The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-05
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
j. Nj. Nation as GubernatOrial
Possibility.
State Auditor Strongest Timber
Available.
HE IS A REGULAR
But Made Good Record as Pro-
gressive Official.
Democrats Issue Call for Big
Meeting Here Feb. %.

With all the talk of a candidate to
oppose Governor Stubbs at the August
primary, the strongest timber in the
state has been overlooked. James NJ
Nation of Erie, Neosho county, is
the man. Mr. Nation is now serv-
ing his second term as state audi
tor and positively declined to run for
a third term. He has entered a strong
law firm at Erie and has announced his
intention of following that profession in
his home town. But 1t is believed by
Mr.. Nations friends that he could be
induced to make the race against Gov
ernOr Stubbs for the highest state
honor.
Mr.. Nation might be called a machine
man, or regular in his party, but he
is not of the rabid type. He has made
a splendid record as state auditor.
When a bill for supplies or expenses
Tasses his inspection and has his o. *.
placed on its margin, that bill may be
said to be just debt owed by the
state. 1t was Mr.. Nation who cut down
the price of dinners for state officials
while travelling on the states business
TO so cents. He abolished the practice
of paying for Pullman palace car SER
vice for short day trips. And now he
has ordained that all officials and ap-
pointees travelling at the states ex-
pense shall not be allowed more than
81 per day for expenses.
1t is the same with all accounts.
Mr.. Nation is threatened with a law
suit about once month on account of
big and little bills that he turns down
because he is not satisfied with the
price charged for the service or mater
ial
So when it comes to talk of ''bus-
ness administration" the state audi
tors office is a fair sample of that pro-
duct in Kansas. Mr.. Nation is of the
gubernatorial caliber. All the anti
Stubbs sentiment in the state could
unite on him. He might not be able to
win the prize, but he could come nearer
the mark than any one mentioned in
connection with the place up to this
time.
Governor Stubs wants opposition in
order that the fight within the party
may run its course at the primary and
not simmer along until the November
election. The choice of the majority IN
August should be the choice of all Re
pubIicans in November. Here is chance
to enter a real candidate in the race
against the governor. Some one who
would give the regulars a run for their
money. Some one who If nominated
could be elected. How about Jim Ma
tion?
The Democrats have hopes of elect
ing a part if not all their state ticket
next fall and already the leaders are
laying plans to avoid internal dissen-
sions at the big banquet to be held in
Topeka Feb. % They enjoyed the ac-
counts of the Kansas Day rumpus
among the Republicans. but they do
not want anything of the kind to hap
pen on Washington's birthday. The
candidate for governor has been agreed
upon in the person of Senator Hodges
of Olathe. Some of the conservatives
are grumbling about this selection, but
the progressiveS will undertake to
placate them by offering other places
on the ticket.
Secretary W. H. L. Pepperen of
Concordia has sent out the call for the
big meeting of the 22d. The state
central committee will meet in the
parlors of the Throop hotel on the
evening of the 21st to select a national
committeeman to fill the place left va
cant by the removal of John H. At
wood to Missouri Here is a chance
for a row and the Democrats propose
to have it over with before the day OF
the banquet. Continuing his call for a
gathering of the hosts the secretary
"There will be little conference OF
the Democrats who are in Topeka al
the par1ors OF the Throop hotel at II
o'clock a. m Tuesday, February 22
The conference will be purely informal
and for the good of the order which
really becomes necessary owing to the
primary law row existing in this state
All Democrats are invited, and 1 hope
your county will be we'll represented
and would suggest that you take spe-
cial pains in trying to let the Demo-
Gratis who intend attending the BAN
quet know of this conference so that
they will try and be on time. and assist
us with any suggestions they might
have which will be of benefit to the
success of the ticket next fall and the
Democratic party in general
NJ F. Amrine, representative from
Morris county and editor of the Coun-
Gil Grove Guard, was in attendance al
the Kansas Day meeting last Satur-
day Mr.. Amrine is an executive clerk
in the governors Office and a stalwart
among the square dealers. He tried in
vain to stem the tide last Saturday
The next day he sat down and wrote
a three-column story about the meet
ing for his Council Grove paper. Am
rine's rabid fighting proclivities are
about evenly balanced by his philo.
sophical reflections. and he wound uI
his article with the following witty
observation:
And every Simon-pure Cannon Re-
publican who ordered hamburg steak
for supper that night declared the
sight of it reminded him of a certain
red-headed Quaker governor