Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-07-28
Ex.Gov. HoCH TELLS OF
THE PRIMARY WORKINGS

because / believe 1t is in serious dam
ger and is being slaughtered in the
house of alleged friends.
No one, think can fairly challenge
nv devotion to the primary principle.
have always been consistent and
nersistent advocate of 1t, because ]
belIeye It is absolutely right. ] have
advocated 1t for years in my news
naper. I personally put 1t in the plaN-
form which the state convention ad-
onted that first nominated me for
Governor in 1905. I vigorously al-
vocated It on the stump In all my
camnaigns; l recommended 1t
strongly in all my messages to the
legislature, and when the two regu-
lar sessions of that body failed to en-
act a primary election law called a
snecial session Of the legislature and
was finally gratifled by the redemp-
tion Of this, the last unredeemeo
nledge l had made the people. Ana
cannot now permit a policy with
which I have been SO long and 50
intimately identified to be 1eapordiz-
ed without protest.
The primary system in this state
roceived severe shock two years ago
when two very rich men were candi-
dates for governor, each of whom
snent more money than any man In
ordinary circumstances can afford 70
snend for the honor, and neither OF
whom. It can be said without person
a, offense to either, was the choice
~ the Republicans of the state. II
was the negative and not a positive
issue as every intelligent Republican
Lrows in which the desire to Dea'
the other fellow dominated botn rae
lions.
The primary is now endangered nS
,wo chief characteristics Of the cam
paign.
First It is rapidly filtering through
the minds of the people that the sea-
~ political power has merely peer
transferred by the primary from tn'
caucus and convention to the news
naner sanctum, and that the propa
bilit,es of unfairness and Of corrup
t,on are as great in the one as IN TN
other A syndicate Of powerlu
newspapers (and he who tninK
rewsnapers are not powerful has no
been ND against them) are now Try
inc to run the politics of the state
ond everybody knows they are no
doinp Il fairly. The Topeka Capita
for instance, (and for the people wn
Il make 1t, have only the kindiiea
"a feael,ngs) maybe cited as an Illus
10 tration and is cited because 1t Is Pei
hans the least offender, and DecauS
no one expects the others to be ran
Things favorable to Mr.. Wagstarr al
N near in obscure corners under Tn
~ heading advertisement" wnile VI
10 headlines on every page neraiu
lg magnified Importance every htti
o. thing favorable to Mr.. stupDs' Dem,
cratic Dave Leahy gets at top OF co
umn on front page Of William Ale
Whites editorials precede appear
10 auce in his own paper. What Ia
~ chances has any man before the pei
y nla when the sources Of their mlol
q nation. the great newspapers Dan
u minimize his interests and magnll
IN his opponents2 1t is all right LOT N
n NJ A. Low, Of the Rock Island
We support Mr.. Stubs, but all wrong Il
90 Mr. w. R. Smith Of the Santa Fe'
nj support Mr.. wagstaff. 1t Is avn
for Mort Albaugh to support M
Wagstaff, but 1t is Hello, Cy," VINE
Mr. Leland NETS Mr.. stubbs at tn
and comes out strong" for him. Al
ns 80 on down the line of daily dop
n Now, / want to ask the Republican
We Of Kansas, is this fine young mt
~ from independence, whose honesty
eir ability are not Questioned whose
me cord as county attorney is an ass
n.y. of the party and the state, and VINO
on achievements called forth hishe
Die ecomiums from the Kansas City 81
eir and from his present opponent a
no. from the Capital, is Tom Wassf'
icy getting a Square Deal' And Is !
ere primary election law getting a u
'H test?
ers Secondly, If the primary princiI
not is to live 1t must be protected irt
the the practical periurers who part
GIT pate in a primary OF party to Will
an they never belonged. And yet.
aul face of the law which makes 1t
II crime to do this thing we have the
Ally palIing spectacle every day OF
me friends Of Mr.. Stubs boldly clai
ion ,n. that nemoerats are going to "