The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-13
Ex-GOv. Hoch and His Verdict
on Stubs and Wagstaff.
Once Called Present Governor
Most Unself1sh Man.
DENTON UNDERWATER
Secretary Of State Finds Unex.
pected Troubles.
Amendment to Primary Law
Makes Work.

In March. 1910 Governor Hoch said:
II love Tom WaGstaff.''
In March, 1905 Governor Hoch said:
LAS to Stubs. I want to say he is the
: n ost upself1sh man ever knew in pol
| tiles. He has never asked me for a
| pe rsonal favor. He has declined ali az
Pojntments. He has treated me always
with uniform courtesy and kindness. l
| hold him in high esteem. I appreciate
| him and like him. He has never tried
| to dictate or boss me. 1 consider him
one of the real big men of Kansas"
Governor Hoch had been governor
three months when he handed Stubs
the bouquet above quoted. Most of HRS
appointments, Including the Royce pat
ent for the bank commissioners job
had been made. He liked Stubs, he
said, for making him governor. and
then not asking for any favor. Stubs
had opposed the Royce appointment, 1t
is true, but ne had not proposed any
one else for the place. He had merely
opposed Royce on grounds of incom-
potency.
But now Hoch loves Tom Wagstaff.
Wagstaff never did anything for Hoch.
The question is. would Hoch love Wag-
staff so much If Tom had any one else
than Stubs as an opponent for COVER
nor. Stubs. 1t seems. is placed in the
unfortunate position of having made
an unknown man famous in order that
that man might be able to give aid and
comfort to Stubs enemies a few years
later.
Secretary of State Denton does not
have to go far to find his troubles these
days. The amendments to the primary
law made by the last legislature re
ouire that all the candidates on the
state ticket be given an equal chance
on the ballot without regard to the first
letter i'll their last name. In other
words the alphabet is to be ignored in
the make up of the primary ballots next
August. And this new job in classical
ton Is going 20 be big job
In the past. the candidate whose last
name began with any one of the first
few letters of the alphabet had the adj
vantage of appearing first in the list
of candidates. The thoughtless or I'M
informed voter would be naturally in
cEned to vote for the first name in the
list. Anyway the last name in the list,
If the list was a long one, was at
distinct disadvantage. w did not have
an equal chance with A or B.
The amendment to the law requires
that the secretary of state divide the
state up into as many districts as there
are candidates for a certain office. Take
the case of governor. There are three
candidates. The state is to be divided |
into three districts by counties, each |
district to contain as nearly as prac- |
teal, an equal number of votes, based |
on the returns for secretary of state at |
the last primary. In one of these dis |
tricts Stubs name would appear first |
on all the ballots, James second and |
Wagstaff third. In another district |
Wagstaff's name would appear first. |
Stubs second and James third. In an !
other district James would lead, Wag- |
staff come second and Stubs third.
This gives an even chance to every
one But take the case of the candi
dates for railroad commissioner, with
three Offices to fill. and eight or ten
candidates. The state must be divided |
and subdivided into many districts.
The proper alignment of all these can
didates in the various districts will be |
one big job with only a short time In
which to do the work.
A separate division of districts, of |
course, must be made for each state
office. The 105 counties of the state
and the 1877, 900 votes must be divided |
with the miraculous promptness and
accuracy that marked the division of
the loaves and fishes in Palestine sew
eral years ago. Nomination petitions
may be filed as late as June %. They
are passed upon by the election board
June 81 and must be classified and sent
out not later than July 2. Quick work
ahead for Henry E. Morrison, chief |
clerk, in the secretary's office, who has