The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-04
Floods State With Letters Con-
corning Candidacy.
Only One Who Has Declared
His Intentions"
MAKES HARMONYPL
Says He Is Broad Enough to Dis
regard FactiOnalism.
Wants to Know Sentiment of
Republicans ON Question.


Arthur Capper wants to be a candi-
date for the Republican nomination for
governor. His friends hope he will be
the only candidate the Republicans will
have but this is hardly probable. 1t is
well known that many of the friends
OF Senator Curtis have been trying TO
get Congressman Calderhead into the
race but thus far the Fifth district man
has refused to break into the game.
Ex-Congressman Charles T. Scott may
enter the race and c. E. Denton, ex-
secretary of state, ]. NJ. Nation, ex-
state auditor, and Major A M, Har-
vey have also been mentioned. Mr..
Capper has written hundreds of let
ters to newspaper and political and
business friends, asking them if the
sentiment in their county was such that
his candidacy would ALLEVIATE the stand
pat element in the party from support
ing him and help carry the party
to victory in the election next year.
Mr.: Capper says he does not want to
widen the breach in the party and the
letter indicates that he does not in
tend to become candidate for COVER
nor II his candidacy would endanger
the success of the party at the next
election. The letters were sent out to
get the ideas of men who should know.
He sent them to progressive and stand
pat partisans alike and asked them for
candid and frank opinions Of the situa-
tion in their counties.
The letter follows:
Dear Sir: A good many Republi-
cans from all factions of the party
have, during the past two or three
months, suggested that 1 become a
candidate for governor Many of the
newspaper boys are especially friendly
and have offered me support. 1 have
never had any political aspirations and
have never planned to be candidate
for any office.
oIo foI
endeavor to be entirely feir to all fac
tions and considerate of all Republi-
cans, no matter what their affiliations
had been. In other words, no one has
any string on me and 1 am in a posi-
ton to be absolutely independent and
think l am broad enough to be able
as governor to disregard factionalism.
If 1 become a candidate 1 would go in
to win and believe could make a
fairly good run. > sr.,--t--
'I have not made up my mind that
ought to go into this race, but L
think it is matter worthy of careful
consideration. 1t is a great honor,
even to be considered in connection
with the governorship and 1 would of
course be proud to hold the office. /
believe 1 could make good; other
wise 1 would not entertain the thought
for a moment But 1 want to do what
is really for the best interests of the
party. If my candidacy would stir up
L
tempt it, We are probably going to
have a hard fight next year, any way
it goes, and l do not want to make a
mistake, nor do 1 want the party to
make a mistake.
Now 1 want your honest, candid
opinion on this matter, because have
always considered you a good friend
of mine and 1 would like to know
what you really think about 1T. Let
me know whether in your judgment
!, Sc I q
bernatorial race is worthy of serious
consideration and just how my candi-
dacy would be received in your Sec
ton; and whether it would be so OBJ
| jectionable to the active standpat
leaders that it would necessarily bring
on the same factional contest at the
primary and the election we had last
year. I am writing you because L
know you are in touch with the polit-
ical sentiment of your town and OF
your county, and because 1 do NOT
want to start anything of this kind
unless it would seem to meet with the
approval of Republicans generally
throughout the state"
Ever since the legislature started
there has been a determined effort
made by both factions in the Republf-
can party to get out a candidate Tor
governor on whom all the members OF
| the party could unite. Congressman
Madison was first talked about and it
was pretty generally agreed that he
would be the finest kind of candidate
and it also seemed certain that If he
would run there would be no opposi-
ton to him. He is enough of pro-
gressive to suit the members of that
| faction and the standpatters liked him
| because he fought for revision of the
| tariff and when he did not get 1t just
to his liking took the best he could.
But Madison would not run. He
would rather be a congressman than
| candidate for governor with a
| chance to get licked. There isn't much
chance to put Madison away out in the
| Seventh.
J.. n. Do1ley, R J.. Hopkins and
| some others were mentioned as pos
sible candidates but Dolley and Hop
kins are too radical to suit the stand
patters and some of the progressives
and there would be a fight on either.
Then Capper appeared. While Cap
per has consistently fought the pro-
| gressive battles, except in the Curtis
| campaign four years ago, he has many
friends in the other camp who have al
| ready pledged him their support.
While there are many standpatters
who would never vote for Capper and
who are still urging that CaIderhead
| or Scott become a candidate, the gos-
sip says that Calderhead will not run
and that if Capper is chosen Scott may
also stay out. Meanwhile it is a long
time until the primary and many
things may happen
They lust Could Not Stand It