The Washington herald., 1910-09-26
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.

By WILLIS j. ABBOT.
Special 10 The Washington Herald
Topeka. Kans.. Sept 25.-The state OF
Kansas is just as political IN these days
as ii was in the gala days OF Populism.
There is as much talk about radicalism
and progressive Republieanism as there
was at that time about the vital neces-
sity of keeping in the middle of the
road" but whereas In 1894 and 1896 the
Republican party was emphatically on
the run. afraid for lis ultimate existence.
ii is to-day confident, even though 10
some extent disorganized
That this situation would not exist had
II not been for the vigOr and courage
with which a small group of radical Re
publicans calling themselves insurgents,
pressed the radical cause in the last Con-
gress is unquestionably true. The chair
man Of the Republican state committee.
and also Gov. Stubbs, admitted as much
10 me. True. both Of them are opponents
Of progressiveism, but even among the
old time standpatters | do not find all
those evidences Of revolt against the new
regime on which the Democrats have
been so confidently relying
Chairman Doley, OF the Republican
State committee, announces. Of course,
that the State Will be carried by the
Republicans by more than its normal
majority. Every chairman says that, so
1t was not surprising for me 10 hnd
half an hour later that Chairman Martin,
q the Democratic State committee. was
equally positive that IL would be carried
by his party by a majority Of 5000 As
a matter Of fact, the outcome will hinge
upon the one question as 20 whether
more Democrats will vote the Republican
ticket. because Of the domination OF that
party by the progressive elements. than
there VIII be Republicans who vote the
Democratic ticket because Of resentment
at the setting aside OF the old time party
leaders
Democratic Drift I'm Topeka.
I tested this proposition TO some ex-
tent by talking with a number OF bust
ness men on the main street OF Topeka.
The result was somewhat OF a surprise.
While there IS not the degree Of resent
ment against the abandonment OF the
longtime party idols IN Kansas that
some OF the Democratic leaders have
been asserting, there Is, nevertheless, APP
parent a drift toward the Democratic
party which mirrors 20 some extent that
seen in the East. For once the Demo-
cratic party seems 70 be regarded among
/ business men here. not merely the bank
ers and fnanCiers, but the ordinary re-
tailers in the city, as the business mems
party. Furthermore, this opinion has
/ been strengthened nightly by the action
Of the Democratic voters in the pri-
maries in nominating a ticket composed
( pre-eminently OF men OF financial and
business standing.
/ At the Office OF the Democratic chair
man I was shown letters from county
! chairmen throughout the State declaring
/ that there was no longer observable
much tendency on the part Of Democratic
voters 10 drift into the Republican ranks
/ on account OF the insurgent triumph. In
the State capitol, tenanted. OF course. by
\ Republicans, I gathered from several Of
| icials the admission. that. while this drift
was not as pronounced as il was few
weeks ago they still believe that it will
/ be sufficient 20 overcome any Republican
| disaffecton.
StubbS on Conservation.
Gov. Stubbs. VINO leads the Republican
ticket is a man OF force and conviction.
! He is a most enthusiastic admirer Of
Roosevelt. and thinks that the latter's
recent visit TO the State has so cemented
the party that there can be no danger
| OF disaster 70 1t In the coming campaign.
| An enthusiastic cOnseTvatiOnist. the gov
ernor made rather a name for himself
at St Paul during the recent convention
/ by expressing himself in behalf OF that
cause in terms more vigorous than par
/ liamentary. In fact, he was reported as
nearly coming 10 blows with the chief
| executive of a Northwestern State.
! ! asked him what Kansas had 10 con-
| serve. Nothing" he replied. I'VE have
/ no forests, our coal Is all in private
| hands, but we are interested tremendously
| In the Improvement and development OF
| the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. and
we hold that work OF that sort is 10
a certain degree proper 10 rans with the
! conservation policy. I believe that the
Alaska coal lands, in which Kansas has
an interest equally with all other States
/ in the Union, should be saved for all
/ OF our people and their descendants.
believe that no man has done more TO
| accomplish this end than Clifford Pin
/ chot, unless II be Theodore Roosevelt
/ Pinchot, among our people, is regarded
as the practical man; Roosevelt as the
apostle who viii put through the political
work necessary TO accomplish the ends
| of conservation.
| Over at the Democratic headquarters
they are not talking national issues
Their campaign for control Of the State
will be waged on the issue Of economy,
/ charging that Go = Stubs has already
! increased the expenditures, and there
/ fore the tax levy by ever 100000, and
! that his pet project of a public utility
board, on which he is making his cam
paign. will add another million should
/ il be enacted.
| But Kansas is nowadays a Republican
/ State. and while I can see that Mr.
Henderson Martin. OF Marion, Demo-
cratic chairman, IS prosecuting a Wig
| orous campaign. it seems TO me the part
of only ordinary political common sense
10 say that the state will probably go
4 Republican by q heavily reduced ma
| jority in November
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