The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-31
GOING The ROUNDS
Gossip of Governor Contest
Heard on Street.
Billiard a Formidable Contender
for Democratic Honor.
TO BE RECKONED WITH
Conceded That He Will Have
Strong Organization.
Still Good GuOssers Pick Hodges
as the FavOrite.

While there is little talk of state or
national politics around the capital city
at present, yet n whispered prediction
is heard occasionally about the out
come of the big political year of 1912.
The rank and file will talk even if the
leaders are silent. Stubbs will not dis
cuss the senatorship nor even set a
time for discussion of that subject.
Curtis is out west digging artesian
wells. Chairman Dolley is chasing
bank robbers. Charlie Sessions is
pitching horseshoes with Justice Por-
ter. Senator Hodges has crawled un-
der one of his own lumber piles at
Olathe. Arthur Capper is trying to
keep tab on his own employees and
he is too busy in his defensive efforts
to offset the damage they are doing
him to breast the political current
with any offensive strokes. But there
is Mayor J. 3. Billiard of Topeka, he
will talk politics any time and smiles
pleasantly while he talks.
Billiard is different from all the
other politicians He is without guile
and knows not the meaning of duplic-
ity. He never seeks a news notice nor
lodges one. He treats reporter just
the same as he would hod carrier or
a banker. The little mayor is honest
You have to give it to him there. He
is too quiet to make a good politician.
He is too retiring-and he is too hon
est. He occupies a place all alone on
the political platform for 1912. He is
the only candidate of standing or
p1 1ominence for many years who has
taken a stand boldly for resubna ission.
He Will discuss the subject any time
and on any phase. He claims nothing,
promises nothing. boasts of nothing.
He merely speaks his own sentiments
without fear or favor of anv man. He
is unique personality, and it has come
To n iV1f r1,n IN
touch with public affairs that Billiard
will not be the joke in 1912 that the
reform politicians and church people
think he will be- The Billiard cam
paign will be well handled and organ
lied in every county of the state. Be
sure of that. The Topeka mayor is a
successful business man and tireless
worker of good judgment with all his
quiet ways and apparently simple de-
meanor. The Maine election on the re-
submission question boosted the Bill
lard stock 30 per cent in the opinion
OF his friends. The slice cut out of the
Stubbs majority of 1908 at the 1910 elec-
ton is more favorable to Billiard than
Hodges. The liberals slaughtered Stubbs
in the face of the Hodges portesta-
tions that he was a dry candidate They
thought Hodges would not be so bad
as Stubbs-
Billiard has come squarely out in 5he
open the prohibition question and
viii fight it out on that line. He is
that issue and has the influence of
Henry Watterson, the Louisville editor
and most able of all living Democrats, !
behind him on that issue.
While it is believed that the chances
favor Hodges in the Democratic pri- |
mary. vet it is conceded by most pO-
litical students of both parties around |
the capitol that Billiard. if nominated |
would poll more votes in November |
than the Olathe lumberman. Billiards. /
nomination would eliminate party lines |
entirely and make the gubernatorial |
strictly wet and dry issue. I
The mistake his opponents have
always made in regard to Billiard has /
been that they have underestimated /
him. His strength before the people
lies in his direct honesty. his lack of
political craft and his failure to blow
his own trumpet. He was elected |
mayor of Topeka twice over strong
because of these things. His
vote next summer will surprise lot
OF people.
The following incident that hap
pened on a Topeka street car last
night will illustrate better than any
thing else how Billiard is regarded by
many workingmen who have nothing
at all to do with politics:
Attorney General Dawson was on
the car, standing upon the back plat
form A man in overalls and work
stained coat stood by him. The attor-
ney general engaged the man in con-
versation. Glow is the sentiment of
the workingnen on the gubernatorial
fight?" asked the state official Are
hey for Capper or Frank Ryan,"
The workingman looked steadily at
Dawson for a minute and then he burst
forth:
''Aint Billiard running for COVER
nor?" he asked anxiously. Dawson
was fIabbergasted- He replied in the
and changed the CONVERSE
lion.