The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-24
is STILL ON MOVE
Wagstaf in Topeka for an Hour
Today.
Says That He Is Pleased With
Reception.
MEETINGS ARE LARGE.
Everywhere Is Given a Cordial
Greeting.
People OfState Are Enthusiastic
for Taft.

for the gubernatorial nomination. ar
rived in Topeka at 10 o'clock
and LEFT at 11:5O for Ellsworth
over the Union Pacific He had spent
Sunday at his home in Independence
after a whirlwind campaign of ten days
in Is western counties of the state.
While in the city he spent
a busy two hours with his campaign
managers and friends.
Mr.. Wagstaff says he is feeling fine.
The strenuous work of the campaign
seems to agree with him. The Wag-
staff smile is as fresh and engaging as
the day he announced his candidacy.
The Wagstaff voice is still hearty and
conf let and the Wagstaff handshake
is a thing to conjure with when it
comes to getting votes. In an inter
view given at the Union Pacific station
while waiting for his train just before
dinner, Mr.. Wagstaff talked about his
western trip, his reception at the big
and little towns, his prospects, etc. His
manner and the tones of his voice and
the look of his face while talking go as
far as his words to convince the hearer
that he had a satisfactory reception in
the west. His heart is in the game and
his soul is full of confidence. 1t shows
in his eyes when he talks. He is a real
live wire of enthusiasm, this little man
LHG DIG 1HlTQ he I'M
presses one with his magnetism. The
warmth of his reception in Ford and
Finney and Hamilton counties still
fingers with him and radiates out from
him when he talks of his delightful ex-
pNriences of the past ten days.
IL had the finest time of my life on
that trip" he said. 1T was so far
ahead of anything L had expected. l
tell you it warmed my heart to see the
boys come down to the depot with a
warm and hearty greeting that could
not be mistaken. And after my
speeches they would crowd up to the
platform and nearly mob me. It's a
great old state, is Kansas, and that
western country is a delight for tired
eyes. You cannot travel over that
country without becoming impressed
with it's beauty, it's vastness and the
boundless prospects of it's future.
Where did have my best meeting
Really, 1 cannot tell you. 1 thought
would hold the record. but that was be-
fore reached Stafford, or st. John, or
Syracuse, or Garden City. Whether I
win or not, 1 will never forget the great
reception the boys gave me at all these
places. Then at the little stations along
the way, just whistling stations, and
there would be a score or more Of
voters down to the depot to meet me.
We had not planned to hold a meeting
at all at Medicine Lodge, but they
called one on In6 spur the moment
at 1:30 in the afternoon, and they
packed the hall, and it was one of our
best meetings.
1.-The reports sent in about the recep-
ton committees at the depot at Syr
acuse and Garden City was not cam
paign dope. Not by any means. ] was
astonished at the enthusiasm at those
places. At Garden City there was a
delegation of some 25 voters from the
railroadless counties with an invita-
through their country. They promised
me some real meetings if I would come. |
was very sorry to have to tell them
that it was impossible at this time.
Not "SIinging Mud"
''They may talk about me singing
mud at Stubs and making it a per-
Sonal campaign, but there is no grain |
of truth in these stories. I have not |
time to abuse Governor Stubs, even if |
had the inclination. The people am |
talking to want figures, and facts about |
the conduct of state affairs. No string |
of figures sounds dry to them. They |
eat up statistics and listen eagerly and |
attentively to all 1 have to say about |
revision of the taxes downward.
when I mention Taft's name it is |
always the signal for an ovation. They |
can talk about this being an insurgent |
state all they want to, but they would |
change their tune if they could have
made that trip with me through the |
west. tell you that the Kansas people |
are for Taft and his policies and they
will demonstrate their allegiance at then |
August primaries.
when you ask me for DEF ails of my
meetings 1 can only tell you that they
are alike. The people are enthusiastic |
all along the line and I have found
marked change of sentiment among
hundreds of Stubbs men in every COM
rnunity from their feelings two years
ago at this time. AT every reception
have held on depot platforms and in
halls after the meetings dozens of men
grasp my hand and tell me they were
for Stubs two years ago, but that now
they are for me and are doing every
thing they can to insure my nomina-
ton. They have had enough of Stubs, !
they say.
Says He Is Confident.
''I cannot help feeling confidence and
enthusiasm over my campaign in the
face of such splendid demonstrations
all along the line. Why my reception in
the west would wake up an Egyptian
mummy, and was pretty wide awake
when l started out And here Wag-
staff smiled that broad, happy, engag-
ing smile. different from the Stubbs
laugh in that it was noiseless, but
makes you smile with him.
They are prosperous, too. out in
western Kansas" continued Mr. Wag-
staff. II saw some of the finest wheat
fields out there I ever saw in my life.
And only at one place in the Cheyenne
valley did 1 see any poor wheat that
had been hurt by the winter weather.
AT Pratt they have a land of milk and
honey. 1 went out there for a walk
hefcre breakfast and met an automobile
man who declared that he had sold
seven machines Ina. morning AT a pic
mic in Pratt county l saw II auto loads
of farmers and their families.
My hands are calloused from shak-
ing hands with so many people They
take hold of you like they meant it.
am having a splendid time and enjoy
ing every minute of the day Tell the
boys l am going to win. 1 feel it, Just
cannot help it after that western tip"
And Mr.. Wagstaff swung aboard his
train with parting smile and hand |
shake that bespoke eloquently his feel