The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-23
WAGSTAFF AT MARION.
Young Candidate Is We'll Received
There.

Marion, June 23.-Tom Wagstaf
addressed two meetings in Marion
county yesterday, one in the court
house here at o'clock in the after
noon and the other at Hillsboro in the
evening. Both were successful meet
ings, but owing to the fact that Mr..
Wagstaff's voice is still bothering him
considerably. he did not attempt to
extend himself in either speech. His
audiences at both places were atten-
tive, displaying great interest in the
discussion of the tax question, increase
of million and half dollars in the
state expenditures and the extrava-
gance of the Stubs administration.
In his speech Mr.. Wagstaff pointed
out as an illustration of the manner in
which the Stubbs administration has
been spending the peoples money the
fact that ]. N. Dolley, state bank com
missioner and Governor Stubs faith
full political Friday. has drawn $50
from the state treasury each month
since last July with which to pay his
postage bills, or total of $1,000 in
ten months. For the preceding ten
months under the Hoch administra-
ton the bank commissioner depart
ment used only 1915 to pay its postage
b1llS. Mr.. Wagstaff stated that this
great increase in expenditures for one
item in one department was due to one
of two things. Either the state is pay
ing postage on the political cores
pondence Mr.. Dolley carries on for his
chief. or DoIley is not using $3.50 a
month to buy postage stamps as he
has sworn, but is instead paying
clerks salary out of his postage ac-
count, the bank commissioner having
employed in his office an extra clerk
for whose employment the legislature
made no provision.
There is no onacfioY Int hoe
been a big change in political senti-
ment in Marion county since the pri-
mary election in 1908, when Stubs
won over Leland by a majority of 8S7.
Even Governor Stubs friends locally
concede that he will not carry the
county by more than half his 1908
majority. In fact, they hardly hope
that he will do that Well and the more
enthusiastic of Wagstaff's friends here
are expecting that they VIII be able to
snow a majority in Marion county for
the Montgomery county candidate.
The great increase in state taxes has
proven very unpopular with the Ger
man farmers of the county and they
are supporting Wagstaff as a result
Tom WagStaff has met with great
encouragement this week in two coun-
ties that have previously been almost
unanimously for Stubs Rice and Nc
Pherson. He visited Sterling and
Lyons in Rice county on Monday. but
OWllS u the OF MS voice,
no meetings were arranged for at
either place. At Sterling he was sur
prised at pledges of support that came
to him from unexpected sources but il
was at Lyons that the biggest change
was found. Two years ago at the pri-
mary election Leland received only
27S votes in Rice county A canvass
of the situation at Lyons shows that
Wagstaff will this year exceed Leland's
vote for the entire county in Lyons and
in two or three adjacent townships
Wagstaff has also made gains at Ster-
ling and in the surrounding townships,
and there is no doubt but that in the
county Wagstaff will receive rs PET
cent more votes than did Leland
The situation is much the same in
Mcpherson county, which Stubs car
ried over Leland by 1,O26 The tax
the farming population of Mcpherson
county. For instance, in one township
where there are &c Republican votes,
Stubs two years ago received every
one at the primary. This year there
are 20 Republicans in that township
who are supporting Wagstaff Two
years ago the Stubs supporters had a
very strong organization in Mcpherson
county. An organized fight was made
for Stubs and no efforts were made
in Lelands behalf This year the
Stubs forces are disorganized The
leaders of two years ago are mostly
disaffected and nothing in particular is
being done in Mcpherson county to
promote the governors candidacy for
denomination Wagstaff's supporters
are active, though, and are making an
effective campaign. Taken all in all.
the situation in Rice and Mcpherson
counties this year appears to be such
that Governor Stubs can hardly hone
to get as large majority in the two
counties as he got in either one of
them in 1908.