved the government Is
. millions of dollars in the settlement of
i. the Union Pacific indebtedness. a fact
which was publicly recognized by the
late President Mckinley. He was an
earnest advocate of the Panama canal
and was a pioneer in the movement
, fluence was strong enough to defeat
, it. Kansas has reason to be proud of
Col. Harris senatorial service.
There will be sincere mourning to-
: day among all men. the state and
country over who either knew or knew
of Senator Harris. That he should be
taken away at a time when his ripe
/, and mature judgment opened up a
y vista for larger accomplishments fol-
I himself and the people whom he was
' willing to give of his best whenever
. the demand was made is little less
: than a calamity. He was an honest
! upright man. of wonderful capabilities
< faithful and undertaking to his friends
s and to his principles, a loyal and sin.
cere citizen, a genuine Christian gen
! tleman. OF any man. no more can bt
( said.