Barbour County index., 1910-05-04
Harris Wanted Hodges
From The olathe Register.

The terrific hammering which the
democratic press Of the state has been
giving Bill Ryan is altogether out Of pro-
portion to Bills Importance. However.
it may deter the four or FIVE fellows. who
were into the deal and were to follow
Ryan, from getting their feet wet.
The attempt Of the Stubbs outfit to
sow broadcast the idea that Stubs
represents the Harris idea In Kansas for
the purpose Of influencing democrats to
vote for Stubbs this fall was clever po-
litical trick. But if one will reflect mo-
ment it shows the extremity to which
Stubbs is driven. Stubbs realizes that
in order to win he must get thousands Of
democratic votes. To help him get them,
Mr.. Stubs makes deal with Ryan,
the chairman Of the Harris co nmittee. to
declare for Stubbs, and Ryan gives out
the desired interview on schedule time
as per arrangement made in Topeka, the
evident drift Of which was to convey to
democrats the idea that Stubs is anoth-
Harris. and that if alive Senator Harris,
himself, would probably be for Stubbs.
Fortunately, William A. Harris, him
self, repudiated that idea, and almost the
last political activity Of the great Kansan
was to send messenger to George II.
Hodges to urge him to be a candidate
for governor on the democratic ticket
against Stubbs, and to pledge Mr. Hodg-
es his earnest support. That request and
pledge came from one in whose great
heart the welfare Of the people Of Kansas
was the near and dear, man above the
cihcanery Of politics, and whose judgment
ought to settle with every democrat the
matter Of making choice between Hodg-
es and Stubbs.
The messenger was Hon. w. A. Nor.
gan, the distinguished democrat, who
for several years has represented Hodge
man county in the legislature Of this state.
The editor Of this paper met and talked
with him when he came to Olathe and
knew Of the message he brought, and,
when the Ryan interview appeared,
wrote to MIR. Morgan for a statement.
The reply is as follows:
Jetmore, Kansas, March 3, 10.
Olathe Register. Olathe, Kansas.
Gentlemen
have read the article of Mr.. w. H.
Ryan in the Kansas City Star giving his
reasons for supporting Governor Stubbs
for reelection in the coming campaign.
MIR. Ryan tries to convey the impression
that Gov. Stubbs represents the things
that Col. Harris stood for in his cam
paign Of 1906, and that Col. Harris
would have supported Gov. Stubbs for
reelection this year in preference to any
democrat.
desire to say that | first met Gel.
Harris at the fairs in the fall Of 1880
when | was showing Hereford cattle
and he was showing Shorthorn cattle. |
have known him well ever since.
During the Royal Stock Show in Kan
sas City. Mo-, in October 1909, had
long talk with Col. Harris on the pros
poets Of the democratic party for the
coming campaign, and he expressed him.
self very concisely. and plainly in favor
OF the democrats putting up a straight
ticket Of good clean men, who represent
ed the reforms that our party stood for,
and making the campaign on that issue.
He said Senator George H. Hodges
was the best man to make the race
against Stubbs. told him would like
to see Senator Hodges and he insisted
that should go to Mr.. Hodges's home
and have a talk with him, and he instruct
ed me to tell him he considered that he
was the best and strongest man we had
in the party to make the race against
Gov. Stubs, and if he would consent to
do so that he would support him in the
campaign.
went to see Senator Hodges and
delivered Col. Harriss message to him,
and had quite talk over the situation
with him.
Yours very truly.
w. A. Morgan.
Then for the first time Senator Hodges
wavered in his determination not to be a
candidate and yielded to the pressure
which was also being brought to bear
from other sources, and today he is a
candidate largely because Of the request
made by the great leader Of kansa.
democracy revered by an Kansas. as the
incorrupdble champion Of the people,
and the strong armed enemy Of graft, who
never Ainched in the battle for public de-
cency and honesty. The message which
he sent to Senator Hodges, and now
made public. becomes as well a message
to Kansas democrats, and it says to
them: Choose George H. Hodges ol
Olathe as your candidate and support
and vote for him." In the face Of thai
message will any decent democrat find
reason IN his heart for preferrins Stubb: