The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-01
Bourbon County Democratic
Representative for Congress.
Makes Formal Announcement of
His Candidacy.
HE WANTS A PRIMARY
Will Accept Only If He Is Pop
uIar Choice.
Scores Machine Methods of the
Republicans.

-
leaders in the legislature for the past
ten years. has entered the race for con-
gress in the Second district. Mr.. Davis
insists on a primary and scores the
Republican committee for adopting ma
chine tactics to force the nomination
of Mr.. Guyer-
Mr.. Davis announcement follows:
The Davis Announcement.
Bronson, Kan, Aug 81, 1911
'@To the Voters of the Second Congress
sional District:
'Inasmuch as it has been stated in
several of the newspapers of this dis
trict that I would be candidate for
the nomination as congressman to fill
the term made vacant by the sad ana
untimely death of Hon Alex G. Mitch
ell I think it is proper for me to nave
a word to say in regard to the matter
of selecting a candidate have been
solicited by friends from various parts
of the district to become candidate
and have signified my Willingness TO
make the race. if in the judgment oi
the Democrats it was determined that
I was the best man to nominate HoW~
ever. I cannot make the race -vlthcur
doing some injury to my business ana
entailine some sacrifice on my part
NV business of farming together with
raising various kinds of young stock
gets along much better with an every
day supervision, as every farmer VIII
readily understand. However, have
ests heretofore in order to serve the
people in d public capacity and am
willing to do so again if the people de-
termine they need my services. But,
haVino long stood for the right Of the
people to rule their own affairs, ana
against those political methods, which
have resulted in corrupt ring or
boss rule in the dominant party
everywhere, I now stand firmly for a
primary nomination. 1 could not ac-
4 a
.hocus pocus' primary framed up in
the interest of candidate holding an
unrenOunced nomination MADE IN VlO-
lation of the principle of the direct pcl-
mary with an entrance fee so high as
to virtually put the nomination up TO
the highest bidder. But for an honest
square deal primary to be held in the
various counties under the direction Of
the county central committee through
its representatives in the various pre-
cincts of the respective counties. The
only expense necessarily incident to
such a primary is the cost of printing
and distribution of ballots, which cost
would be merely nominal and could be
borne by the candidates without bur
den. Had the Republican committee
been sincerely for an honest primary
they would have endeavOred to have
held such a primary in cOnJunct1o'l
with the Democrats. Socialists ana
Prohibitionist parties of this district
and thus divided and lessened the ex-
pense. To say that such a primary
could not be thus held, is to say that
there are not to be found five honest,
public spirited men in every precinct
in this district who would be willing to
give their time freely in the service OF
their respective parties. To say that
the law does not provide for it IS weak
and puerile Honest men are honest
law or no law. And, I assent. without
fear of contradiction, that the great
ma jority of men are honest, and honest
and fair in politics as in other matters.
Moreover such a primary would not
ask of the voters as much volunteered
time or self-denial as would be required