The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-10
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Square Dealers Still Searching
for Attorney General Timber.
The Higgins Suggestion Has
Been Dropped.
CAUSE OF BREACH.
Said to Be DawsOn's Attitude
at Kansas Day Club.
Effort Still Being Made to Find
Candidate.

While all the square deal leaders
hasten to emphatically deny the story
OF the plan to bring out William Hug
gins for attorney general against John
Dawson, yet it is a fact, nevertheless.
that these leaders have been figuring
on some candidate for that place and
Hugg1ns was considered at one time.
They dropped Higgins like a hot shot
when they found that he was the
Santa Fe attorney at Emporia The
report of the Higgins candidacy had
reached John Dawson several days ago
and while on his way to Wichita this
week to the meeting of the editors
John asked Higgins about the matter.
The latter denied the allegation.
William Allen White denies it, too,
and SO does Governor Stubs and At
torney General Jackson. But none of
these distinguished gentlemen go so far
as to declare that there is no rupture
between the governor and Mr.. Dawson.
The origin of this trouble is not known
Tor certain, but 1t is reported that the
governor did not like the idea of Daw-
son having friends in both factions of
the party. His excellency thought that
John was little lukewarm on the day
OF the Kansas Day battle and defeat.
Jackson acted the part of Marshal Ney
at this Waterloo, and the governor
thought that John should have played
the part Of Cambronne- But John. like
Butcher, took no part in the battle.
The trouble between Dawson and
George Medley had nothing to do with
the rupture between John and the gov
ernor- The governor is not taking sides
in this squabble, but will let the dis
putants fight it out
While 1t may be true that the Hug
gins candidacy for attorney general
against Dawson has been dropped, yet
it is a fact that square deal leaders
have not yet abandoned the plan of
bringing out a candidate against Daw-
son. The plan may fail from lack OF
available material to successfully cope
with. the Scotchman, but such a plan
has been considered. Again it may be
that the governor and John Dawson
may settle their differences and smoke
the pipe of peace as of yore. This last
alternative would be the best for all
parties concerned. Carr Taylor of
Hutchinson has been suggested.
j. G. Ruppentha1 of Russell county,
judge of the Twenty-third judicial dis
trict, has announced his candidacy for
reelection. Judge Ruppenthal is q
Democrat, but was elected four years
ago to his present office He has made
a fine record and will make a strong
race On that foundation. In making
his announcement the judge speaks Of
the relation between partisan politics
and the courts as follows:
1.-The judgeshj- is an Office which the
best minds in all ages have sought to
remove from party strife. But the con-
ditions detailed. force me, in a way, to
become a partisan candidate. On al
most every important matter of nation
al, state or local concern, 1 have had
strong convictions since boyhood- 1t
would be both duty and pleasure to
voice these with earneStneSS were I
candidate for legislative or high execu-
tive place. But an honest man must
perform the duties of judge wholly with
regard to what the law Is. In this he
must not in the least consider what he
would like the law to be. Abstract JUS
tice, apart from established law in
70 cf to- ~olx
in his power to administer. Hence the
work and success of a judge can never
properly depend on any political creed
or party afhliation. but must rest rather
upon his integrity. his industry and his
ability. No ruling or judgment of mine
among the thousands made since Janu-
airy, 1907, would have been made diff
ferent had been Republican or 9TH
er than a Democrat politically"
The resolution at Wichita endorsing
President Taft and his administration
was adopted unanimously by the Kan
sas Republican Editorial association
which was formed upon a call announc-
ed at the regular meeting of the Kan
sas Editorial association. which being
nonpartisan body composed of newSpa-
per men of all political parties. could
not takeup such resolution. About so daily
and weekly newspaper men were repre-
scented at this first meeting of the Re-
publican editors. The officers elected for
the new organization were: John s. Gill
more, of the Fredonia Citizen, presi-
dent, and William Townsley of the
Great Bend Tribune. secretary and
treasurer. The vice presidents were
elected one from each congressional dis
trict as follows: First district, Charles
Brown, Horton; Second district, w. D.
Gleason, Paola: Third district, Clyde
Knox, Sedan. Fourth district, Homer
Hoch, Marion: Fifth district. Charles
Harger, Abilene: Sixth district, b p.
Walker. Osborne; Seventh district,
Clark Conkling, Lyons: Eighth district,