The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-09
THE sTATE OFFICIALs.

litical battle in Kansas has passed on
into the realms where are the things
1 forgotten, and the successful candi-
dates have been formally indicted into
office, it ought to strike most Kansans
that the administration of their affairs
OF state will be in generally capable
hands during the next couple of years
This would appear to be true of every
] department of state, from the highest
to the lowest from the most important
to the least important.
Governor Stubbs has been tried and
not found wanting. All Kansans may
not be agreed with him on various OF
his political ideals or public policies.
But they will surely have to admit that
he has been a most conscientious public
servant in the highest state office with
in the gift of the people. He has hand
led all matters of state in vigorous
| and forceful way. And while he may
have made mistakes, none of them can
be remembered which might be styled
as serious. Indeed, his administration
| during the past two years has been in
especially clean one. He may have
been a trifle too impulsive on various
| occasions to suit the fancies of all the
people. But his heart has ever been
in the right place and he has done his
best according to his lights to serve the
people of Kansas faithfully. More
than that it would be impossible to ask
or expect of any man. His service of
| the past can be taken as a criterion CT
| what it will be in the future.
The same may be said of equal truth
concerning all the men who have been
sworn into their offices today. even
those who are newcomers. Richard j.
Hopkins, the lieutenant governor, is no
stranger to matters of state. He is
progressive and hustling, a typical
Kansan of the better sort. W. E. Davis,
the state auditor. is a most experienced
man for his position. AS assistant to
the capable Mr.. Nation. who retires
from the authorship, he has been well
groomed for the office that is now his.
| This is also the case with the new SUI
perintendent of insurance, Ike s. Lewis.
Mr.. Lewis has been assistant superin-
tendent of insurance for two terms and
had previously served as chief clerk in
| this important office. He is qualified
| in every way for the place that has
been entrusted to his care, and will I'M
| doubtedly give an excellent account of
himself. It is almost needless to call
attention to the qualifications of John
| S. Dawson, for the position of attorney
| general. Everybody in Kansas is IA
miliar with the abilities of Mr.. Dawson,
and his insistence that the laws are
made for all. His previous service as
an assistant attorney general and later
as attorney for the railroad board has
been of high order. And he can be eXS
pected to render a stewardship worth
while in the very important and es-
sential state department that has been
placed in his hands. w. c. Austin, the
new state printer, is a newcomer to
state office. He is practical man for
! the position, and has a well deserved
reputation for integrity and capability
that is sufficient guarantee that the
state printing plant will be conducted
| along the same high and efficient
standards that have been established
by Mr.. McNeal.
The very fact-and an almost I'M
precedented one in Kansas-that Ed
ward T. Fairchild, as superintendent of
public instruction; Mark Tulley, as
state treasurer, and Frank J. Ryan, as
one of the railroad commissioners, were
/ elected to office for third terms, is all
the evidence needed of the value of
! their services in the past. 1t is also all
/ the testimony necessary to indicate
what may be expected of them in the
future. Few men have been so honored
by the people of Kansas as have these
three. George Plumb and John T.
| White, the new members Of the rail-
road commission, are well known for
the success they have achieved in the
| DIR Of oir 7oI Of faS
can surely be depended upon to con-
i duct such public affairs as come within
their Jurisdiction in like fashion Meth
er has Charles Sessions, tine secretary
of state, held public elective office be-
fore. He is newspaper man of ex
perience who has long stood high in
the regard of the many Kansans who
have had the privilege of knowing him.
mis- work as state political reporter for
one of the big Kansas City papers has
given him a familiarity with the con-
duct of state affairs, that will prove
Invaluable to him in the discharge &C
new duties. No one has harbored an
idea for an instant that Charlie Ses-
sions will not make good as secretary
of state. If he does as well as his
predecessor, C. E. Denton, the people
will have no reason to complain.
Silas w. Porter's reelection to a jus
ticeship of the supreme court is an in
dication that his distinguished services
of the past were appreciated by the
people of the state. With the expert
ence he has had, it is certain. that he
will be even a more useful public se--
want in the future. ]. S. West, the
new justice of the supreme court, has
served as a district judge in the state
and more recently as assistant United
States district attorney for the Kansas
Jurisdiction He is known to be a
strong lawyer. and an able jurist, and
his friends may we'll be pardoned for
holding the conclusion that he is emf